Kyle Shepherd Trio Live at Homecoming Centre

The Ultimate Jazz Experience Awaits!

The Cape Town Music Academy (CTMA) and Fine Music Radio proudly present the Cape Town Jazz Greats Homecoming series, a dazzling spectacle of world-class jazz!

Cape Town Music Academy (CTMA) presents: The Kyle Shepherd Trio – Finale of the Cape Town Jazz Greats Homecoming Series

Friday, 31 October | 8:00 PM | The Star Theatre, Homecoming Centre (formerly The Fugard Theatre), District Six

Tickets: R300 on Quicket

(Search Cape Town Jazz Greats Homecoming Series on Quicket and click on the date to book)

Cape Town’s celebrated pianist and composer Kyle Shepherd returns home with his stellar trio for an unforgettable finale to the Cape Town Music Academy (CTMA)’s Cape Town Jazz Greats Homecoming Series on Friday, 31 October, at The Star Theatre, Homecoming Centre (formerly The Fugard Theatre) in District Six.

After thrilling audiences last month at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg with standing ovations and glowing acclaim, the Kyle Shepherd Trio now brings that same fire, finesse, and deep Cape jazz heritage back to its birthplace — Cape Town.

This special concert marks a homecoming for one of the city’s most internationally acclaimed musicians, whose work bridges the lyrical depth of the Cape jazz tradition with the modern pulse of global improvisation

An Evening of Deep Musical Connection

Audiences can expect a night of emotionally charged, rhythmically rich and spiritually uplifting music. The trio — Kyle Shepherd (piano), Shane Cooper (bass), and Jonno Sweetman (drums) — creates a sound world that moves effortlessly between introspective lyricism and electrifying improvisation.

Their synergy is palpable: Shepherd’s poetic piano lines interlace with Cooper’s resonant bass and Sweetman’s dynamic drumming, producing music that is at once grounded in the Cape’s jazz roots and fearlessly contemporary.

Set within the intimate warmth of The Star Theatre, the performance invites listeners to sink into the music’s deep groove and meditative beauty — a true reflection of the soul and spirit of Cape Town jazz.

About the Artists

KYLE SHEPHERD – Piano & Composer

Kyle Shepherd is a leading South African pianist and film score composer, celebrated for his distinctive style that transcends genres.

Born in 1987 in Cape Town, Shepherd began playing piano as a teenager, drawing inspiration from the jazz and South African music he encountered at Abdullah Ibrahim’s M7 music school, where his mother, Michele Shepherd, worked as a teacher and administrator.

He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz (2014) and UNISA Piano Competition Winner (2019). Shepherd has performed in 36 countries, gracing prestigious stages such as the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall’s Zenkel Theatre, and Théâtre de Châtelet in Paris.

Shepherd has released seven acclaimed jazz albums and composed for film and television projects including Netflix hits Blood and Water and Unseen, which together amassed over 60 million hours of viewing. His score for Noem My Skollie earned him the South African Humanities and Social Sciences Award (2018), while Barakat and Fiela se Kind won Best Score at the Silwerskerm Film Festival.

He co-composed the score for William Kentridge’s chamber opera Waiting for the Sibyl with Nhlanhla Mahlangu and collaborated with Oscar-winning director Darrell Roodt on Greytown Girl.

His upcoming album, A Dance More Sweetly Played, to be released in November 2024, promises to deepen his exploration of sound, memory, and place — themes central to his artistic vision.

SHANE COOPER – Double Bass

A multi-award-winning bassist, composer, and producer, Shane Cooper is one of South Africa’s most versatile and in-demand musicians. His work bridges the worlds of jazz, electronic, and experimental music, notably through his projects Mabuta and Card On Spokes. A Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz recipient (2013), Cooper has toured extensively worldwide and contributed to some of the most innovative ensembles in South African jazz. His deep tone and compositional insight form the perfect counterpart to Shepherd’s musical storytelling.

JONNO SWEETMAN – Drums

Jonno Sweetman is a celebrated South African drummer known for his expressive style and technical mastery. Over the past two decades, he has collaborated with leading artists including Herbie Tsoaeli, Lionel Loueke, and Buddy Wells, among others. Equally at home in jazz, rock, and avant-garde contexts, Sweetman brings a sensitive and propulsive energy to the trio, grounding their improvisations with both power and nuance.

Experience the Spirit of Homecoming

This finale concert is more than just a performance — it’s a celebration of Cape Town’s musical lineage, reimagined by three of its most visionary artists.

Join us for a night where heritage meets innovation, and the language of jazz continues to evolve — right here in District Six, the historic heart of Cape Town’s music.

Tickets: R300

Available on Quicket — search Cape Town Jazz Greats Homecoming Series and select the 31 October concert to book.

Venue: The Star Theatre, Homecoming Centre (formerly The Fugard Theatre), District Six

Time: 8:00 PM (Doors open 7:00 PM)

More information

Contact: Luvuyo Kakaza

+27 (0)60 960 8935

[email protected]