Cape Town Jazzathon
Affectionately known as The People’s Festival, Jazzathon is a multifaceted Cape Town project that promotes jazz in every form, including live performances, educational workshops, award programmes and multimedia content. Produced and managed by JCQ Productions, Jazzathon provides opportunities to many musicians, service providers and associations. Jazzathon hosts a variety of integrated projects throughout the year leading up to the annual, much-anticipated music festival called the Cape Town Jazzathon. Initiated in 1997, this flagship event is eagerly anticipated by both performers and fans alike.
The concept of Jazzathon is the brainchild of Craig Parks. Initially intended to run as a record-breaking marathon of jazz music, the idea was to allow local jazz lovers to experience jazz culture by any means necessary. In 1997, founding members of newly established JCQ Productions – John Esterhuizen, Craig Parks and Quinton Raaff – produced the very first, free jazz festival in Cape Town. The Cape Town Jazzathon has launched the careers of many well-known South African musicians, promoted South African music to international recognition and achieved award-winning status as a contributor to South African jazz culture. The festival soon became an annual event.
The festival unashamedly opens its doors to all young, upcoming and previously disadvantaged musicians.
The objectives of the festival are as follows: to provide a platform for musicians to showcase their talent, to provide an opportunity for emerging and disadvantaged musicians, to pay tribute to those who used their musical talent to shape our cultural heritage, to educate and develop those who contribute to the cultural heritage of South Africa, to facilitate interaction and opportunities for developing artists, to provide a platform for charitable organisations to create awareness, to promote reconciliation, unity and a common nationhood, and finally, to contribute to the growth of tourism in South Africa.
One of the main aims of The Cape Town Jazzathon is to provide a platform for previously disadvantaged, brand new and young-and-upcoming artists. The event pays tribute to women, youth and legendary local artists.
Jazzathon strives to celebrate South African and African music culture. Jazzathon reflects the passion of the people who are proud to share South Africa’s rich cultural heritage with a global audience.
Jazzathon will always promote diversity, honour history, cultivate development and contribute to a positive future for the prosperity of our beautiful country as a holistic nation and the local Capetonian jazz scene.
Cape Town Jazzathon
Affectionately known as The People’s Festival, Jazzathon is a multifaceted Cape Town project that promotes jazz in every form, including live performances, educational workshops, award programmes and multimedia content. Produced and managed by JCQ Productions, Jazzathon provides opportunities to many musicians, service providers and associations. Jazzathon hosts a variety of integrated projects throughout the year leading up to the annual, much-anticipated music festival called the Cape Town Jazzathon. Initiated in 1997, this flagship event is eagerly anticipated by both performers and fans alike.
The concept of Jazzathon is the brainchild of Craig Parks. Initially intended to run as a record-breaking marathon of jazz music, the idea was to allow local jazz lovers to experience jazz culture by any means necessary. In 1997, founding members of newly established JCQ Productions – John Esterhuizen, Craig Parks and Quinton Raaff – produced the very first, free jazz festival in Cape Town. The Cape Town Jazzathon has launched the careers of many well-known South African musicians, promoted South African music to international recognition and achieved award-winning status as a contributor to South African jazz culture. The festival soon became an annual event.
The festival unashamedly opens its doors to all young, upcoming and previously disadvantaged musicians. The objectives of the festival are as follows: to provide a platform for musicians to showcase their talent, to provide an opportunity for emerging and disadvantaged musicians, to pay tribute to those who used their musical talent to shape our cultural heritage, to educate and develop those who contribute to the cultural heritage of South Africa, to facilitate interaction and opportunities for developing artists, to provide a platform for charitable organisations to create awareness, to promote reconciliation, unity and a common nationhood, and finally, to contribute to the growth of tourism in South Africa.
One of the main aims of The Cape Town Jazzathon is to provide a platform for previously disadvantaged, brand new and young-and-upcoming artists. The event pays tribute to women, youth and legendary local artists.
Jazzathon strives to celebrate South African and African music culture. Jazzathon reflects the passion of the people who are proud to share South Africa’s rich cultural heritage with a global audience.
Jazzathon will always promote diversity, honour history, cultivate development and contribute to a positive future for the prosperity of our beautiful country as a holistic nation and the local Capetonian jazz scene.
