By Louis Kruger
Jazz is the most egalitarian of music genres – even played under the strict gaze of Ramon Alexander, who commands his stage with off-beat panache, cueing in players, marking time with his piano strokes (and shushing rude audience members.)
Kyle Damons of the Awaken Jazz Project says of Alexander, “[He] is one of the most well-known jazz musicians and composers, not only in the local jazz scene, but in the Cape jazz scene. It’s an honour for us to have him here […] He’s already dedicated so much of his time and knowledge [to us].”
Alexander’s band performed at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Conservatory Amphitheatre on Saturday, 18 October, with all the ease and precision of musicians at the top of their game, sipping coffee, chatting, smiling and just having a real good time of it. The performance showcased Alexander’s original compositions, ranging from his ESP-days in the early 2000s (“Cape to Cairo”, “Bacchus is ’n moegoe”), songs from his 2023 album Picnic at Kontiki (“Apex”, “Gondwanaland”), to a (very catchy) number (“Guss and Grace”) from an upcoming album, set for release in 2026. The music was brought to life by Danel Dippenaar on the alto saxophone and that enigmatic instrument, the flute; by Joshua America on the electric guitar; Chadleigh Gowar on bass guitar; long-time Alexander collaborator Annemie Nel manning the drum set; the man himself relegated to an unassuming keyboard in the absence of a conveniently placed grand piano, still playing with his characteristic relaxed intensity, what one might call “swagger”.
Unlike the authoritarian silence imposed on the audience during a classical concert, jazz invites the listener to participate in the music: clap, sway, dance, and holler, which become woven into the rhythm, making each experience with a song unique. On Saturday, this was taken further, when Alexander invited up ex-band member Sima Mashazi (who, as it happens, is also a General Linguistics lecturer) to deliver an impromptu performance on vocals, an energetic rendition of Hugh Masakela’s “Ntjilo Ntjilo”. Talk about a reunion!
But who are the Awaken Jazz Project who opened for Alexander’s band? Damons says they – mostly SU music students – came up with the name two months ago in preparation for the SU National Ensemble Competition, which, he slyly notes, they won. Alexander justifiably joked on the night, “It feels we should have opened for them.”
Damons explains about the name, “We’re basically trying to say that we want to [awaken] something in the listener when they listen to us play.” Performing on Saturday were members Kyle Damons (piano), Logan Jantjies (bass), Henco Bester (saxophone and vocals), Quintin Petersen (guitar), and Grade 11 pupil Caleb Dlamini (drums). While some of their members are also part of the Jazz Chamber Group and Maties Jazz Society – founded by Alexander in 2022 – they are their own band, already boasting significant accomplishments.
Damons says Alexander has had an influence on him both as a musician and a person, “I’m very blessed to study and learn under his direction here in Stellenbosch University.” Clearly, the collaboration between Ramon Alexander and jazz students at SU has been a very fruitful one, as showcased by Saturday’s concert. Let us hope for many more in the future!
