Jazz at the Nassau celebrates its 20th Anniversary, on Sunday 17 November 2019 at 7.30pm, featuring Afro-American Jazz vocalist Sharón Clark and Swedish pianist Mattias Nilsson together with well-known South African bassist Wesley Rustin and Lumanyano Mzi on drums,
Always wanting a venue where musicians would be appreciated and listened to by an audience without high noise levels and reasonable entry fees, well-known in Jazz circles, Cliff Wallis found an ideal venue. In November 1999, the first concert took place in Cape Town at the Nassau Centre, Groote Schuur High School in Newlands. “Jazz at the Nassau” opened with Jack van Poll on Piano and Judith Sephuma on Vocals together with thirteen local musicians.
On Sunday 17 November 2019 at 7.30pm, Jazz at the Nassau celebrates its 20th Anniversary with this exciting international and local line-up.
‘My following of jazz began in the mid 60’s. First with Vinyls, Shearing on Stage and Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra by Oscar Peterson as well as live jazz at Green Point Art Centre and Troubadour Restaurant run by Maurice Gawronsky’, explains Cliff’, who is the owner of “Wallis Blinds”, a Window Blind manufacturing business with a huge passion for Jazz on the side.
‘I wanted to take jazz out of Bars, Clubs and Restaurants and put it in a Concert Venue, a very small version of what Norman Grantz did in New York in the early 50’s, namely Jazz at the Philharmonic.’
‘The idea was mainly for local musicians, but later became international, featuring musicians from Sweden – Martin Sjostedt piano, Johan Horlan sax, Mattias Nilsson piano and Vivian Buczek vocals. USA – Brubeck Brothers, Dave Liebman sax, Kendra Shank vocals, Germany – Trio from Cologne and many more.’
Once a year Jazz at the Nassau has a benefit concert for students from SA College of Music at UCT in support of their travels to the National Arts Festival, Makhanda (Grahamstown). They also have three benefit concerts for the Delft Big Band that generates R50,000 and a new Baritone Sax.
Celebrate 20 years of Jazz at the Nassau, an evening of superb music with international jazz icons.
WHERE: Jazz at the Nassau, Nassau Centre, Groote Schuur High School, 77 Palmyra Road, Newlands 7700
WHEN: Sunday 17 November 2019 at 7.30pm
WHO: Sharón Clark (USA) and Mattias Nilsson (Sweden) with Wesley Rustin and Lumanyano Mzi (SA)
TICKETS: R240. Seating is unreserved. As space is limited, it is suggested to book early. Call Cliff Wallis on 021 761 2726 / 076 401 0008 or email cliffwallis@gmail.com
