South African Association for Jazz Education

by Nicky Schrire 
January 2010

Happy New Year festive season-survivors!

I have just emerged from the most sublime, warm, delicious, jazzy three weeks. I dodged the snowstorms attacking the east coast of America for sunnier climates on the southern tip of Africa. After four months of being taken out of my comfort zone and challenged within an inch of my life, I returned to the mother ship, the mother city-Kaapstad.

Nothing makes you appreciate your home more than going to a foreign land, and nothing makes you feel more patriotic than the moment when the wheels of the plane touch down on the runway and the strains of “Shozoloza” are heard as you enter the air-conditioned airport. It was an utterly wonderful feeling seeing my family again and driving through the familiar streets of the Southern Suburbs, basking in the glow of summer’s kiss.

My first night back was spent sitting under dark, starry skies at the Waterfront watching the divine Sibongile Khumalo and my good friend, Nomfundo Xaluva, perform a tribute to the late Miriam Makeba. What a magical evening it was and the music made me realize how important my South African identity is to me. I look forward to one day singing “Pata Pata” in New York and seeing the reaction! I was also lucky enough to visit the latest addition to Cape Town’s jazz venues, The Rainbow Room. I heard the Bokani Dyer Quartet at this sparkly, new hot spot and it was fabulous to see such wonderful platforms being provided for local artists. It was also heartwarming to see how many Cape Town musicians came out to support Bokani’s group. Cape Town may be small, but one of the perks of this is that there’s an amazing sense of unity amongst the musicians and I consider myself so lucky to be a part of this family.

Apart from going to other people’s gigs, I also managed to squeeze in two of my own Cape Town gigs at The Green Dolphin at the Waterfront. It was such a thrill to be reunited with some of my favourite musicians and dearest friends, such as Heinrich Goosen, Andrew Lilley, Kevin Gibson and Charles Lazar, and also to experience new musical adventures with Mark Fransman. The audience support was also phenomenal and I cannot thank my friends and family enough for being so encouraging and loyal- I’m hugely fortunate in this respect.

The rest of my holiday was spent attending my sister’s wedding (which allowed me to sing her down the aisle and jam with the dashing band of Jeremy Olivier, Shaun Johannes and Marc De Kock), numerous coffee dates with some inspirational musicians and friends, time spent with my incredible family visiting from all corners of the globe, a single outing to the beach, and much eating (turkey, grilled yellowtail, granadilla brulee tart, zucchini and lemon curd cake, melon and ginger popsicles…).

As I write this, I smile at the stark contrast my current settings provide in comparison with my summer getaway. The sound of the oncoming train pierces the crisp, winter air of the dark night as I brace myself for the onslaught of homework assignments and I finish eating a hummus sandwich courtesy of the Mitzi Pavilion Cafeteria… Back to school, back to reality, but with energy and a slightly tanned complexion.

May 2010 be exciting, inspiring and totally fantastic for you all!

Editor:  Nicky will be sending us a monthly LETTER FROM NEW YORK