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| Hanepoot & the Biggish Band launch 'Salt & Vinegar' Hanepoot & the Biggish Band will be launching their debut CD at the Theatre Royal, 80 Longmarket Street, near the back of the City Hall in the centre of Cape Town this Sunday December 11. "Salt & Vinegar" is the long overdue first public release of any recorded work by this unique 18-piece Big Band, which has established itself on the Cape Town music scene over the last 4 years as platform for indigenous South African big band music. "Salt & Vinegar" is indeed one of very few big band recordings in existence which consists entirely of South African compositions, and contains a number of new tunes which have been specifically written for the Biggish Band. Jannie 'Hanepoot' van Tonder has been around the South African music scene since the 1980's when he was trombonist with the African Jazz Pioneers under the leadership of saxophonist Ntemi Piliso, and member of Johannesburg-based Mbaqanga-Jive group Winston's Jive Mixup. He was also part of the infamous Voëlvy Tour, the wave of Afrikaans language protest music which literally rocked the establishment in the late 1980's, during which he recorded and performed with James Phillips' alter-ego "Bernoldus Niemand en die Swart Gevaar", as well as being drummer/trombonist with Johannes Kerkorrel's "Gereformeerde Blues Band". Since starting the Biggish Band over 4 years ago, he has managed to cajole various local composers into writing for the band, some of whom are represented on this CD, notably Merton Barrow ("Blue Prints") of the Jazz Workshop, David Ledbetter ("Stywepap & Bredie"), as well as adding one of his own compositions to the pot, namely the title track "Salt & Vinegar". One very pleasing aspect of this project, from Hanepoot's point of view, has been the involvement of composer Douglas Armstrong (also a member of hiphop-funk band MoodPhase5ive), who joined the band as trumpeter about two years ago, but more significantly has contributed 4 excellent original tunes to date to the band's repertoire, with somemore waiting in the wings. One of the Biggish Band's stated aims upon launch was to provide a platform for big band composers in Cape Town, who would struggle otherwise to have their work performed, and hopefully there are others out there like Douglas who will make use of this vehicle in future. The band also performs some of Hanepoot's arrangements of existing South African tunes, and has recorded here 'Langery' by respected Cape Town guitarist Errol Dyers, and 'Nonto Sangoma' by the late Zakes Nkosi, whose music inspired the existence of the internationally renowned African Jazz Pioneers. The album was recorded 'live', in front of an audience at the Nassau Centre in Claremont, and will be launched at the Theatre Royal on December 11. The Theatre Royal is a newly refurbished version of the old Roxy Cinema at 80 Longmarket Street which is behind the Cape Town City Hall, but then half-a-block towards Adderley Street. There's secure parking in a parking garage right next door to the theatre, or on the Grand Parade one block away. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |