Written History and Lived Legacy of Cape Town Jazz

This paper examines the historical and current implications of Cape Town Jazz in juxtaposition with the genre's written history and lived experiences of four key members of the jazz community. Drawing from the interviews with a musician, promoter, educator, and enthusiast, this study explores the influence of Cape Jazz as a subgenre rooted in the Coloured community's cultural heritage and the apartheid struggle. While Cape Jazz remains practiced through its legacy, the current jazz scene in Cape Town reflects a broader global influence that is evolving through younger musicians' interpretations of local and global musics. Key areas of issue as indicated by interviewees include limited “formal” education about local music traditions, inadequate promotion of events, and difficulties utilizing performance venues. Despite these challenges, community members have started solving these issues to help create a more informed Cape Town jazz culture. This study contributes to the community by highlighting historically significant literature in conjunction with the current opinions of some community members.