Marcus Gilmore, Rolex music fellow and international drumming sensation, returns to Cape Town for two performances only at the Pam Golding Theatre at The Baxter on 27 and 28 October 2023 at 8pm.
He was last in the Mother City before the global lockdown, as one of more than 200 eminent artists and arts leaders who attended the prestigious Rolex Arts Weekend.
For over 50 years, Rolex has collaborated with top artists and cultural institutions, fostering excellence, and preserving artistic legacy. This commitment spans music, architecture, cinema, and the Rolex mentoring programme, bridging past, present, and future.
Jam session with Marcus Gilmore and Zakir Hussain — Pic courtesy of Rolex
This month, Gilmore will collaborate with top South African musicians Darren English (trumpet), Benjamin Jephta (bass guitar), Linda Sikhakhane (saxophone), Ntando Ngcapu (keys) and Tanksio Mamabolo on vocals as part of a limited tour that will include delivering a workshop for aspiring student drummers.
Following in his grandfather Roy Haynes’ footsteps, the acclaimed young drummer has enraptured the jazz world for two decades. As a 2018 Rolex Protégé to Zakir Hussain, whom Marcus credits as a musical “Yoda”, he debuted his first orchestral piece, ‘Pulse’, at the 2020 Rolex Arts Weekend. Commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra, this work featured musicians from the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under Brandon Phillips’ baton.
The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, established in 2002, fosters intergenerational artistic exchange, reflecting the belief that creative inspiration transcends time. The mentoring programme operates on the premise that art evolves through generations, with artists drawing inspiration from their predecessors. Aligned with Rolex’s ethos of promoting excellence, promising young artists, or protégés, engage in immersive one-on-one creative exchanges with renowned mentors in their respective fields.
Gilmore, a Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music alumnus, has toured globally since age 16, collaborating with Grammy-winning artists like Chick Corea. He’s also a Latin Grammy recipient.
Booking for Marcus Gilmore in Concert is through Webtickets or at Pick n Pay Stores.
