Join us for THE KEENAN AHRENDS TRIO - Live at the Kalk Bay Courtyard.
SUNDAY 23rd August. 17:00 - 19:00 VENUE: 48 MAIN ROAD KALK BAY
Keenan Ahrends is a jazz guitarist and composer based in Johannesburg, South Africa.Ahrends started playing the guitar at the age of fifteen and completed his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at the University of Cape Town and the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2009. He completed his Master’s degree through the University of Stellenbosch.
He was awarded a Pro Helvetia artist-in-residence in 2021, where he spent three months composing, recording and performing in Basel, Switzerland. Ahrends has toured extensively both within South Africa and internationally. He has performed with prominent musicians such as Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Louis Moholo, Feya Faku, Domenic Landolf, Andile Yenana, Carlo Mombelli, Herbie Tsoaeli, Nduduzo Makhathini, SOMI, amongst others.
Notable performances have been at the Dizzy’s Club (NYC), Offbeat Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Sesc Jazz festival (Brazil), the Birds Eye Jazz Club (Basel, Switzerland), the Amersfoort Jazz Festival (The Netherlands), the Cape Town international Jazz Festival, Ocus Pocus Festival (Reunion Island), the Joy of Jazz Festival, and the National Youth Jazz Festival. He has also performed in venues and festivals in United States of America, eSwatini, Sweden, Germany, Zanzibar, Norway, Mozambique and Nigeria.
In 2017 Ahrends released his debut album ‘Narrative’ (featuring Romy Brauteseth, Claude Cozens, Sisonke Xonti, Nicholas Williams) to critical acclaim. Ahrends released his sophomore album ‘Perseverance: live at the bird’s eye’ (featuring Romy Brauteseth, Sphelelo Mazibuko, Domenic Landofl, Lukas Thoeni) in 2022. Beyond this, he is a featured sideman on numerous prominent recording projects including those by Carlo Mombelli, Feya Faku, Thandi Ntuli, Bokani Dyer and others. As a composer, he has written extensively for his trio, featuring Romy Brauteseth and Sphelelo Mazibuko but has also written for larger ensembles, such as the Cape Town Ghoema Orchestra (commissions in 2012, 2013, 2014). Ahrends is known for his evocative musical writing, his emotive improvisation and his sensitive musicianship.
Please come for a late lunch and drinks, or an early dinner, at the KALKBAY COURTYARD. Book a table via our website: https://kalkbaycourtyard.com/
