- Robbie Jansen
Robbie Jansen (b. Robert Edward Jansen) is a
South Africa nmusician and afolk hero in theWestern Cape . He was born inCape Town, South Africa in 1949.Jansen began his musical journey in pop bands such as The Rockets, performing music made popular by the South African radio stations such as
Springbok Radio . His first instruments were concertina and mouth organ. The repertoire was British pop of theHippie era. But after a trip to London, which was part of a prize in a band competition, he soon discovered Black music from the USA and in particular the groups with brass sections and he decided he wanted to be a brass instrument player. Brass instrument bands were not new to Robbie as his father was associated with the Salvation Army bands, but he chose the rock and jazz genre for himself. He played in the brass section of Cape Town's cult jazz/rock group Pacific Express from where he went solo as an alto-sax player and singer.His former bands were all in some way ground breakers. Such groups as Oswietie, The Hearthrob, Sons of Table Mountain all offered original music.
South African duo
Johnny Clegg andSipho Mchunu brought Jansen on board to playflute andsaxophone onJuluka 's debut album, "Universal Men ". Jansen joined the growing band for their next two albums, but departed between "African Litany " and "Scatterlings " to resume his solo career. His history in music reflects the history of theColoured People underapartheid . Jansen is self taught. His work with Dollar Brand andBasil Coetzee in the 1970s introduced him to jazz audiences in many countries. He is now a leading figure inCape Jazz .Jansen became very ill in July 2005 and the regional government of the Western Cape announced that his medical bills would be met by the state. This was immensely popular with Capetonians and when Jansen returned to performing he was always met with affection, love and respect. Unlike many of his fellow jazz musicians from the apartheid years he welcomed all into his musical experience. Still a regular performer in venues across
Cape Town , his band, the Sons of the Table Mountain, is usually with him.In 2006 his album, Nomad Jazz was finalist for a SAMA Award, as best Jazz album of the year. He has two other solo albums, Vastrap Island and The Cape Doctor. The albums were produced by Patrick Lee-Thorp for the
Mountain Records label.A blow to his career came in March 2007 when his doctors said that he could no longer travel long distances by air due to his respiratory condition. This forced the cancellation of his 2007 European tour and probably all future international performances.
References
* [http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=64 music.org.za: Robbie Jansen]
* [http://www.durbanet.co.za/exhib/jpsjazz/jansen.htm Durbanet: Robbie Jansen]
* [http://www.mountain.co.za/ See featured artists page]
* Sheetmusic [http://www.sheetmusic.co.za/scores-capejazz]
* Sapa Report [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=125&art_id=qw1115208541933B225]
* Award Story [http://www.mio.co.za/newsitem.php?id=1535]
* Review [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20209]
*Cape Jazz
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.