Seba Kaapstad - Tagoress '2016

Tracks list

Today, we find ourselves at 33° South 56’ 20.94’’
– 18° East 28’ 10.271’’. In fact, we are sitting
at the side of the road at the Tagore’s Club, 42 Trill Road, during a
sunny and bland day in Cape Town. At the table is sitting a group of young
musicians from Germany and Africa: Sebastian Schuster, Zoe Modiga, and Ndumiso
Manana. In this moment, a band project will be born that connect cultures, opens
new musical horizons for musicians, and delivers a strong, authentical and
diverse jazz album. An album that one would not expect out of the combination of
Swabian efficiency, Korean restraint, Rhenisch humor and South African serenity:
Seba Kaapstad – Tagore’s.

During the second half of the past century, South Africa was highly shattered
because of the apartheid and riots. Until the end of the 1980s, it was almost
impossible to experience creativity, art, and culture. Crucial for the
rehabilitation of the country and the people was the music. As a universal
language, it connected people from various backgrounds. It offered the
possibility to communicate on a neutral level, to develop a mutual creative
process, to abandon prejudices, and to contribute to an understanding amongst
nations. Because of that, Sebastian’s alias Seba Kaapstad project is even
more important and intense.

Before his first trip to Cape Town, Seba couldn’t have imagined how much
joy he would find out there, how much that country would change his life, and
what magic and especially energy would expect him there. The reason for his
travel was namely different. One of the biggest musical role models of the
musician is the Dutch bassist Heyn van der Geyn, who, among other things, was
already on tour with Chet Baker. He lives in the Mother City and Seba wanted to
get to know him. After several jam sessions and spending much time with the
instrument, the young artist fell in love with the city, the people, and the
sense of life. “Cape Town is so charmingly imperfect. I remember a gig
with approximately 30 musicians. Without sheets nor plans, we would start
playing. There was utter chaos, but I rarely came across such honest music.
While playing, there is no quiet, the listener immediately shows emotions when
he likes something, or not. Something like this would not exist in
Germany”, Seba explains.

Tagore’s musical style is shaped by diverse cultures and styles of the
band members. The african influence strongly marked the album. It is an urban
mix of Rhythm ‘n’ Blues, Hip-Hop, Soul, and Jazz. Certainly, there
is a lot of space left for musical unfolding of every single artist. Especially,
Hello, I Fall In Love Too Easily, Flatline, and Autumn, which contain powerful
melodies, amazing solis and perfectly matching vocal passages, are definitely
earworms. All compositions are penned by the band leader and the singers. Thomas
Schmidt recorded the album in the Mastermix Studio in Munich, Christoph Stickel
mastered it.

Seba unifies his debut album with the exceptional singer Zoe Modica from South
Africa, which won already several competitions by being only 21 years old. She
counts as one of the most promising and most talented artists of the country.
Ndumiso Manana from Swaziland, a young and very emotional singer who is about to
develop his career in South Africa and beyond borders, joins as well. The piano
player is also well known: Gee Hye Lee, native of South Korea, however, in the
meantime sedentary in Stuttgart. The Bavarian native but in Cologne living
Thomas Wörle supports the band on the drums and the electronics. In addition,
the sister of the band leader, Franziska Schuster, is represented as a singer on
the album. Certainly, Sebastian Schuster as a bass player and composer plays an
important part of the album.

On Seba Kaapstad – Tagore’s, you have musicians playing together
who – on the first sight – seem very different, but they share the
perception of their music and the different influences. As a result of this, an
extraordinary, multifarious and exciting album emerged. It reflects the energy
of South Africa and shows that all kinds of borders can be overcome through
music. An absolute music tip – even for non-jazzers!

Zoe Modiga, voice
Franziska Schuster, voice
Ndumso Manana, voice
Gee Hye Lee, piano
Thomas Wörle, drums, electronics
Sebastian Schuster, bass, Fender Rhodes

Tracklist:
01. Seba Kaapstad - Smoke Break (6:20)
02. Seba Kaapstad - Hello (3:59)
03. Seba Kaapstad - Flatline (6:25)
04. Seba Kaapstad - Constantly Floating (7:31)
05. Seba Kaapstad - I Fall In Love Too Easily (5:28)
06. Seba Kaapstad - Vigil (6:00)
07. Seba Kaapstad - The Closest Call (6:36)
08. Seba Kaapstad - Streetlights (7:08)
09. Seba Kaapstad - Autumn (4:29)
10. Seba Kaapstad - Hello (Radio Edit) (3:25)

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