Description
A ten-piece Latin band is not an everyday thing. On a Thursday in Cape Town it is close to unheard of.
SeekArt presents Ritmo at Cape Town Jazz Club on Thursday 5 November, the first of a monthly Latin night where we swop the tables for a dance floor.
Ritmo is a collective started by Blake Hellaby and Gavin Minter, built out of some of Cape Town’s finest musicians and a shared love for Latin music. Ten players, five of them singing. Three horns, two percussionists, bass, drums and piano. Salsa, bossa nova, samba and marrabenta: a flavour for everyone. Individually they have toured the world and played prominent stages with top artists across several genres. Together they exist for one reason: dance.
On stage: Blake Hellaby is the music director and pianist, Amy Campbell and Keeno Lee Hector on lead vocals, Marcelle Adams on trumpet, Justin Bellairs on alto saxophone, Murray Buitendag on trombone, John Hassan on percussion and vocals, Gavin Minter on percussion and vocals, Shaun Johannes on bass and vocals, Kevin Gibson on drums.
On the dancing: all levels welcome. You do not need a partner, you do not need lessons, and nobody is keeping score. Ten musicians playing this music live is a different animal to a playlist, and the floor usually sorts itself out by the second number.
Thursday 5 November 2026
Cape Town Jazz Club, Bokeh, 11 Warwick Street, Claremont
18:30 Doors
20:00 First set
21:15 Second set
22:00 Finish
General admission: R200
Students: R150, limited to 30, student card required at the door
Early bird: R150, first 10 tickets only
