#AlbumPick – Tagore’s

“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 Tagores 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 connects cultures, opens new musical horizons for musicians, and delivers a strong, authentic 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 Tagores. 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, Sebastians alias Seba Kaapstad project is even more important and intense.

Before his first trip to Cape Town, Seba couldnt 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.

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