Rise of unconventional music spaces: The Cape Town jazz train

All aboard the Jazz Train, a one-of-a-kind cultural journey that turns a simple train ride into a moving stage. Founded by Koko Nkalashe and Nono Nkoane, the Jazz Train is more than just transport; it’s an immersive celebration of music, history, and community. Departing from Cape Town Station, passengers are welcomed with warm hospitality and live acoustic jazz before the rhythm carries them to the final stop, where a full performance awaits.

Born out of the desire to fuse Cape Town’s breathtaking setting with its rich jazz heritage, the Jazz Train pays homage to the deep, historic connection between rail travel and jazz, a link that echoes through songs like Hugh Masekela’s Stimela and Billy Strayhorn’s Take the A Train. With lively interactions, spontaneous connections, and music that bridges generations, the Jazz Train is redefining how South Africans experience live jazz, making it accessible, exciting, and unforgettable.

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Artclub and Friends talk music, fashion, and collaboration with Kujenga

What is the Jazz Train?

We are a moving jazz experience connecting fans with Cape Town venues near train lines. Patrons board from Cape Town Station, where the journey begins with hospitality and acoustic jazz, followed by a live performance at the final stop. It's an entire day of music, culture and connection.

Where did the idea come from?

The idea was born from the realisation that we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, blessed with a rich jazz heritage — yet we’re not fully utilising our train system. There’s also a deep, historic link between jazz and trains. In both the United States and South Africa, many musicians travelled by rail to reach performance venues. During the era of segregation, they were often treated with more dignity by train staff than by the police. These journeys became a part of the music itself, inspiring songs about life on the tracks — from Hugh Masekela’s “Stimela” to Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the A Train".

What’s the vibe onboard? Is it lively and interactive, or more of a smooth, laid-back listening session?

The vibe is always lively and people get to meet and talk to others from different communities they encounter for the first time. The acoustic music in the background is great accompaniment and often interactive. Some riders get to experience an instrument up close and sometimes get to touch it.

What role does the Jazz Train playin making jazz more accessible and exciting to younger or newer audiences?

This way of experiencing jazz addresses several key issues: It promotes the use of public transport to reach entertainment venues; It helps reduce road congestion and parking challenges; It offers a safer alternative for those who want to enjoy live music without concerns around alcohol and driving; It creates accessible opportunities for people who may not own a car to still enjoy cultural experiences.

What has been the most memorable moment in Jazz Train’s journey so far?

When people who didn’t even buy tickets found the train en route and joined in. That kind of spontaneous joy really captures what the Jazz Train is about.

What do you hope people takeaway from the experience beyond enjoying good music?

What I hear mostly is how well organised the Jazz Train experience is, how enjoyable it is to meet people that someone attending would otherwise not have met, and how deeply intergenerational the experience is. Elder jazz lovers get to meet youth and telling them their train stories of yesteryear.

Original article appeared on GLAMOUR's Women's Month Issue 2025