Jazz | World Music

Jazz

Drum Cafe Jazz, with its own unique energy, is one of South Africa’s leading Jazz agencies. We provide you with the finest of emerging talent as well as the established best in traditional Jazz, 50’s Sophiatown Jazz and Contemporary Afro-Jazz. We also offer the best of Cape Town’s great Jazz groups! Expect the most soulful of Jazz performances, from solos to 20-piece bands, perfect as tasteful background music or as a stylish feature addition to your event. We can select the repertoire in consultation with you, or independently if you’d prefer.

50’s Sophiatown Jazz

The Drum Cafe’s Jazz artists, dressed in 50’s-style clothing, take you back to the days when Sophiatown was emerging as the pulse of Johannesburg culture. Our performers capture the energy and urgency of curfew-beating, all-night Sophiatown dance parties - a time when South African creative talent was blossoming despite the restrictive context. Enjoy renditions of our very own Miriam Makeba, Dorothy Masuka, Hugh Masekela, Kippie Moeketsi and Dolly Rathebe, among others. Main elements of our performances can include the pennywhistle and/or saxophone, with or without vocals. Think “Patha Patha”, “Mannenberg”, “Ntyilo Ntyilo”, “ Meadowlands” and “Yakhal’ Inkomo”… The Drum Cafe’s “Shebeen Experience” contains elements of vibrant 50’s Jazz.

Contemporary Afro-Jazz

The Drum Cafe celebrates the resurgence of Afro-Jazz, by producing a unique modern sound of jazz and jazz fusion mingled with the beat and voice of Africa. We offer anything from the melodious to the avant-garde, from the sweetly lyrical to the highly danceable and from all-African groups to mixed groups. Think McCoy Mrubata, Judith Sephuma, Allou April, Stimela, Sakhile…Combine the sounds of Afro-Jazz with Afro-Jazz dance.

Traditional Jazz

The Drum Cafe’s contemporary artists pay tribute to the classical style and spirit of traditional South African and American jazz and swing. Enjoy the sounds of international greats such as Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Think “Summertime”, “Moon River”, “What a Wonderful World”…

Jazz | World Music

World Music

The Drum Cafe offers the best in World Music (modern music with an "ethnic" influence, often characterised by strong melodies and a strong rhythmic impulse). We fuse ethnic or traditional influences with modern influences, to create a happy, rich and lively sound. World Music creates an atmosphere of unity and celebration, whether as background or main entertainment. The Drum Café’ offers the best in steel drum bands to bring a tropical Calypso feel to any occasion. Our steel drum groups play traditional and Caribbean songs as well as original compositions, and can combine steel drum performances with marimba. The Drum Cafe also offers performances on one of the oldest instruments in the world, the didgeridoo.

We offer the sounds of:

* Africa
* Morocco
* The Middle East
* Latin America
* India
* Calypso
* Folk Music

Remember to read about the Drum Cafe’s wide array of performances, includingTraditional Music & Dance, Marimba, Gumboots, Dance, Jazz/World Music, Party Bands, DJs and MCs, Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra, Carnival and Circus Acts and Fusion/Crossover. We can combine Jazz and/or World Music with a selection of our other performances.

Contact Drum Cafe for more information:
+ 27 11 493 0809, or e-mail: info@drumcafe.com

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