Hellaby to awaken jazz spirit

CAPETONIANS, stand up for your finest pianist, Blake Hellaby, who will be performing at Amazink Live in Kayamnandi, Stellenbosch, today.

Presented by Jazz in the Native Yards, Amazink Live and the Cape Town Music Academy (CTMA), the concert is an initiative to bring jazz to outlying areas where concerts are not easily accessible.

“Cape Town is a melting pot of rich and diverse musical culture, and because of its divided communities, such cultures have not been used as a catalyst to bring people together,” says Luvuyo Kakaza, one of JiNY’s co-founders.

“With these concerts, we create social cohesion, as visitors and locals mingle freely in the spirit of jazz. Established jazz musicians perform with upcoming artists, creating a platform to develop talent as well as offering musicians opportunities to earn a living.”

Hellaby is a multi-instrumentalist whose career has taken him to Africa and Europe. He was introduced to jazz music at the age of 14. Legendary saxophonist Buddy Wells took him under his wing and taught him how to play the saxophone. Hellaby’s jazz lessons started when he enrolled for a jazz degree at the University of Cape Town.

In 2007, he was selected to be the pianist for the Standard Bank National School’s Big Band at the Grahamstown Jazz Festival (now the Makhanda Jazz Festival). In 2014, he joined the National Youth Jazz Band.

He has performed and recorded with various musicians, among them Frank Paco (Mozambique) and Martin Zenker (Germany).

Tickets are from R150 (R70 for pensioners and students).

Call 060 960 8935 for bookings.