Grammy winner Jacob Collier set for historic SA debut at CTIJF

THE stage is set, the anticipation is building, and one of the most inventive musical minds of our time is ready to meet Cape Town.

- ZAMANDOS!I CELE

JACOB Collier will be headlining this year's Cape Town International Jazz Festival. | Instagram

(Instagram)

Multi-Grammy award-winning artist Jacob Collier is heading to South Africa to headline the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), taking place on Friday and Saturday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

For Collier, this is more than just another international performance - it’s a deeply anticipated first encounter with a place that has shaped his musical world from afar.

“The history of South African music is obviously extremely deep, and it had a real impact on me as a child,” Collier says.

“It's one of these iconic musical places that I’ve never been to before, so the fact that it’s my first time coming makes it all the more special.”

Despite his global success and reputation for boundary-pushing music, Collier speaks about Cape Town with a genuine sense of curiosity and excitement.

Long regarded as one of the premier jazz events in the world, Africa's Grandest Gathering has been firmly on his radar for years.

“T’ve known about the Cape Town Jazz Festival for many years, and lots of my friends who've performed there have said the most amazing things about it,” he says.

“So I'm just super, super excited to get a taste of it for myself.”

And while his performances are known for their complexity and innovation, what truly sets Collier apart is his commitment to connection - particularly with his audience.

Collier's live shows are anything but conventional. Rather than maintaining a distance between performer and audience, he actively invites the crowd into the music, transforming entire venues into spontaneous choirs.

“T’ve always loved to play with the connection between the artist and the audience,” he explains.