Jazz Rising lights up Grand Africa with new school sounds and soulful voices
Sunset over Granger Bay set the stage for a powerful celebration of music and culture as Jazz Rising returned to the iconic Grand Africa Café & Beach, drawing hundreds of music lovers for a free, world-class showcase produced by espAfrika, the team behind the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) on Friday.
The event bridged traditional jazz foundations with the vibrant “New School” of South African sound, featuring a diverse lineup that included Kujenga, Francesca Biancoli, Chadleigh Gower, Daddy’s House, Clint L and Fundi.
Guests experienced what organisers describe as “barefoot luxury” live jazz in an open-air beachfront setting as the sun dipped into the Atlantic.
Opening the performances, bassist and bandleader Chadleigh Gowar reflected on the moment as a milestone in his career. “
What an amazing experience it was. I had so much fun and it was a great opportunity to play my original music, and the people really believed in it,” Gower said.
“I am so happy for this chance. Thanks to espAfrika for giving me this platform to showcase my talent and my music, and also to my amazing band who performed for all those peopl. I think there were more than 1,000 people heard my music today and I am eternally grateful for that.”
Known for his distinctive “lead bass” style, Gower explained that he approaches the instrument like a lead guitar.
“I play solo bass, lead bass. I am the lead instrument in the band,” he said, describing an ensemble that blends multiple basses, guitar, keyboards, saxophone and drums, with a featured vocalist.
Vocalist Monique Hendricks took to the stage with Cape Fusion and brought a distinctly African narrative to her set.
“Our set is basically about bringing it back to South Africa and Africa in general,” she said.One of the standout moments was her performance of “Ndawo Yami”.
“It is also just about hope, coming back home, going to that place. And yeah, it was beautiful, it was stunning, it was well received.”
Italian-born, Cape Town–based singer-songwriter Francesca Biancoli also left a strong impression with her original compositions.
“I’m so excited to be here, it’s been a pleasure. And sharing my music and my original composition, it’s the best,” she said after her set.
“With this amazing crowd today, I hope you felt my soul and my jazz. And all the goodness that my music brings to you.”
Biancoli highlighted her song “Better” as a reflection on modern life.
“It’s just a song about creating something that is not normal and not usable. This kind of world that we live in, we are actually consuming everything very quickly,” she explained. “I believe in something that stays longer than a scroll.”
Adding a visual layer to the evening, artist Michael Beckurts created live illustrations during the performances, capturing the movement and emotion of the music in real time and giving audiences a front-row view of the intersection between fine art and live sound.
Jazz Rising once again positioned itself as a premier platform for emerging and established artists, celebrating the Mother City’s rich musical heritage while pushing jazz into new, contemporary spaces.
IOL