London is not the only place where jazz is having a renaissance. Cape Town, South Africa is home to a thriving community of musicians whose output shakes the foundations of the genre. Shane Cooper is a fixture of the scene, from his work as a composer (scoring for both film and theatrical productions), dance and electronica projects under the moniker Card On Spokes, and as an award-winning jazz bassist.
Formed in 2017, Cooper gathered Sisonke Xonti (tenor saxophone), Robin Fassie (trumpet) Bokani Dyer (keyboards), and Marlon Witbooi (drums) to merge electronica with jazz, and the result has been well-received. All About Jazz hails the group’s debut, Welcome to This World, as a testament to “Cooper's creative blurring of stylistic lines and identities, but also to the gifts that his friends... bring to his music.” One of the UK’s premier artists, the brilliant Shabaka Hutchings, also lends his tenor to two tracks on the record.
Cooper and company are hard at work on the follow-up to Welcome to this World, due in 2020.
Bamako Love Song