Saxes, trumpets and all that jazz in Cape Horns

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Upcoming Music Festivals

Hosted by respected saxophonist Don Vino, Cape Horns promises a relaxed and entertaining evening of music, offering something for everyone with an exciting array of sounds. The concert will take place for two nights only at the Baxter Theatre on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May at 8pm.

From Gospel to Jazz, Big Band to Pop, and celebrating the much-loved but often forgotten Lang-arm, it’s guaranteed to get the audience dancing. Cape Horns presents some of Cape Town’s most notable brass music stars, while providing a platform for the next generation of talent.

Trumpeter Ian Smith of VJR fame and director of the acclaimed Delft Big Band joins the line up with saxophonist Heinrich Isaacs, who is known for his Gospel jazz expertise; and fellow saxophonist Didier Richards, a popular performer with the South African Navy Band and who has played with the likes of the legendary Pacific Express.

Among the rising young stars on the programme are the Elsies River High School Band who recently performed at the prestigious Cape Town International Jazz Festival, with the Cape Argus commenting about their ‘slick’ performance. The incomparable Cape Town icon Alistair Izobell directs this inspired show.

“The sounds of a saxophone or trumpet are about so much more than just great jazz,” says Don Vino. “We wanted to show off the sassy brassy sounds and are bringing audiences a great night out with music that will make you want to get up and dance. There’s pop, jazz, Gospel and more, and I am especially excited there will be a feature of lang-arm, which is a favourite that will take you down memory lane. There will also be a few surprise guests joining us.”

Don Vino has performed with jazz and gospel bands in and around Cape Town since he was fifteen. His illustrious career has seen him tour to the USA, Europe, Dubai and Australia and included playing with the likes of Grammy Award winners, Kirk Whalum and Lady Smith Black Mambazo; with Percy Sledge, Tevin Campbell, Lloyd Cele, Loyiso Bala, Jimmy Dludlu, Victor Masondo, Judith Sephuma, PJ Powers, Tony Schilder, Bebe Winans and Jimmy Earl Perry, among others. Don Vino has also appeared in many musical theatre shows and is a sought-after musical director, having worked on productions such as David Kramer’s Three Wise Men; Kat and The Kings and Blood Brothers, as well as Alistair Izobell’s Radio Classics and Slick Swing. Most recently he performed with David Kramer’s new show, Kanala. With Jonathan Rubain, Don Vino presented the successful Intimate Nights and Intimate Nights Chapter 2, with a third installment coming up at the Baxter in July.

He is a regular performer at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and has also been the Artisic Director for ESP Afrika and the Festival’s Training and Development program since 2011. In 2015, Don Vino debuted his first solo show ‘From Elsies to the World’, which ran for two sold out nights at the Baxter Theatre. He performs as part of popular band Top Dog SA, who recently released their Khoisan jazz album Griqua DNA. For the past six years, Don Vino has been leading an NPO community music school in Delft, training underprivileged youth of the local community to read and perform music.

Cape Horns will be performed on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May at 8pm in the Baxter Theatre. Tickets cost R130. Bookings can be made at Computicket 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For block bookings of 10 or more tickets cost R100, and can be booked at the Baxter Box Office on 0216857880.

For discounted corporate, schools or block-bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sharon on 021 680 3962, e-mail sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen on 021 680 3993, e-mailcarmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.

Notes to Editors

Don Vino

Don Vino has performed with jazz and gospel bands in and around Cape Town since he was fifteen. His illustrious career has seen him tour to the USA, Europe, Dubai and Australia and included playing with the likes of Grammy Award winners, Lady Smith Black Mambazo; with Percy Sledge, Tevin Campbell, Lloyd Cele, Loyiso Bala, Jimmy Dludlu, Victor Masondo, Judith Sephuma, PJ Powers, Tony Schilder, Bebe Winans and Jimmy Earl Perry, among many others. Don Vino has also appeared in many musical theatre shows and is a sought-after musical director, having worked on productions such as David Kramer’s Three Wise Men; Kat and The Kings and Blood Brothers, as well as Alistair Izobell’s Radio Classics and Slick Swing. Most recently he performed with David Kramer’s new show, Kanala. With Jonathan Rubain, Don Vino presented the successful Intimate Nights and Intimate Nights Chapter 2, with a third installment coming up at the Baxter in July.

He is a regular performer at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and has also been the Artistic Director for ESP Afrika and The Festival’s Training and Development program since 2011. In 2015, Don Vino debuted his first solo show ‘From Elsies to the World’, ‘which ran for two sold out nights at the Baxter Theatre. He performs as part of popular band Top Dog SA, who recently released their Khoisan jazz album Griqua DNA.

One of the highlights of his career and been recording with Grammy Award winner Kirk Whalum on his Gospel according to Jazz Chapter 4 album. Don Vino also toured South Africa with Whalum, who played with Whitney Houston for more than seven years and soloed in her single I Will Always Love You.

For the past six years, Don Vino has been leading an NPO community music school in Delft, training underprivileged youth of the local community to read and perform music. This includes working with fellow musician Camillo Lombard with the Elsies River High School Band, who recently performed at the prestigious Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Ian Smith

Ian Smith is a top jazz trumpeter, band leader, educator and all-round performing artist. He has toured extensively with many overseas artists, done numerous TV and radio shows and appeared at major venues throughout the country. Ian has received renowned success as a jazz performer with both his own and many local ensembles such as “VJR”, “Concert Boulevard”, “Pound Seats”, “MJ9”, “The Tony Schilder Quartet” and “Inside Out”. He is one of the most sought after studio players in South Africa and for many years played lead trumpet for the “Gerry Bosman Orchestra”. He has also performed as a soloist with the "UCT Big Band" and the “Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra”, co-founding the "Cape Jazz Orchestra".

As a lead trumpet for recording sessions, has backed visiting international artists such as Pavarotti, Shirley Bassey and Liberace. Shows and musicals include "West Side Story"' "Chorus Line", "Crazy For Your", "Guys And Dolls", to name but a few.

Ian’s main focus is to develop and promote Jazz in all its forms. The presentation and sheer showmanship of Ian Smith will continue to expose Jazz to a wider audience thus making it more accessible to a broader market.

Recently Ian was featured on the Smooth Jazz CD collaboration of South Africa and American Jazz artist, topping the jazz charts in the United States. Ian performs every night with different artists at a Dinner Dance Restaurant called "Pigalle".

Ian spent four years as a full-time music teacher at the SACS High School in Cape Town where he conducted the award winning SACS Windband and led them on a highly successful 1993 tour of Europe.

Recently, Ian has become the Project manager for the Youth Music Development Programme (in troubled communities) on the Cape Flats. He has achieved some great successes with the likes of the Delft Big Band, who have gone on to perform at events such as Cape Town International Jazz Festival and other venues including, Cape Town City Hall, Baxter Theatre and Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and major hotels and wine estates.

Heinrich Isaacs

Heinrich Isaacs is a saxophonist based in Ravensmead, Cape Town. With his fresh take on Gospel, Jazz and RnB, he encompasses a sound that is unique. He also composes and arranges his own songs.

Heinrich has graced a number of stages with well-known artists such as Alistair Izobell, Vicky Sampson, Mady Abrahams (SA’s Got Talent), James Bhemgee (2010 SA’s Got Talent winner) and Zayn Adams.

To date he has recorded two albums, Forever Grateful and Pocket Full of Dreams. Heinrich performs at various concerts, corporate and private functions, conferences and festivals. What you will hear is the coming together of years of dedication and experience, to bring forth a sound that is uniquely Mr H.

Didier Richards

Born in the Cape Flats suburb of Cafda, Didier inherited his Grandfather’s saxophone when he was seven years old. He was intrigued and started to spend countless hours teaching himself to play the saxophone. At the age of sixteen, he found his passion for music and started playing saxophone in the Church Band. An opportunity came for him to join the Police Band in 2004. There was only one problem – it was in the Eastern Cape. So Didier immediately gave notice at his job and left Cape Town to pursue his music career. Ten years later, he has shared the stage with the likes of the legendary Zayn Adams while performing with the band Pacific Express; appeared at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and is in demand as a performer for corporate events and weddings. He is a popular and well know musician with the South African Navy Band and performs with them frequently.

Alistair Izobell – Director

Something special is always going to happen when Alistair Izobell takes the stage. He entertains with so much power and takes the audience on a magical musical ride with the hypnotic quality of his voice his fast punched humor and understanding of the command of stage. Audiences are spellbound and mesmerized as he is the puppet master that knows just which strings to pull.

He has the ability to capture any audience and is also an extraordinary singer who has traveled the world with the musical “Kat and the Kings” for which he received a Sir Laurence Olivier Award in 1999 in the role of Magoo on the West End and On Broadway NY NY.

In his Emcee capacity he provides hilarious comic relief through his extrovert personality.

His professional career started as far back as a child of five years old doing a few variety shows, and then in his primary school years he became very involved in school produced pantomimes, with the likes of "James and the Giant Peach" and a few other memorable shows.

The introduction to the mainstream and professional world of entertainment, started at an audition for the role of "Broertjie”, (The Argus vendor), in David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen's production of "District Six- The Musical”

He was chosen amongst 51 other young hopefuls to play the role of this character in the production for just over a year, and was spearheaded by other producers to be part of great successful theatre productions thereafter for at least the next two decades, and beyond.

As a member of Ricardo and Friends in 1989, along with popular child prodigy, Ricardo of “I Love you Daddy” fame, he was invited to perform “Children of The World” ( Written by Attie van Wyk and al Etto) at the infamous World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo.

The song was chosen as the National Anthem for UNICEF and they were the special guest artists performing side by side with Stevie Wonder, and other world luminaries, the likes of: Bonnie Tyler, BJ Thomas and Dan Hill to mention but a few. This concert was clearly one of the most amazing experiences and highlights of his career and paved the path for him to be an ambassador through music for SA. 1990 saw Alistair take brothers Emo and Loukmaan Adams along to do a second tour of Japan as And friends

For the few years that followed he was fortunate to work with some of the most talented and successful recording artists in South Africa like the late Brenda Fassie, PJ Powers, Dr. Victor and the Rasta Rebels, Walk This Way, Ringo Madlingozi.

Alistair was also one of the lead vocalists of the renowned group, The Rockets for about three years and toured SA and other neighboring countries extensively. Alistair performed the role of Ritchie Valens in the South African theater production of the hit musical, “The Buddy Holly Story” and toured SA with this production.

He was cast in Kevin Feather’s successful tribute show, The Doowah Boys, produced by Pieter Toerien when songwriter/producer Patric van Blerk who penned the evergreen, “Paradise Road “, for the female trio, Joy, offered him a solo recording contract. The title track of his first album, “Venus”, is still receiving regularly airplay 21 years on radio stations and is regarded as his signature track.

Alistair enjoyed success with many of his one man shows like Venus in Tight Blue Jeans, Cape Town Blue, Just me Net So. His latest CD offering which was released too popular acclaim is called Just Me – Net So. To date he has 8 albums to his credit.

In 2009 Alistair embarked on a whole new journey after celebrating 23 years in the industry by opening his own production company, Alistair Izobell Productions, and one of his first major achievements in this new venture has been securing the exclusive African rights to a wonderful and acclaimed New York musical, Three Mo Tenors.

It seems as if the sky’s no limit for this youthful impresario who has also dabbled in the world of broadcasting and has had his own radio show on Cape Town’s popular regional station, Heart 104.9 FM every Saturday and Sunday.

AIP has produced quite a number of hugely successful events and productions in the past few years, also creating the opportunity and platform for the many talented youngsters on the Cape Flats.

Besides performing and song writing, he has tapped back in to his roots of music arranging by assisting David Kramer in the past 3 productions as musical supervisor, namely Kramer Petersen Songbook, Some Like It Vrot and Blood Brothers.

Some of the many productions produced by AIP, include: Motown Memories; Now That’s Music; Back @ The Hits; Slick Swing; Radio Classics; Vocal is Lekka; This is My Life; Top 40 Stage KKNK; The Mayors Children’s fund; numerous annual performances of Music Alla Kaap; Just Me Net So; Let’s Make Music; and Kaapse Musiek in Colour.

Artslink.co.za Account:
Christine Skinner
christinemskinner@gmail.com
082 855 7277
Don Vino
www.baxter.co.za