Not as much of a remake compilation as it is a tribute to a different era, Romance Language makes it clear from the outset that the sound may be modernized, but that the execution is still as lush, languorous and lilting as his predecessors. For example, Mr. Whalum’s signature style buoys along the opening ballad, “They Say It’s Wonderful,” and is complemented by his brother Kevin’s warm, resonant baritone without the vocals trying to overcome or outshine the fragility of the moment. “Lush Life” still lives up to its name in its slow, sensual unfurling, and “My One and Only Love” still has a tender, timeless feel with Kevin’s rich and nimble delivery. The best of the re-imagingings have to be “You Are Too Beautiful,” which has a tempo that invites a lively, after-dinner dance by lovestruck couples by candlelight, and “My One And Only Love,” a song that demonstrates better than any of the others that future Kevin and Kirk duos are as inevitable as they are essential in future offerings.

After the classic renderings, The Sultan of Sax continues to work that time-tested mojo on some popular urban-styled soul: the delightfully disarming trill of flutes kicks off a cover of Joe’s “I Wanna Know” as breathy female vocals swirl beneath his ending notes, and another waltz-worthy song comes in the form of the restyled Eric Benet and Tamia favorite, “Spend My Life With You,” due to its undulating rhythms. “I Wish I Wasn’t” is put across just as vulnerably as Heather Headley originally intended it, and Brandy’s “Almost Doesn’t Count” is covered by the Whalum boys’ venerated uncle, Hugh “Peanuts”Whalum, (80+ years old giving that spry performance? Really?) who matter-of-factly, yet moodily, delivers the rueful soliloquy of a love that could’ve been: “Maybe you’ll be sorry, maybe you will be cold/maybe you’ll come running back to me Baby, from that cruel cold world/You almost convinced me that you’re gonna stick around/but everybody knows, almost doesn’t count.” A deft and delectable blend of old and new-school, on Romance Language Mr. Whalum  and family pay homage to the greats and put their own stamp on the genre at the same time…..like anyone expected anything less from Cool Man Kirk. Highly Recommended.

 By Melody Charles

Today on Cape Diary presented by Philip Todres

1. Music, Movement And Medical – UCT Medical School Celebrates 100 Years
Date:  Wednesday 16 May at the Baxter Theatre
Guest:  Prof Marian Jacobs – Dean of Faculty of Health Science

2. Maestro Yampolsky Conducts 3 Concerts For The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
Date:  Thursday 17 May at 8PM at the City Hall
Guest:  Victor Yampolsky – Conductor

3. Hadley Tituss with Artscape Roundup

4. A Photographic Exhibition, Streets Of Our Lives
Date: Until 26 May at the Alliance Francaise Art Gallery
Guest: Gregor Rohrig – photographer

5. Mozart’s Requiem Performed By The Stellenbosch Libertas Choir & Camerate Tinta Barocca
Date: Sunday 20 May at 16:00 Endler Hall; 27 May at 16:00 Toringkerk, Paarl
Guest: Christoff Pauw

Today on Cape Diary presented by Hadley Tituss

1. UCT Symphonic Wind Ensemble with the Symphony Choir Of CT
Date:  Tuesday 15 May at 8:15 PM at Baxter Concert Hall
Guest:  Prof Philip Lloyd – bass singer

2. Cape Town’s Premiere of Sie Weiss Alles, with James Cairns & Taryn Bennett
Date:  until 2 June at Kalk Bay Theatre
Guest:  James Cairns – acclaimed writer and performer

3. Celebrating Georgia’s National Day
Date:  Georgia’s National Day is 26 May
Guest:  Dr Gerald Wolman – Honorary Consul of Georgia

4. Young Ambassadors Of Brigham Young University returns with Harmony – The Music Of Life
Date:  Friday 18 May at 19:30 at Artscape Opera House
Guest:   Randy Boothe – Director

…Shanghai Brunch! The absolute perfect CD to accompany red wine in the bath tub, Sunday morning’s first cup of tea, Friday night’s first martini or, in fact, any brunch, any where… It’s laid-back without being irrelevant, intense without being consuming and the playing is ‘tight’ and toe-tappingly good. A refreshing trio from South Africa!

When I saw this album online I was uncertain as to its artistic authenticity, but if its quirky proudly South African design is anything to go by, my mistrust was greatly misplaced. This album has so much going for it, besides great showmanship and technically brilliant balance between the performers, it stands out as one of the best eclectic jazz/classical cross over albums I own.
Track no.5 for e.g. really showcases the imagination and musical pulse of the whole group.
Definitely a must buy….

I own Charl du Plessis’s “Trio” CD and this is the now the second album I own! I’m totally mad about both!!

Date:                 Wednesday 16 May 2012

Time:                 19h00

Venue:             St Paul’s Church, Church Street, Rondebosch

Tickets:             R20 for students, R50 for adults (at the door)

Facebook:       http://www.facebook.com/events/278875195532402/

The UCT Choir is the most diverse musical group at the University of Cape Town. It is a fully student-run ensemble which welcomes students from every faculty and discipline, as well as alumni and external members. The forty-person choir is an active participant in the musical life of Cape Town. Singers and audiences are exposed to a rich variety of choral music from classical to contemporary genres, drawing strongly on our own South African musical heritage.

Contact

uctchoir@gmail.com

www.uctchoir.uct.ac.za

John Woodland, Musical Director (082 414 9998)

It began as an idea from Mike Bozzaza, an active FMR member, who had always wondered if audiences at symphony concerts were, like himself, intrigued by aspects of a modern symphony orchestra that were taken for granted by most people. For example, what does the music score for the tympani, triangle and cymbals look like? Does the chap at the back who only plays in the loud bits get paid as much as those in the front who seem to be working constantly? Why does the horn player place his or her hand in the bell of the horn? Why does the oboe give the ‘A’ for the orchestra to tune, and why ‘A’?

After a number of planning and feasibility meetings, and with the considerable financial support of the Chiappini Trust, the evening came together and turned out to be a huge success. We had 10 orchestral members on stage, representing the strings and woodwind sections. It was huge fun for me wandering between them on stage, asking questions, getting them to demonstrate their instruments and discovering that most of them had a fine sense of humour. By all accounts, the audience was as enthralled and a good time was had by all.

Apparently, a number of listeners couldn’t make the night and have been asking if a similar thing will happen in the future. The answer is an enthusiastic “yes”. There will be three more similar presentations which will include brass and percussion, as well as the conductor and his role, the soloists and repertoire. Fine Music Radio will give you plenty of warning so that you can send in your questions and book your seat. Dates have yet to be finalised.

This sort of project is what Fine Music Radio really enjoys. It is all very well listening to the great classical compositions on the radio, or hearing them performed live at a symphony concert. But we at FMR are fully aware that not everyone is an expert and nor should they be! And we feel it is our duty to help demystify the inner workings of an orchestra and its instruments, or a symphony, concerto and overture, thus making

classical music much more accessible, and thereby growing a bigger and younger audience. There is no point in being elitist, patronising or selfish about classical music. By doing so is to destroy the joy the music can bring.

Rodney Trudgeon
FMR Programme Manager

Vandag op Kaapse Dagboek aangebied deur Danie Botha

1. Luna Paige het groot lof gekry vir haar toonsetting van prosa in
Storielied by die KKNK. Sy gaan nou op toer daarmee; sy het by die
Cederbergfees begin. In Mei word ‘n DVD voor ‘n gehoor opgeneem in Durbanville. Ons hoor ‘n voorbeeld van haar werk.
 
2. Leon Kruger is die skrywer en regisseur van die nuutste komediereeks op televisie: Oupa en Ouma sit op die stoep met Johan en Lida Botha. Ons sal praat oor die oorgang van die verhoogproduksie na die televisie en oor ander wetenswaardighede vir die kykers.

3. Pedro Kruger tree op by Die Boer by ‘n Moedersdagete met 11.3.71. Daarmee vier hy sy 25 ste jaar in die industrie en sy veertigste verjaardag.  Ons kry ‘n beeld van sy veelsydigheid as verhoogkunstenaar, en verneem sy toekomsplanne.

4. Amanda Botha gesels met beeldhouer en pottebakker Yvette Weyers oor haar boek oor onder meer haar kuns en eggenoot Marius Weyers.

Top 100 SA Wines offers the discerning Cape Town public the unique opportunity to taste South Africa’s Top 100 winning wines.
Join us at this beautiful setting, bring your friends, mingle with the winemakers, enjoy their finest wines!

VENUE: One&Only Cape Town, V&A Waterfront
DATE: 10 May 2012
PRICE: R149
TIME: 17H30 – 20H30

Book online now for the festival on: www.webtickets.co.za
Email queries to: info@top100sawines.co.za  or call us on 021 787 9880
Accommodation bookings: reservations@oneandonlycapetown.com

SPECIAL FEATURES!

LUCKY DRAW
Special dinner at Nobu, Cape Town, for 4 people, wines included from Top 100 Wines. Experience Nobu’s beautifully crafted, layered bento boxes 6 Lucky winners each get a bottle of Top 100 SA winning wine

ACCOMMODATION OFFER
Enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a Marina Mountain Room or Island Superior Room. Upgrade is subject to availability.

When booking please quote reference TOP100SA

WINNING WINES AND WINE BOOK (ONLY R149 PER COPY) AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ON THE NIGHT

Click here to see the invitation

Wine Estates:

-          Buitenverwachting

-          Groot Constantia

-          Klein Constantia

-          Steenberg

-          Eagles Nest

-          Beau Constantia

-          Constantia Uitsig

-          Cape Point Vineyards

-          Constantia Mist

-          High Constantia

-          Silvermist

Restaurants:

-          The Larder

-          Orinoco

-          Cellars Hohenhort

-          La Colombe

-          River Café

-          Society Braisserie

-          Pick ‘n Pay Sushi

-          Pick ‘n Pays Finest Chefs

-          The Oyster Lady

Deli

-          Constantia Cheesery

-          Richard Bosmans Cured Meats

-          Namaqualand Biltong

-          By Nature

-          Imhoff Farm (olives and pestos)

Retail

-          African Threads

-          Flick Glass

-          Pick ‘n Pay Fresh Flowers

-          Owen Gowar – Kitchen Counters/ Wine Cellar Displays

-          Star Toys

-          Succulent Oasis

-          Wine-Style Magazine

-          Big Heart Company

-          Plum Daisy