Jam That Session gives a boost for Cape musicians

One rainy Sunday afternoon I stepped on to the streets of the Cape Town CBD heading towards Ragazzi Bar for the Jam That Session - Eclectic Music Edition. Jam That Session started in 2012 when the founders Andisiwe “Andy” Mkosi and Obie struggled to get bookings as artists.

“The main aim of the event is to blur lines of segregation [between] artists from different walks of life,” says Andy. This stems comes from the struggle Andy and other artists have experienced because they were not considered “mainstream artists”. Andy felt the need to provide a platform for different genres of music and artists from different backgrounds to showcase their talent. This has been evident as I have attended this event numerous times and I have always discovered new talent.

The amount of talent found at Jam That Session is amazing, varying from Muziek Sensation (an acapella group who come from Khayelitsha) to the soothing voice of Michael-Ashley Jones.

Muziek Sensation perform at Jam That Session. Photo by Dumisani Dabadini.

Michael-Ashley Jones set a romantic mood with his rendition of John Legend’s ‘All of Me’, which left the audience emotional and wanting more. His smooth voice accompanied by his guitar connects with the audience and hits hard with every note. Jones certainly has a bright future in R&B music.

In the eclectic music edition I was very impressed by Muziek Sensation. The group delivered impeccable sound ranging from gospel to house. Muziek Sensation excels in connecting with the crowd as the audience participated in every song. The acapella group delivers funk-influenced songs that raise social issues in an appealing way. Their song dedication to the late Nelson Mandela’s 67 minutes community service initiative got a good response from the audience as everyone sang along with their perfectly blending voices.

Muziek Sensation member, Aphiwe, stated that it is hard for local upcoming artists to succeed because it is difficult to get financial and media support. Jam That Session allows artists to sell their merchandise at the event.

The diversity in attendance and talent is what creates the community of Jam That Session. The audience was mostly dominated by youth who share a deep passion for soulful music and who value music that addresses social issues. The Jam That Session audience is very diverse, as is their taste in music, as I have spotted familiar faces in all the editions I have attended.

The audience is mostly young but diverse. Photo by Dumisani Dabadini.

Andy mentioned that the event is not only just about music but the arts in general. He says that the purpose of the event “is to create an atmosphere where designers, writers, rappers, poets, and deejays can network.” The networking is evident as there were radio presenters, DJs and TV personalities among the crowd. “Jam That Session is a monthly event that caters for what Cape Town really wants, an eclectic music experience,” said radio and TV personality Vuyolwethu Dubese.

Events of this nature can be very hard to organise. Andy pointed out that they struggle to get sponsorship. “Getting sponsors to take you seriously at a time when it is all about who you know is very difficult. Gatekeepers are obstacles”. Andy finished off by saying, “Jam That Session works solely as a team with absolutely no resources. The only thing we have is drive and the supporters that believe in the brand.”

The amount of talent and dedication at this event proves that there is so much talent and potential to be discovered in Cape Town.

The artists that were on the line-up for the eclectic music edition were Rhythm & Tide, Muziek Sensation, Midnight Velvet, Peter, M4M Crew, D’Verse, Calvyn, Cami Scoundrel and Michael-Ashley Jones. All artists delivered on stage, showing admirable professionalism. If you appreciate good music, it is well worth attending the sessions.

You can follow @JamThatSesh on twitter. Visit their youtube page to watch the Jam That Session documentary. You can also contact the team on jamthatsession [at] gmail.com.