Darren English and his mates create magic on stage at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE Arts Editor, at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda

We waited outside, almost camping outside the venue for the show to begin. It took some time, but we did not mind. Not even for a second. We remained rooted like little children waiting for sweets promised to them by Father Christmas.

After all Darren English was in the house, and who would want to miss such a show of someone of the artistic caliber of this trumpeter, Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Jazz for 2023. Even those among us who appeared to be losing patience with the delay of the commencement of the show, did not move away from the door as they remained rooted there despite their hushed complaints.

And eventually when the doors opened, we all streamed in and took our seats to wait for the show to begin. And as soon as the programme director introduced English, he was met with attentive ears and eyes glued on the stage in anticipation of this show.

When he strutted on stage, the mild mannered artist introduced his band, we were all awed as we applauded, filling the whole of Thomas Pringle Hall at the Settler’s Monument.

This is because those accompanying him on this journey of good jazz, very good performance, except one-the gifted American pianist, whose name has just escaped me, are alumni of the Standard Bank Young Artist for jazz that won this much sought after accolade in the previous years, some of them several years before English did last year: Kyle Shepherd, the hugely talented pianist, whose stage demeanor and piano craft is akin witnessing someone in a meditative moment, a moment that takes him into a  space of deafening silence where they are talking to their ancestors, except that his was not a silent performance, but a moment that transported all of us, into our own states of meditation.

We connected with his piano, his soul and the space where his music took us to. Naidoo with his drums transported us into a space where we felt we were in his healing room, his Induna where he heals the afflicted of us. It was pure ecstasy where the spirits of the audience became enthralled by his drums. His performance enveloped us with warmth and love to the extent that we even forgot our troubles waiting for us outside this safe space.

Benjamin on double bass was magical too. And then there was this American saxophonist, who despite the fact that according to English, he was the one responsible for delaying the show, was clearly forgiven by the appreciative audience as his saxophone did the magic, transporting us into what we imagine the New Orleans Jazz Festival to be like, that is those of us who have not been there. Apparently the show started let as he had just landed.

English just demonstrated the elements in his repertoire and performance art that clearly have made the panel responsible for selecting the Standard Bank Young Artists to declare him the best young jazz artist in the country for 2023.

With the festival this year achieving three milestones: Celebrating 30 years of democracy, 40 years of Standard Bank’s Sponsorship of the Festival, and the festival turning 50 years this year, this year’s festival is indeed not an event to miss.

.CITYLIFE/ARTS was hosted by Standard Bank at the Festival.