“The Performance”

By Caroline Kaminju

THE CONCEPTMy concept has to do with how musicians perform on stage. Once they get on stage, they embody this persona or character that somehow completes or enhances the performance.

When I photographed most of the musicians who performed during the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz festival, I noticed that its not all about music. Just like any other art, music is complete when the audience is present and the audience sometimes if not always, dictates the performance of the musician.

When I photographed US guitarist Mike Stern at the Fugard Theatre, is demeanor reminded me of Mike Jagger of the Rolling Stones. He had a powerful stage presence yet it was not intimidating. I was also struck by the relationship he had with his fellow musicians, Dave Weckl, the drummer and the guitarist. It was playful yet professional and one could feel the synergy between them and collectively they produced symphony of music.

I also had the opportunity to photograph Zakes Bantwini who is famous for his ‘Bum Bum’ song. When I first saw this artist perform on television, I was struck by his stage presence and his character.

One immediately picks that being the ‘performer ‘ is what wows music lovers to his music. Additionally, his dress sense and dance style enhances the performance. He dons black shades similar to those won by Ray Charles and R Kelly the later being his inspiration.

A ‘quiet moment” before the performance

They are human – taking time off for a cuppa.

The synergy between musicians…

This former Miles Davis band mate “grafted elements of rock, blues, soul to his solid jazz foundations”

Lost in music..

Stringing the Yamaha guitar…

Wow…that sounds so good…!

"The more you know, the less you know.” -Mike Stern

ZAKES BANTWINI

“I am about dance music.”

“I love fashion and mixing colours. I am not scared of colours but I am colour blind.”

“When I stopped putting the faith of my dreams in another man’s hands I started living…”

“I don’t rehearse my moves.”

“When the music changes, so does the dance”.— African proverb

“What you see on stage when I dance is an improvisation.”

"I tailor-make my repertoire."

“I’m unlike other artists who possibly have other things to fall back on, should the ‘music thingy’ not work. For me it has to work.”

"I want to be remembered as the Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo of music and leave a lasting legacy.”

THE END