Swiss-South African jazz ensembles at the National Arts Festival
The National Arts Festival will once again take place online from 8-31 July 2021. The Standard Bank Jazz Festival will broadcast a selection of specially selected jazz performances filmed in cities around South Africa and abroad, including the legendary Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland. We are pleased to be supporting two Swiss-South African ensemble showcases, both of which emerge from relationships developed during residencies or supported tours.
Feya Faku Sextet | An icon amongst South African jazz horn players
Feya Faku has used his township upbringing to create a distinctive sound that has led him to become an icon amongst South African jazz horn players. The depth of his timbre has particularly attracted the attention of European musicians and he has spent time across Europe in demand as a performer and bandleader, exploring different musical opportunities and projects. Here he teams up with some of his favourite Swiss musicians – pianist Jean-Paul Brodbeck, drummer Dominic Egli, bassist Fabian Gisler and saxophonist Domenic Landolf – and South African guitarist Keenan Ahrends, who provide the perfect combination and balance to this globally-minded ensemble.
Feya Faku (trumpet), Domenic Landolf (sax – CH), Keenan Ahrends (guitar), Jean-Paul Brodbeck (piano – CH), Fabian Gisler (bass – CH), Dominic Egli (drums – CH)
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Keenan Ahrends Trio, featuring Domenic Landolf & Lukas Thoeni | Evocative composition, emotive improvisation and sensitive musicianship
Keenan Ahrends studied jazz guitar at UCT and the Norwegian Academy of Music, also completing an honours degree in performance at Wits, researching the life and music of Errol Dyers. He was selected for the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band in 2006 and has toured extensively within South Africa and internationally, performing with many prominent musicians. Ahrends is known for his evocative music writing, his emotive improvisation and his sensitive musicianship, and has just completed a residency at the Musikerwohnhaus Basel in Switzerland, collaborating and developing musical relationships and writing new material inspired by the diverse Swiss music scene. This performance is a product of that opportunity for creative renewal.
Keenan Ahrends (guitar), Romy Brauteseth (bass), Sphelelo Mazibuko (drums), Domenic Landolf (sax – CH), Lukas Thoeni (trumpet – CH)
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