The South Africa Panjazz Project: Students' Commentary

Back in March 2007 I went with Sounds of Steel, Portchester Panyard and the Portchester Taiko group to Southampton to compete in the National Festival of Music for Youth. While we were there, we were lucky enough to see and hear an African percussion group perform and, as a result of hearing that group, our school decided to purchase something similar – a set of marimbas perhaps? Affording a set was one problem, but getting them over from Cape Town, South Africa was likely to add too much to the budget. Quite by chance, one member of Sounds of Steel has a dad in The Navy. He was able to persuade HMS Endurance to carry them back as cargo, whilst stopping off in Cape Town on its way back from Antarctica. To cut the story short, in early June, the marimbas arrived in Portsmouth Dockyard, to be transferred to their new home at Portchester Community School.

Over the next month, I took a keen interest in the new marimbas as I loved the sound they made. As a result of my interest, I became the marimba player in the South Africa Panjazz Project. In July 2007, Andile Siyo, a leading marimba player and our marimba maker in South Africa was invited by the school’s Headteacher, Roger Matthews, to visit England for a week. Andile accepted the invitation and, on Saturday 7 July, he flew into England to work with budding marimba players in Portchester.

The next day, Andile’s birthday, was The Pan Festival and this was Andile’s chance to meet the members of the Pan Project. Throughout the next week, Andile led marimba workshops with students of diverse ages from 9 - 26 and all of them learnt how to play the marimba.

On Wednesday 11 July, there was the first Panjazz concert, in which Sounds of Steel, Brookfield Jazz Orchestra and the fusion of both groups – The Panjazz Project performed. The evening proved a huge success, with Andile soloing in a composition called ‘Africa’ that Pete Beadell, Head of Music at Portchester Community School composed. Andile also introduced the audience and players to a new kind of sound - the African Kalimba. This was a lovely sound and he had composed a beautiful song that brought tears to many people’s eyes.

He then travelled up to Birmingham the next day to the finals of The National Festival of Music for Youth with the Portchester Taiko group and Sounds of Steel. On the Friday, he came to watch the Portchester Arts Festival in which a wide range of music and songs were performed.

Sadly, for the many people he had made friends with that week, he had to fly back to Cape Town on Saturday 14 July. However, that is not the last we will see of him as, hopefully, Sounds of Steel, Brookfield Jazz Orchestra and the Panjazz Project will be visiting South Africa in March 2008. We look greatly forward to this and can’t wait to carry on building up the link we have with South Africa. Meanwhile, the marimbas have just started to come out again in time for us to start practising so we are able to enter next year’s National Festival of Music for Youth.

Laura – Marimba and Double tenor pans

The South Africa Panjazz Project
by Dan Parkes - Brookfield Community School – Year 11

The Panjazz Project! Absolutely brilliant! It’s great how the two very different styles of music blend together in an amazing fusion, which I personally think sounds fantastic. It mixes the exotic, relaxed sounds of the steel pans and marimbas with the powerful feel of brass instruments and Western jazz rhythms. The combined sound is truly magical. The music that is made from the group is mesmerising. I love it!

Firstly, as a jazz musician, I like improvising, especially when the improvising is based on call and response. In this setting the ideas just bounce off everyone. It’s amazing! Someone creates a little melody and suddenly everyone is adapting it and using it in their own solos! It’s crazy!

When I first heard about the idea of the Panjazz Project, I wasn’t quite sure whether the combination of different instruments would work. But the musical instruments were being used in so many ways with each time something new being tried, which worked perfectly. The great bit is that there are so many possibilities – it’s just going to get better and better!

I must admit, it’s been hard work, especially trying to get the project off the ground. We’ve had quite a few long rehearsals (5 hours!) but I’ve enjoyed every time that the group has come together. Everyone’s friendly and the environments are perfect for playing in. But now that the project is in the air, it feels a bit more relaxed and I think we can experiment and explore more with the project, which I am really looking forward to.

One thing that really helped the project launch, I think, was working with Andile (a South African marimba player). Just him being there really helped and it was great just working with him, listening to him making music. It was amazing!

To me, this is a great experience. I think that Panjazz could become a style in its own right because the music that’s being created is like nothing I’ve ever heard before. It is truly spectacular and I can’t believe that I’m actually a part of it! Cheers Panjazz!

Dan - Trombone

"It is a privilege we have to be part of this project. We must all do what is expected of us in order to make a success of it."
Alethea Mentu - Grade 11

"It will be very nice to meet you since we don’t get the opportunity to meet people from England everyday. I am looking forward to seeing you all."
Charlene Jafta - Grade 10

"Through this project I have met and am still going to meet a lot of interesting people. Thank you to all the people who have been instrumental in giving us this opportunity to display our talents."
Deorita Rass - Grade 10

"Participating in this project has given me the courage and confidence to sing that I didn’t have before. I have learned so much during our practice sessions. I can’t wait for the tour to start!"
Emmerencia Jansen - Grade 11

"It is a good opportunity for our school children to show their talents. It is also a good idea to do something with people from other countries. It gives us the opportunity to get to know each other!"
Santell Strydom - Grade 11

"I can’t wait for the tour to start. It is a wonderful opportunity and I’m so excited! I never though something like this could happen to me and our school! Thank you so much!"
Masilene Cloete - Grade 10

"I am proud to be part of this project. It is a chance to show the talent that you have."
Gilbert Fisher - Grade 11

"The project has a great impact on all of us who is part of it. We are very excited!"
Cleo Abrahams - Grade 10

"I feel great being able to be part of this project! I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate!"
Lorenzo Jacobs - Grade 10

"I believe that this project will inspire other kids at our school to show their talents. The people who have initiated this project, helps to keep us off the streets and away from drug abuse. It is a means of upliftment for our school and community."
Shane Beyers - Grade 9

"This project is an opportunity that we will never forget! It has kept us busy and I have enjoyed being part of this project. I am very excited."
Tracy-Lee Langeveldt - Grade 11