Feel the rhythm: Camissa Knights set to ignite CTIIF

AS THE countdown to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) begins, one of the Mother City’s most respected jazz ensembles, Camissa Knights, is preparing to bring a deeply rooted Cape sound to the stage one that blends history, heritage and high-energy performance.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

CAMISSA Knights. The jazz ensemble has continuously explored and expanded its sound by blending multiple traditions. I Supplied

(I Supplied)

The group, made up of George Werner on piano, Peter Ndlala on bass, Muneeb Hermans on trumpet and flugelhorn and Carlo Fabe on drums, will perform on March 28 on the Moses Molelekwa Stage at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Speaking on behalf of the band, drummer Carlo Fabe said their music reflects the very essence of Cape Town a city shaped by centuries of cultural exchange.

“Cape Town being a port city, entry point to the continent and gateway to the rest of the world, we celebrate this rich and diverse history, our cosmopolitan extent of influences and array of cultures and traditions old and new through the art form of Cape Jazz,” Fabe explained.

He said the group has continuously explored and expanded its sound by blending multiple traditions. “The sound we have always been exploring and constantly incorporating elements of Afrobeat, Jazz, and Goema into our music to create a sound that’s both conversant and energetic.”

For this year’s performance, the band plans to take audiences on a musical journey that honours those who helped shape South Africa’s jazz legacy while celebrating the artists pushing the genre forward today.