Cape Town is the best city in Africa for jazz. Swingers is the best place to hear it.
I've said the same thing many times, in many different ways. Cape Town's mix of musicians -- mainstream and experimental, African jazz and Cape jazz, smooth jazz and jazz-rock fusion -- is unmatched. A lot of them -- and visitors, too -- show up at Swingers.
Alvin Dyers, guitar, and Daniel Bloem, congas. Swingers, 7 June 2010. (All photos copyright John Edwin Mason, 2010.)
Monday nights at Swingers are classic jam sessions. You never know what's going to happen, who's going to show up.
You can only be sure that the first set is going to be terrific. That's when the house band, led by the superb Alvin Dyers, is on stage.
Charlton, vocals, and Nick Williams, bass. Swingers, 7 June 2010.
I'll admit that there have been some Monday nights when I ended up wishing that I'd left after Alvin and the boys stopped playing. That's happened maybe twice. And it certainly didn't happen on the 7th.
Charlton was a hoot -- big voice, big personality. Swung like a muthafucka.
Mystery guest, recorder, and Nick Williams, bass. Swingers, 7 June 2010.
A rockin' blues solo, played on the recorder? Sho 'nuff. This guy is a serious musician. I don't know who he is, and neither did any of the Swingers regulars, but he was pretty amazing -- good, solid solos and ensemble playing on both the recorder and electric piano.
Jan Brooks, congas. Swingers, 7 June 2010.
As if blues recorder wasn't enough, how about a conga-playing university instructor? No, Jan doesn't teach music. She's in the Department of Human and Community Development (don't ask me -- I don't know what that means either) at the University of Illinois. She's the real deal as a percussionist, having studied with some of the finest West African drummers.
Hilton Schilder, rapping, Denver Furness, drumming. Swingers, 7 June 2010.
Ex Hilton Schilder semper aliquid novi. [There's always something new from Hilton.]
Alistair Andrews, bass, and Nick Williams, piano. Swingers, 7 June 2010.
Finally, a shout-out to Alistair Andrews, the rock solid foundation on which the house band builds its grooves.
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Swingers, right off of Wetton Road, in Ottery, Cape Town. Things get going on Monday nights at about 9:30. Be there, and don't be square.
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