The Victoria Harbour Sundowners Sessions #9:

I have been wanting to feature Brigitte Mitchell for a while now but, while previously I couldn’t find a music video on YouTube similar to the preceding artists featured here on Howzit-HongKong.com, featuring her on the Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions this weekend holds some special significance.

For one, this is a very special weekend on this side of the noodle-gordyn as it is also the Chinese National Day celebrations (a public holiday nogal!).

Both Brigitte and I have made Hong Kong our homes-away-from-home while not giving up on our roots.  Thankfully Brigitte, through her sultry voice, has also been flying the flag for Cape Town and South Africa here in Hong Kong as only she could, often appearing on South African radio stations, especially on Heart 104.9′s Clarence Ford promoting this very special genre.

Secondly and most importantly, Bridgitte is my home-girl as she is also a born-and-bred Capetonian.

If there’s one thing about Capetonians you should know… it is that we have soul.

We were simply born with it. Cape Town is a harbour port and naturally its people reflect the confluence of the many cultures that visited it’s shores.

It comes through more distinctly when we’re also blessed with a soulful voice.

A voice like Brigitte’s.

Click on her MySpace site and listen to Georgy Porgy in her music player…

Nuff said.

For the HongKongers out there, Brigitte Mitchell is currently performing live at the The Gecko Lounge, Ezra Lane, Lower Hollywood Rd

Originally from the scenic shores of Cape Town, Mitchell has been living in Hong Kong for the past 10 years. She had an undeniable urge to explore an artistic path of unknown proportions, sparking this migration from South Africa to Asia. The move has offered a sense of creative liberation. “Taking that step to leave my comfort zone was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” she recounts fondly.

Growing up a witness to the significant political and social change in South Africa, she came to Asia aspiring to personify change her father wanted to see for the people of Cape Town. By making a name for herself on new ground, she cultivated her father’s vision and confidently asserts the importance of his advice, “He really insisted on this, try and reach your highest potential and become the best version of yourself.”

And her record is certainly indicative of this mind set.

Mitchell has established herself as the headliner of a signature, Tuesday night residency. Hong Kong’s Gecko Lounge is a live Jazz destination for locals and tourists alike as well as the home of Mitchell’s weekly event.

“Don’t Explain” is made up of re-inspired selections from her live show repertoire. “This is how I wanted to feel and sound. Ultimately, I grew into Jazz because I let it take hold of me.” The record is a time capsule that represents not only the live show sound that one might experience at Gecko but also Mitchell’s decade-long experimentation and love affair with Jazz.

I’m proud to call her my FaceBook friend and would like to introduce Brigitte Mitchell as this week’s Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions featured artist.

Lovely Day (Brigitte Mitchell)

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Howzit-HongKong.com will feature a YouTube clip of one South African music legend every Friday as part of what we like to call The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions. I am fortunate to be living right next to one of the most stunning working harbours in the world… Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. I often find myself staring across the Harbour at night, with the lights dimmed and one of my favourite musicians from home over the speakers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do…