TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Presents South Africa NOW!

Ottawa (Thursday, June 11, 2015) — The rich history of the South African jazz scene took root as musicians began to perform their craft in nightclubs, dancehalls and other venues, taking full advantage of the opportunity to play live thereby nurturing the genre organically. Celebrating its 35th year, the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival (from June 18 – July 1, 2015) - in partnership with the High Commission of South Africa – is proud to showcase South Africa NOW!, honouring five distinguished groups arising from this significant musical heritage. Legendary drummerLouis Moholo-Moholo and his renowned quartet lead an impressive list of performers. The septuagenarian is a living embodiment of jazz’s history. Exiled to the UK during apartheid, Moholo- Moholo made significant contributions to the British jazz scene, revolutionizing the art form in the process. The great South African percussionist’s fire still burns brightly. His style has been described in Dalton Sound as an artist that “carries a rhythm like a burning coal and keeps it smoldering”. Moholo-Moholo’s recent gigs have produced live music as consistently enthralling as any being made during this phase of jazz’s continuing evolution. The Festival is immensely honoured to present the iconic pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, considered by many to be the “King of South African Jazz”. As the leading figure in the Cape Jazz subgenre, Ibrahim was a member of Sophiatown based group the Jazz Epistles, who recorded South Africa’s first jazz album by black artists. Influenced by his contemporary Duke Ellington – for whom Ibrahim substituted on five dates in 1966, leading the Duke Ellington Orchestra – Ibrahim is a national treasure with an unmistakable sound. Highly infectious and undeniably groovy, Freshlyground is made up of seven talented and diverse musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Their collaboration with Shakira on Waka Waka - the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup - exposed them to audiences worldwide. Their Afropop musical style blends elements of traditional South African music, blues, jazz and indie rock. Pianist and composer Kyle Shepherd’s star is clearly on the rise. 2014 saw the then 27-year- old nominated for the NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll. With five critically acclaimed albums already under his belt, Shepherd’s music represents the melodies, images and voices of the land from which he comes. Canadian born South African singer-songwriterZaki Ibrahim is a JUNO nominee and Polaris Prize shortlister. Ibrahim spent her childhood as what she describes as a “citizen of the world”, a reflection of which can certainly be found in her neo-soul sound as she creatively blends elements of R&B, soul and jazz.