End of the Rhythm Road

It's hard to believe that our 2009 Rhythm Road in southern Africa has come to an end.  Helen Sung & NuGenerations, with Lonnie Plaxico (bass); Quincy Davis (drums); and Saundra Silliman (vocals) want to thank everyone at the US State Department, including the PAOs & CAOs in Africa, the ambassadors & their spouses, all the staff, the Jazz at Lincoln Center folks - Monak, Shana, Colleen, and Jean, y'all are the best!

Also, many thanks to Alexis Ortiz, who put together a fabulous tour; and Susan Johns, who traveled with us the first week and helped us acclimate to everything.  You ladies rock!!

The band with Carl (drummer) at the airport getting ready to leave...we hope to return soon!

Public Garden and final glimpses

Cape Town is so pretty, here are some more snapshots...

At the Public Rose Garden:

Good night, sleep tight...

Happy Feet :)

Penguins!

Back in Swaziland, we were told by Mrs. Parker (wife of US Ambassador to Swaziland Maurice Parker) that there were penguins near Cape Town. Because of their braying, they're called jackass penguins(!). Having always associated penguins with icy conditions (i.e. March of the Penguins, or Happy Feet), I was very curious to see them. On Saturday May 23, our last full day in Cape Town, I took the train down the coast to Simon's Town, where there is a penguin sanctuary at Boulders Beach...all I can say is, WOW!

The train ride south afforded some spectacular views of False Bay:

Boulders Beach was strewn with boulders of all shapes & sizes...penguin sighting!

Watching penguins hangin' out at the beach...I wonder if they prefer the sand or the boulders?

It's baby season, so there were mothers sitting on eggs, little ones trying out their new voices, and cute pictures like these:

University of Cape Town

Our stay in Capetown coincided with the 10th Anniversary of the Cape Town Big Band Festival. Produced by the fabulous Anne Barr, the May 22 evening concert at the funky Baxter Theatre showcases student big bands.  Earlier that afternoon, NuGenerations gave a free public concert, and then we scattered: Saundra and I joined in the inaugural meeting of "Sisters in Sound" and talked/worked with young women music students/musicians, while Lonnie & Quincy conducted a bass & drum workshop.

Free afternoon concert & workshops by NuGenerations at UCT...

Sisters in Sound workshop...

Some young instrumentalists & singers-to-be?

Evening concert in Baxter Theatre:

Capetown Big Band Festival Concert excerpts

UCT musicians sit in w/NuGenerations

Funky lighting!

BUSH RADIO

Would you believe one of the major community radio stations in Capetown is called...BUSH Radio? Nigel Vermaas (one of their stalwart DJs who has been around to see a lot of great musicians and hear their music) was kind enough to interview NuGenerations and the US Public Affairs Officer Mark Canning for his show on May 22, Friday morning.

Nigel and Helen after the interview...

US Asst. PAO Officer Mark Canning

Sights & Sounds of Cape Town

Down in the Victoria & Alfred waterfront district, there was the high-end V & A mall along with a bustling promenade area.  Enjoy this free concert excerpt!

Quincy said the fringe of trees on the mountain crest looked like a line of elephants...coool.

Cape-Tonians call the clouds that often enshroud the surrounding peaks a tablecloth.

3 day weekend!

If this means we get an extra weekend day, I'm all for it!

Puppy love

We were told people in southern Africa love their pets, and it was confirmed by the numerous veterinary clinics and pet stores we saw. When this baby Rottweiler (who knew they could be so sweet?) showed up at the Mannenberg workshop, we (at least Saundra and I) fell in love!

Rock out!

The end of the tour is near and we're feelin' crazy, and since the piano is the fairest instrument of them all (haha!), our wonderful drummer Quincy Davis & bassist Lonnie Plaxico can't help but rock out on the keyz as the stage was being set up for our Mannenberg workshop - yeaaah baby!

Mannenberg - the Mamela Project

Our 2nd workshop on May 21 was hosted by the Mamela Project (a non-profit that promotes music as an alternative to violence, gangs, drugs, and other self-destructive practices) at Edenvale Primary School in the Mannenberg township.  Our embassy driver Carl Isaacs is the drummer (how cool is that!) in this fine band led by Charles Louw, the pianist and composer of these two tunes they performed.  GO Mariana on the euphonium!

    

Drummer talk - Quincy & Carl

Townships

We especially enjoy visits to townships.  Not only are they an ongoing reminder of African history and of serious issues that need to be addressed, some of the most vibrant people and music reside in them. It was an honor to the spend time on Wednesday, May 21, with folks at the Nyanga Arts Development Center, and with musicians in Mannenberg, home to some of South Africa's most honored jazz musicians, including saxophonist Basil Coatzee.

At Nyanga, we were welcomed with a spontaneous concert & dance.  Lonnie joined in on the bass and Saundra joined in on the dance floor!

        

Jam session!

Group photo!

Shades of San Francisco & A Reception

The parallels are striking - there's the waterfront, the mountains, the fog, even sea lions (but w/an added attraction of penguins here...more on that later!) and the sparkling sunshine that gives everything an irresistable glow.

Paul Patin, who to Helen's delight is also a native Houstonian, is the PAO in Cape Town.  He hosted a reception the evening of May 20 at his residence, bringing together local musicians, promoters, and UCT faculty.

Paul, Mike Rossi (UCT), & Quincy

Helen, Nigel Vermaas (BUSH Radio), and Mark Canning (Asst PAO)

Rashid Lombard (Capetown Jazz Festival), Lonnie, and Mike

Mike & Helen play a song for the guests...

Anne Barr, producer of the Cape Town Big Band Festival

Last stop, Cape Town!

It's hard to believe NuGenerations' Rhythm Road is in its last week, and everyone we've met in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Namibia, and Jo'burg says Capetown is the best!  What do y'all think?

P.S. Many thanks to the Embassy for housing us in the beautiful Waterfront Area!

Goodnight, Jo'burg

Johannesburg weather is what Paradise must be like...nearly perfect year round with a strong yet mellow sun, pure blue skies, refreshing breezes. We bid farewell to Jo'burg (or Jozi, as they say here) with these snapshots of a picture perfect dusk...

The Rosebank Hotel where we stayed was a lot of fun...some shots of their lobby bar.  Ooolala!