Showing posts with label township jazz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label township jazz. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

ijazz


One from the recent past - back in 2005, I was selected as one of the world's top 100 photographers to participate in A Day in The Life of Africa photographic event. The image above - of my friend Porkie Klaas and his band playing jazz outside a shack store - was used in the book.
All the images can be viewed
by clicking here.

The photo caught the attention of Mark Johnson and other team members from the Playing for Change foundation in the US who have undertaken a huge project to document street music worldwide. It inspired them to come to Gugulethu where they documented musicians jamming in Porkie's home. Porkie has been training local students informally, as well as holding regular jamming sessions in his front room for over 15 years. After filming, the foundation promised to raise funds to help Porkie realise a long-cherished ambition to set up a fully-equipped township music school in NY27. Happily, the school plans have now been drawn up and the builders start work next month.


I have been re-thinking this blog lately since my photographic career spans more than 30 years of South Africa's turbulent history. As a regular feature I will be posting 'one from the archive' - an image from a key moment in this country's history.

Tuesday, 6 March 2007

Township Jazz


I've not updated for a while because there's been a lot of work on - assignments for the New York Times, an intriguing diamond story and some paparazzi jobs thrown in.

One of the highlights of the last month or so was the Exiles 're-initiation' concert celebrating the re-opening of Parliament. It starred Louis Moholo and his 28 piece big band. I'll post a photo sometime soon.

For now here's a photograph from an on-going essay on township jazz. Double bass player Porkie Klaas with Soulman Penny in the background. I exhibited some images in this series at last year's Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Thursday, 7 December 2006

New Res fire



I hope there's going to be people out there interested in viewing these photographs and learning about life here in the townships and around the Western Cape.

Last night I was sitting in Porkie's Place - in Gugulethu. He's a double bassist I grew up with -I've been documenting his world for several years. You can view a picture here.

On my way home this huge fire had broken out in New Res informal settlement near Cape Town International airport. Luckily no one was hurt