Zurich-born trombonist Andreas Tschopp returns to South Africa for a collaborative mini-tour with renowned bassist Carlo Mombelli and the Afrika Mkhize Big Band in Grahamstown and Johannesburg, and then participating in a countrywide tour and album launch as part of the Skyjack formation in September – all in the context also of a three-month residency facilitated by Pro Helvetia.

Tschopp is no stranger to collaborations with South African artists having collaborated with jazz talents such as Shane Cooper, Kesivan Naidoo and Kyle Sheppard in 2013.  The four along with Swiss saxophonist Marc Stucki formed a quintet that has toured Switzerland and South Africa and will be releasing their joint album as the Skyjack formation in September.

A graduate of the Music Academy Basel, Tschopp started playing the trombone at the age of eleven and currently teaches trombone at Lucerne University of the Arts.

As part of his residency Tschopp would like to strengthen his relationships and collaborate with South African jazz artists, citing Nduduzo Makathini, Ayanda Sikade and Herbie Tsoaeli as just some of those he will be connecting with.

 Tschopp will embark on a mini tour starting at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown that will see him join forces with the Afrika Mkhize Big Band as part of the Bheki Mseleku tribute as well as two shows with Mombelli, where they will be joined by Sphelelo Mazibuko and two additional Swiss collaborators, pianist Florian Favre, and saxophonist Florian Egli.

He will then join Mombelli for two more performances in Johannesburg at The Orbit on the 6^th and the 22^nd of July, the latter fixture together with Mbuso Khoza (vocals), Kyle Shepherd (piano), Tumi Mogorosi (drums) and guests Andreas Tschopp (trombone), Marcus Wyatt (trumpet) and Sisonke Xonti (tenor saxophone).

Detail on the Skyjack tour will be announced in July.

More info here