The Elsies River High School band absolutely killed it on Saturday evening at the the 17th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival. When I say absolutely killed it I don’t mean that in a traditional Cape Flats kind of way. I mean they were sensational!
And these youngsters from the toughest of neighbourhoods, where gangsterism is a more popular choice than jazz, don’t have any formal training at all. They don’t even have a music department at their school. What they have is passion and truckloads of natural talent.
Listening to these youngsters absolutely “killing it”on the Menenbergs stage made me think, this is what makes South Africa great! You never have to look far for inspiration.
Doing covers of songs by a galaxy of local stars from Jonathan Butler and PJ Powers to Mafikizolo, who were due on stage later on Saturday evening, the Elsies River High School band provided the perfect start to day two of the Jazz Fest.
Expect to see the name Dehanre Kiewiets up in lights before too long! The 17-year-old lead vocalist brought a young Whitney Houston to mind. What a stunner!