A JAZZ pianist will lead a dinner concert at The Crypt to launch the venue’s new Kawai Grand Piano. This week sees Jason Reolon appear. Reolon, who is one of the country’s finest talents, never fails to move, inspire and challenge audiences with a fresh and dynamic approach.
Complex, groovy and soulful, Reolon aims to transcend boundaries. He will be accompanied by Buddy Wells on saxophone, Heinrich Goosen on drums and Nick Williams on bass.
The concert will be held to launch the newly acquired instrument.
Owner Derk Blaisse says, “This Kawai Grand piano has been selected for the versatile character of the instrument. A piano in a jazz club must be able to reveal the most delicate and sensitive pianissimo’s, as well as thundering fortissimo’s. It will be used almost daily and must keep ‘his’ exceptional touch and powerful tone”
Music manager Charlette Dickson adds, “Since the start of The Crypt Jazz Restaurant three and a half years ago more than a 100 pianists have played at the venue - like the famous US pianist Darius Brubeck and the Belgian virtuoso Jack van Poll. The new instrument will definitely attract other celebrities”
The Grand Piano (Kawai GL 40 for insiders) replaces the white Grotrian Steinway Baby Grand Piano from the year 1823, almost a century old. The history of this relic dates back to 1835 when the first factory producing superior quality piano’s was built by Heinrich Steinway, later known as Henry Steinway after his emigration to the US where he founded Steinway & Sons.
The Crypt is a prominant jazz club in town, based in the historic St Georges Cathedral precinct, built by Herbert Baker in 1898.
The venue shares room with Desmond Tutu’s Memorial and Witness centre.
The gig is on Wednesday at 7pm. - Staff Writer
l charlette@thecryptjazz.co.za, www.thecryptjazz.com