NEW YEARS EVE BASH

BIG BAND IS A BIG, BIG SUCCESS

Peter Wells from Obz Cafe, so enjoyed last year's Big Band Jazz Festival at the Baxter, that he decided to create another
It's official! The Obz Cafe Big Band Jazz festival, which attracted 5 000 people over the weekend - will be staged again on New Year's Eve.
The brainchild of Obz Cafe Peter Wells, the event showed just exactly how well the world can work if all energies pull in the same direction. All the popular restaurants and pubs in the area filled the covered street with tables and served their clients well - against some quite daunting odds - it takes skill to weave successfully through hundreds of party-goers with drinks and food-laden trays.
And then there was the music - big, big sound by some of the biggest brass in the jazz business.
Led by trumpet Ian Smith and his son Richard who travelled to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth for the event, the band captivated a very broad audience - from barely dressed young ravers to seasoned jazz club cronies. And at 1am, the crowd was still crying out for more!
Tatler

BIG BAND EXPERIENCE
At the big band experience. This was a New Years Eve Bash with a difference. As Ian Smith and son Richard lead a 20 piece big band with some fantastic sound. Many people were really surprised that a big band could be so entertaining. My vote is that this gig becomes an annual event. I know it must have taken a lot of hard work from Peter the organizer at Obz. Everyone had a great time. Let hope it happens again.
by Gary van Dyk

Letter to Mr. Peter Well of OBZ Cafe

Dear Mr Wells

I must take an opportunity of express my sincerest compliments to you on the success of the OBZ's New Year Eve's Celebration on Lower Main, Observatory. As an American presently living and teaching in South Africa your event represented the very best of what this new exciting country has to offer. The large turn out for the event comprised of people from every cultural and racial background, all having a most enjoyable time. The table I reserved for the evening comprised of twelve appreciative members that ranged from a mother and and ten year old daughter on vacation from the United States, to two lovely ladies in the early eighties. Visitors from Germany and a family from Zimbabwe also shared in the New Year Eve's celebration with us. In addition, good times were shared and enjoyed by every person my wife and I came into contact with until we left nearly exhausted at 2am, after dancing non-stop to the wonderful sounds of Ian Smith for the exciting sounds and wide ranging of musical styles and his groups attention to professionalism.

Once again I would like to express my sincerest thanks for being part of and sharing in such a wonderful event. You also need to be complimented on you vision of the new South Africa, the excellent planning that went into security issues, and the overall vibe and feeling of an event that was inclusive in nature; which has not been my experience when attending previous New Years Eve celebrations in South Africa and overseas.

Yours very sincerely
Dr Michael J Rossi
College of Music
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch, 7701
South Africa

 

Richard and Merle