All that I could get out of the organisers is that it will happen, but the chances are it will not be the major event that we've come to expect.

Whatever their reasons, it is a real pity this event is not getting the corporate support it deserves, especially since 2006 is their tenth anniversary.

More importantly, the festival has done a lot for the genre at a grassroots level showcasing talents beyond the big names. Over the years we've seen some of these talents evolve into fantastic performers.

It would be impossible to go through a complete list of some of these youngsters, but if we look back to a young Emily Bruce stepping onto the stage a few years ago and watch the confident performer in action today you realise what an important role this festival plays.

Camillo Lombard's Young Ambition project also comes to mind with him training a group of youngsters from Elsies River into becoming a dynamic vocal harmony outfit.

Every year the organisers have gone out of their way to discover these hidden gems on the local scene, and these youngsters in their turn inspire a new generation of musicians.

On Sunday at the Swingers Sundowner Session in Wetton we saw some of these youngsters who would have been at next year's Jazzathon in action. Kyle Shepherd, the pianist with the group, has just been chosen as the first recipient of the Pick 'n Pay Fine Music Radio Jazz Award. This young musician will be starting his music studies at UCT next year.

On Sunday he was still settling in, but he went on to play a stunning set with the rest of the band: Hayden Gardner on vocals, John Russell on guitar, and Dylan Tabisher on bass.

Gardner's young voice needs to be heard on a bigger scale. We'll watch what happens, but they will be in action at the session again this Sunday.

It was nice to catch a bit of songbird Esther Miller while she was in town. It seems like she is doing quite well in the UK and Europe where she is now based, and she's lost none of the pizzazz that made her so popular when she was living in the city.

On this visit she also had the young trumpeter, Brian Corbett, with her. This young man even managed to sit in with some of the cats at Kennedy's Cigar Bar, and it looks like he wants to come back and get into the local scene.

Flames Bistro, corner of Main/Myrtle Roads in Kenilworth, features super sounds from guitarist Alvin Andrews and Alistair Andrews on bass, with some guests popping in on most nights. Fine dining with fine sounds. Tel: 021-762-1646.

At the Acoustic Café in Muizenberg you can experience Steve Newman and Goetjie Majig. Newman is one of the most highly acclaimed acoustic guitarists in the country.

He travels extensively throughout SA and abroad, enthralling audiences with his skill. Gig starts at 8.30pm, cover charge R60. Venue at120 Main Road, Muizenberg. Tel: 021-788-1900.

At the Acoustic Café in Muizenberg you can catch After Hours, the funkiest blues band around. The lead singer hails from Chicago, adding an authenticity not often encountered. He will be returning to the US in the next few weeks so don't miss this gig. Major opportunity to shake your tail feathers. Commences at 8.30pm, admission R20. Tel: 021-788-1900.

Every Thursday the Blue Chip Restaurant in Wetton Road, Wetton, features the sounds of Triangle, a group of rockers from the past still proving that they've got what it takes, playing sounds from the past and present. Tel: 021-797-2182.

The legendary Cliffie Moses and The Four Sounds play Cape jazz at its best, featuring Basil Moses on bass at the Green Dolphin in the Waterfront.

The Independent Armchair Theatre, in association with BlokRokn'Beats, presents the Rock ‘n Roll Monster Jam featuring, Roswell Kings, Aces High and Taxi Violence (recent RP Emerging Sounds winners).

Venue: 135 Lower Main Road Observatory. Opens at 8.30pm with the first band starting at 10pm. Powerful rock, the way it should be. R30 gets you in. Tel: 021-447-1514.

Acid Blues with James Kibby on lead guitar and vocals, Chris von Walter on bass guitar and vocals and Vic Higgins on drums. Carnival Court, 255 Long Street (above Long Street Café). 10pm until 1am. Entrance free. Tel: 021-423-9003.

At the Acoustic Café in Muizenberg, Roots Rockers, one of the original reggae bands to come out of Cape Town, will be doing their thing. Starts at 9.30pm, admission R20. Venue:120 Main Road, Muizenberg. Tel: 021-788-1900.

Soi Soi Gqeza Quartet in action with some African jazz at its best, with Stix Mrwebi on drums, George Werner on piano, Wesley Rustin on bass and the fantastic Soi Soi on vocals. Venue: the Green Dolphin in the Waterfront. Tel: 021-762-1646.

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