SA: Jazz finds new home in the Karoo

PACT initiated the festival as a practical showcase for the skills that young people of the isolated town learn through its many training and development programmes, as well as a fundraiser to continue supporting its outreach projects, which include sustainable transformation.

In 2024, it trained 75 young people who co-produced the festival, and it is this spirit generated by the goodwill of the youth and the town, whose famous ethos is “greeting is a must”, that has rubbed itself off on patrons and visiting artists alike. So much so, that Italian jazz pianist Giovanni Guidi, announced at one of his concerts held in the town’s NG Kerk, that he would be back next year, not as an artist but as a volunteer himself, sharing his own skills with yet more of the town and the surrounding area’s young people.

Likewise, Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Adam Zanolini and South African guitarist Cameron Ward, both on the bill and who both gave masterclasses to packed-out halls, have declared their support of the festival and its aims.

Ramon Alexander, who returned to J2J this year as director of the festival’s burgeoning music initiative, the Karoo Jazz Project, also lent his voice of support and joins a growing chorus from artists who value the charm and relaxed nature of the festival, where they get to appreciate the event just as much as the patrons.

Under the creative direction of Brenda Sisane and 2024 artistic director Kyle Shepherd, J2J has shaped up to claim some serious jazz credentials, with its line-up this year focused on being a tribute to the jazz piano, making the most of the festival’s new venue, the art deco Showroom Theatre. The 2025 event has some big notes to fill.

“I'm so proud of how everything turned out,” Shepherd said. “Everyone worked hard to make this a success, but it can never be ‘work’ when we have also all enjoyed the process so much. J2J is a thing now and I, for one, am looking forward to what 2025 holds.”

Festivalgoer, bass player and composer Seigo Matsunaga shared his insights on this special festival, too, remarking: “As a musician travelling the world, you can sometimes find yourself caught in the cycle of moving from hotel to venue to airport, living in boxes. At times, the world we musicians inhabit can feel quite small. However, at music festivals like Journey to Jazz, set in naturally abundant places, people gather, bridging the walls of communities with music, connecting individuals. Music has existed alongside human life long before the advent of currency and industry. This festival serves to purify the relationship between music and humanity.”

Setting it apart from other jazz festivals in the country, J2J is held in several different venues throughout the town, with the artists performing different arrangements depending on where they are playing. From the very intimate Gay’s Barn at the top end of town, which seats only 60, to the 450-seater church, where Prince Albert’s chief of traffic displayed his admirable dancing prowess to the delight of artists and the audience at the people’s concert, and the gardens of the African Relish restaurant (also home of jam sessions) and more, each has a distinct flavour encouraging patrons to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

As was expected, ticket sales for the festival’s second year more than doubled, with most shows sold out well in advance – many fans returning from last year and bringing with them groups of friends to enjoy the music, and the extended activities.

Accommodation in the town and surrounding areas was also filled; the popularity of J2J has developed in such a short space of time that it is now witnessing advanced booking of accommodation for 2025, which augurs well for the town and its youth, the majority of whom go on to find gainful employment because of their training and J2J experience.

PACT CEO Azuke Ntapane said: “When we started this festival, we always knew that it had the power to change lives, but little did we know that it would grow so fast. I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey to date, most importantly, our youth, our artists, partners and the incredible festivalgoers whose support means we can keep empowering this region and reimagining our equitable future as a town.”

Video courtesy of the SABC