Skyjack, an award-winning collaborative band of five musicians from South Africa and Switzerland, will stage three concerts this weekend, wrapping up their national tour and launching their debut CD.
The three South African musicians are Shane Cooper on double bass, Kyle Shepherd on piano and Kesivan Naidoo on drums
The Swiss musicians are Marc Stucki on tenor saxophone and Andreas Tschopp on trombone.
Skyjack’s first shows together were on a South African tour in 2013, leading up to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown for Shane Cooper’s Young Artist Award showcase.
Since then they have done two tours in Switzerland, and in 2015 won the prestigious BeJazz Trans-National competition, taking them back to perform at BeJazz Winterfestival in 2016 in Berne.
Each musician contributes to the group as a composer, creating a wide palette of sound that draws from various cultural influences, concentrated into a modern jazz aesthetic.
Skyjack recorded their debut self-titled album in Switzerland in 2015. The record has layered, story-like compositions written by all five musicians.
From the Ethio-Jazz inspired Tafattala to the modern jazz journey of Anonymous In New York, it’s eclectic but with a common thread throughout.
Band member Shane Cooper said: “As a band, we share a deep musical bond, and come together as often as the cross-continental trip is possible. We’re excited to bring our music back to SA for our biggest tour yet, and now with an album to share.”
* The concerts are on Friday September 16 at the Reeler Theatre, Rondebosch Boys’ High School, where tickets cost R100 for adults and R60 students and pensioners and are available on www.quicket.co.za; on Saturday September 17 at the Blah Blah Bar in Kloof Street, Tamboerskloof, where tickets cost R100; and on Sunday September 18, at KwaSec as part of the Jazz Heritage Festival in Gugulethu, where tickets cost R60.
Tickets for the last two venues can be bought at the door.