Lous Martens

Dutch artist Renzo Martens spent three years traveling throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo asking the question: "Who owns poverty?" In an epic journey, the film establishes that images of poverty are the Congo’s most lucrative export, generating more revenue than traditional exports like gold, diamonds, or cocoa. However, just as with these traditional exports, those that provide the raw material: the poor being filmed, hardly benefit from it at all.

Henri Vieuxtemps’ fiendishly difficult but beautifully melodious Cello Concerto no. 1 in A minor is the central work on this album, which also includes Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto no. 1, as well as his Allegro Appassionato, which is seldom heard in its orchestral guise. All these works are French/Belgian in origin and pioneered by the leading Belgian cellists of the day. South African cellist Peter Martens, who himself enjoys Belgian ancestry, is partnered with Bernhard Gueller, showcasing the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at its very best. “Martens’ cello is one of the most beautiful sounds – a deep rich harmonic wooden stringed singing being. His playing is superb, compassionate elegant phrasing, and flawless technique.

She explodes on stage like a force of nature, only to croon a moving ballad into the mike at the very next moment. Jessy Martens' distinctive voice does not have to fear comparison with that of Amy Winehouse or Tina Turner: she has long developed her own style. Starting up in late 2010, live wire Jessy Martens and her band very quickly rose to the top of the rock and blues scene. Winning the DEUTSCHER ROCKPREIS 2012 (“GERMAN ROCK AWARD 2012”) for best rock band/best rock singer and the GERMAN BLUES AWARDS 2012/2014 for best blues band / best blues singer, as well as receiving the award for best blues album of the year for her songwriting debut “Brand New Ride”, are a testament to the unanimous enthusiasm of audiences and the press. The band has even made its way into mainstream radio: Jessy Martens & Band could be heard where you usually hear Bon Jovi and Lionel Richie: in a prime time radio concert in NDR2 (February 2015).