The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions #17
Virtual Jazz Reality (popularly known as VJR)
Here at Howzit-HongKong.com we have posted about 16 artists under the “Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions” category and, not taking anything away from the previous 16 artists, this next one is a particularly special one.
Those who know me will know about my penchant with Cape Jazz, especially the genre known as “Ghoema.”
Cape Town, being a port-city, is known for the fact that it took the sounds of all the nations who came calling and fused it’s sounds into a unique genre popularly known as “Ghoema.”
Bands such as this week’s featured artists VJR took this sound and further internationalized it into a sound that was more “acceptable” to foreign ears. However, it was (and is) still a particular Cape Town sound and staunch “Capetonians” like me, no matter where in the world we found ourselves… will forever identify with this special Cape Town sound.
Thanks to outfits like Virual Jazz Reality.
Like me, as a teenager growing up in Cape Town in the 80′s and 90′s, you will be frowned upon if you claimed not to know Ian Smith.
OK, maybe I shouldn’t be as harsh. You will be frowned upon if you claim not to know the bands Concert Boulevard, Pound Seats, MJ-9, The Tony Schilder Quartet, Airborne or Inside Out. If you were a regular at Cape Flats clubs and concerts back in the days, you WILL know these outfits. You WILL also know the trumpeter called Ian Smith.
Smith is the man behind the (still) popular outfit known as Virtual Jazz Reality.
I was fortunate to see both Ian Smith and Sammy Webber in action when I attended the birthday party for the late Robbie Jansen at the G-Spot in Epping (Cape Town) during my annual visit home last year. It was the last time I saw Robbie alive so that night at the G-Spot in Epping is forever etched in my memory.
Trumpeter Ian Smith with the late Boeta Robbie Jansen (Pic: Mike Jansen)
Ian Smith (right) with Sammy Webber (middle) at Boeta Robbie’s birthday jam (Pic: Mike Jansen)
This from Music.org.za:
The quartet has built a reputation for refined fusion, performance finesse with razor sharp improvisations and syncopation. Their repertoire includes impressive contemporary jazz originals and inspirational takes on timeless classics such as: John Coletrane’s ‘Naima’ and Eddie Harris’s Freedom’s Jazz Dance, brought to you in true inventive jazz style by the quartet.
Comprising Ian Smith (trumpet, flugalhorn, and vocals), Andrew Ford (keyboards, drums and bass), Sammy Webber (bass and vocals) and Frank Paco (drums and vocals), VJR have impressive individual pedigrees as bandleaders, studio musicians, music educators and performers.
Having played with numerous ensembles of his own creation including: Concert Boulevard, Pound Seats, MJ-9, The Tony Schilder Quartet, Airborne and Inside Out, Ian Smith has acquired the reputation as one of the most sought after studio musicians. His prowess as a trumpet player has also earned him a place as a soloist for the UCT Big Band and for the CAPAB and CTSO orchestras. He was also one of the influential figures, along with Prof Mike Campbell, in the formation of the Cape Jazz Orchestra.
VJR’s Ian Smith pays tribute to Boeta Robbie Jansen (Pic: Mike Jansen)
Andrew Ford has studied piano and percussion, both classical and jazz, for the past sixteen years and in 1980 began performing with the Richmond-Upon-Thames Youth Band in London. Despite having performed extensively with his own trios and groups (Inside Out) as well as a regular with the CAPAB, CTSO and Cape Jazz Orchestras his talents as a producer are extensive. His appointment as musical director for B&S Studios while at the same time running his own successful recording studio the ‘Nuthouse’ bare tribute to this fact.
Andrew Ford in his comfort zone (Pic: Andrew Ford on FaceBook)
Sammy Webber has been playing bass from the impressionable age of 17 and started playing in his first band at only 19. Since then he has played with the successful duo U-Turn with Tony Paulse and is also the bass player for Inside Out and MJ-9. As news of his ability begins to spread he is increasingly in demand as a session musician and is considered a vital contributor by the members of VJR.
Sammy Webber (left) with Robbie Jansen (Pic: Sammy Webber on FaceBook)
Self-taught musician, Frank Paco started playing drums at the age of 16 whilst living in Mozambique. He has performed with Zairian born, French singing sensation Pap Wemba, South African renowned vocalist Miriam Makeba and has toured with Afrojazz band Sakhile. More recently he featured on the FNB and Gold album by Jimmy Dludlu, “Echoes From The Past” and is currently studying music at the UCT College of Music.
Drummer Frank Paco with Samuel L Jackson (Pic: Frank Paco on FaceBook)
Virtual Jazz Reality is innovative and new. Not only are their tracks listenable, but the band also manage to balance cerebral dexterity with emotive fire while at the same time gently surfing gnarly time signatures with ease. Chunky muscular bass tones, delicious piano melodies, distinctive brass runs and fluid like percussive stick work combined with an impressive stage presence make VJR a truly inspiring contemporary jazz outfit catering for the connoisseur and music lovers generally.
Let’s hear from the band themselves in this promotional video:
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Howzit-HongKong.com will feature a YouTube clip of one South African music legend every Friday as part of what we like to call The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions. I am fortunate to be living right next to one of the most stunning working harbours in the world… Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. I often find myself staring across the Harbour at night, with the lights dimmed and one of my favourite musicians from home over the speakers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do…
Goodnight South Africa,
Mike Jansen
