This past Saturday we flew down to Cape Town for their Annual Jazz Festival which everyone knows about *in Angelica from Rugrats voice* with over 41 artists, 5 stages and 2 nights to be mesmerized by nothing but good jazz music.
We were only able to attend the Saturday line-up with Ringo Madlingozi, Beatenberg, Al Jarreau, Hugh Masekela, Naima Kay kwa Mzua, Dirty Loops, The City, Delft Big Band, Amel Larrieux just to mention a few… As this was not a star studded event lets talk about my experience…
Testing lady luck, Scatting for the Heineken trip to Montreal…
About a week ago I received a text from Lelo asking me if I want to attend the Jazz Festival, reluctantly I agreed thinking I’m over committing myself to the Jazz where-as I have agreed to attend the Dstv iRock festival but then something told me to check the dates and they were not clashing. You see Lelo knew I wanted to go to the Jazz Festival because I have made frequent mention of my interest since the orgnaisers announced Amel Larrieux as one of the head-line artists to perform there. Now if you know me you will know that Amel Larrieux is one of my favourite artists and seeing her performing LIVE would mean a great deal to me, I guess this was Lelo saying ‘go see your favourite artist on JC!‘ nge style.
Heineken ushers 
Yes! I agreed we sent my details through and three days before the event I received a detailed e-mail confirmation with my itinerary; – Flight, Accommodation details, and Airport Transfers. At check in at the hotel, I was going to get my festival tickets, cash allowance to take a Taxi down to the festival and return, (it’s about 1km down the road), and dinner allowance for Saturday. Breakfast was served in the breakfast room at the Pepperclub Hotel.
Ilios driver
As a person that suffers from maze-phobia this was more than just perfect, everything was explained kahle and to my complete understanding. I smiled and thanked Taryn Deneys from Giltedge Travel Group Incentives. After getting my confirmation I started gagging about my trip to friends and on my Facebook because I knew everything was 100% taken care of.
The day in question came, I woke up by 7a.m because I was asked by a dear friend to play a reminder as he had to catch a 8 o’ clock bus to Durban for the Royalty Awards after that anda phinda ndakwazi ukulala. I decided staying in bed won’t bring back ubuthongo so I got up went to the shops, well I wanted to get me some new shades and maybe a pair of jeans and maybe a panama or something njee entsha for my trip… anyways that happened. I was back home and made my way to the Gautrain, well…in short is, I got to British Airways checking-in point a minute too late and boy didn’t I experience incompetency 
however my lucky stars sent through a Lennox, Thato and Larry to my rescue. As much as they couldn’t help with reversing the “missed flight” status but they ensured I got in on the next flight which was scheduled 2 hours later.
My room at the Pepper-Club Hotel & Spa.
Immediately after that I corresponded with the travel agent in Cape Town as well as Miche Rorich to inform them of the unfortunate developments, they understood and that made me happy . The 2 hours flew on and I was ready to board to the Mother City. On arrival I was greeted with a warm smile from a Ilios driver with a Heineken banner we drive off to Pepper-Club Hotel and Spa. I know I’m not well traveled but this Hotel is one of the best I have been to, I checked in, then ushered to my room. As awkward as it felt for me to have another guy carrying my bag but I enjoyed it. The staff is of utmost friendly doors being opened for you by people with big smiles on their faces. I give the Pepper-Club Hotel and Spa a 20/10 rate for the service its staff offers to its visitors.
Goofing in the lift with Ntsigo.
I think the time was around 6 so I quickly freshened up and rushed to CTICC to be with Miche Rorich at the Heineken Marquee, I had arranged to meet up with my good friend Ntsigo to share the experience with. As I have indicated this was not a star-studded event I was not even on the VIP box (if they had any) because everyone was walking back and forth and around to the 5 stages to catch their favourites perform while I opted to spend more time around the Heineken Marquee for cold refreshment reasons and I also took part in the Heineken Scatting competition which was hella fun…click HERE to view the video.
a bit of a view from my room…
And…*drum roll* my highlight of the jazz Festival was to be on the second row cheering on Amel Lerrieux, Amel was more than just perfect and she was excited to see a crowd that sings along to her songs but one song well sang to was You make me whole a beautiful ballad song that I plan to sing on my wedding day. I will say it again as I said it on the Simphiwe Dana concert, Amel is a paragon.
“U-Simphiwe makayekwe she is on a league of her own, some deep dope isht. Simphiwe Dana emerges as a paragon of greatness and goodness in her work. If I get to Compare her to international song birds I can only think of Amel, Mariah and Celine” and I say the same thing about Amel.
My queen of the night, Amel Lerrieux…she took off her ear piece and just sang for us.
I have had one of the best times at the Cape Jazz Festival, everything from the travel agent Giltedge Travel Group (Taryn Deneys), to Ilios drivers Miche Roich and Tumi from EclipsePR/ Heineken_SA was pleasantly immaculate. A big warm fuzzy THANK YOU to all the parties that made the trip possible.
Breakfast Table.
THANK you, Thank YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!
Zeeba (c)
@Zolanimasombuka