John Edwin Mason: Documentary, Motorsports, Photo History

Jazz in Africa: Cape Town, Part 10, the Rainbow Room at Mandela Rhodes Place

There must be two or three people who know more about South African jazz than Eric Alan, but I’ve never met them and never heard of them. The Argus, Cape Town’s afternoon newspaper, describes Eric as "a radio presenter, columnist, reviewer, website owner, editor, Cape Town International Jazz Festival MC... Read more →

Jazz in Africa: Cape Town, Part 9, Duma's Falling Leaves Jazz Rendezvous

Without a doubt, Duma's Falling Leaves Jazz Rendezvous is one of the best places in Cape Town to listen to jazz, have a drink, and hang out with some terrific people. Located in Gugulethu (a suburb that was referred to as an "African township," during the bad old days of... Read more →

Cape Town Carnival 2010, Part 3: Portraits of the Fabulous Woodstock Starlites

We're well into the second week of the Cape Town New Year's Carnival. I spent last Saturday with the Fabulous Woodstock Starlites, one of the champions of 2009's carnival and a favorite to win, again, this year. I've been photographing the Starlites for the last three carnival seasons, as part... Read more →

Jazz in Africa: Cape Town, Part 8, the Monday Night Jam Sessions at Swingers

The last time that I wrote about the Monday night jam session at Swingers, I called it my musical home-away-from-home. It still is. So, last Monday evening -- my first Monday evening on this trip to Cape Town -- there I was, in the front row, soaking up the sounds... Read more →

Jazz in Africa: Cape Town, Part 7, Jazz Brunch at Winchester Mansions

If you've looked at the blog more than once, you know that I never get tired of talking about Cape Town's flourishing jazz scene. The mellowest place to hear local music is, without a doubt, the Sunday jazz brunch in the outdoor courtyard at Winchester Mansions, right on the ocean... Read more →

Jazz in Africa: Cape Town, Part 6, Tutu Puoane

Cape Town is the jazz capital of the African continent. A bold statement, but surely correct. And not just because the city hosts the Cape Town International Jazz Festival or because it's the hometown of legends such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi, and Louis Moholo or because it's where... Read more →

Cape Town Carnival 2010, Part 2: DieTweede Nuwe Jaar

Most people think that the minstrel troupes' great parade through central Cape Town, South Africa, on die Tweede Nuwe Jaar [Second New Year, January 2nd] is the be-all and end-all of the New Year's Carnival. And why wouldn't they -- it's absolutely spectacular. (All photos copyright John Edwin Mason, 2010.... Read more →