With hot acts from far and wide, exploring jazz sounds as diverse as be-bop and Afro-fusion, the Joy of Jazz will be a scorcher.

Jonas Gwangwa will join jazz legends Hugh Masekela and Caiphus Semenya in an all-star South African jazz band paying homage to The Union of South Africa

THE ninth annual Joy of Jazz kicks off with a few legends - an all-star South African jazz band comprising Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Caiphus Semenya, paying homage to The Union of South Africa.

The Union of South Africa was a band in the United States championed by the local heavyweights. They will be joined on the opening night of the three-day jazz festival by the 40-member Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Keiko Matsui, and American saxophonist Jackiem Joyner.

The concert is at the Mbira Stage on Thursday, 28 August at 7pm, with the Johannesburg Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival running until Saturday, 30 August at an assortment of Newtown venues. It promises to be a humdinger of a festival, featuring a stunning bill of jazz superstars and pioneers from across the globe.

Over the three days and nights, Joburg's cultural precinct, Newtown, will be swaddled in a blanket of skillful local and international improvisations and compositions, with a mélange of melodic twists, from rhythm and blues to Afro-pop and fusion; and from Latin American rhythms to bebop.

Sponsored by the commercial bank, Standard Bank, and organised and promoted by T-Musicman, Joy of Jazz has the full backing of the City's department of arts, culture and heritage services and the Gauteng provincial government.

Musical influences will be heard from the United States, Germany, Holland, Israel, Japan, Norway, Spain and Nigeria, as well as South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

African artists
"We are delighted to include so many African artists on the bill," says Clement Motale, the director of group sponsorships at the bank. As a leading emerging market bank, Motale says his company believes that sponsoring jazz festivals reflects the diversity of its business.

Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, the Princess of Africa will perform on the Mbira Stage on Friday, 29 August at 9.45pm

Concerts and performances will be at the Market Theatre, Sophiatown, Nikki's Oasis, the Bassline, the Dance Factory, Museum Africa, and the Mbira and Dinaledi stages, both of which will on Mary Fitzgerald Square.

Organisers say that the Dinaledi Stage will be reminiscent of Sophiatown, the area which played a pivotal role in the development of South African jazz.

Entrance to performances at Museum Africa, Sophiatown and Nikki's Oasis is free. Here up-and-coming bands, like those from the Central Johannesburg College, the George Tabor School of Music, the Music Academy of Gauteng, the Tshwane University of Technology's School of Music and the Puisano Roving Jazz programme, will be given the opportunity to gain experience and showcase their talent.

"We are looking forward to celebrating the rich and warm blend of African and international jazz in the heart of Johannesburg as it brings jazz lovers together in a truly united and global celebration of jazz and its heritage," notes Motale.

International artists
International jazz musicians on the bill will share the stage and collaborate with some of the best the local market has to offer. Internationals include saxophonist Joshua Redman, guitarist Doc Powell, Avi Lebovich and the Israeli Jazz Orchestra, Sedajazz, Denise Jannah, Joy Denelane and Tord Gustavsen, among others.

Keiko Matsui will perform on the opening night, sharing the stage with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and American saxophonist Jackiem Joyner

Vocal group The Spinners, performing on the Dinaledi Stage, incorporate all jazz styles, ranging from Afro-jazz and fusion to Latin rhythms, bebop and straight-ahead.

Local artists to fuel the contemporary jazz line-up include Yvonne Chaka-Chaka. In her career, Chaka-Chaka has performed for Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II, Richard Branson, and Oprah Winfrey, and has performed with U2's Bono, Michael Jackson, and the legendary Quincy Jones.

Known as the Princess of Africa, Chaka-Chaka has released more than 15 albums. She will perform on the Mbira Stage on Friday, 29 August at 9.45pm.

Simphiwe Dana, the local songstress of deep-soulful African jazz, is also on the line-up. She has a number of South African Music Awards to her name, won for her debut album Zandisile, and her second offering, The One Love Movement On Bantu Biko Street. Dana will perform at the Market Theatre on Saturday, 30 August at 7pm.

The doyenne, Abigail Kubheka, will follow this with a performance at the Dance Factory on 30 August at 8.15pm.

Other African artists penciled for the festival include Asa from Nigeria; Pat Matshikiza; Mark Fransman; Camagwini; Ringo Madlingozi; Lira, winner of the coveted Metro FM award for Best Jazz Album for her debut Feel Good; and many more.

"Our continued support for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz has seen this prominent social music fixture grow in stature each year, enjoyed by growing numbers of appreciative audiences who are treated to the best selection of jazz musicians," Motale explains.

Workshops
An integral part of the festival is the workshops, notes Peter Tladi, the T-Musicman promoter. In addition to the music, organisers have confirmed that as always, there will be a series of free music workshops targeted at young and aspirant musicians.

Simphiwe Dana, the local songstress of deep-soulful African jazz, is also on the line-up

At these, the youngsters will learn about the intricacies of the craft. They will take place over four days, from 10am to 4pm.

Motale echoes him, noting that the rationale behind the workshops is not only to offer local jazz lovers the best of international and African jazz, but also to give something back to the community.

The workshops will focus on intricate music issues, with topics like music theory and performance techniques; business in the music industry; voice styles and techniques; and orchestras and big bands; to mention a few.

They will be facilitated by the Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners Mark Fransman (2008), Shannon Mowday (2007) and Concorde Nkabinde (2006). International musicians like Redman, Dutch jazz vocalist Denise Jannah, guitarist Powell; Norwegian jazz pianist Gustavsen and the Avi Lebovich Israeli Jazz Orchestra will also lecture.

Joshua Redman will perform and give lectures as part of the Joy of Jazz

"The international artists who will conduct these workshops [will] assist our youths and aspirant musicians to better understand their role in the industry," says Tladi. They will also grow the passion for music.

The workshops will start on Monday, 25 August and run until Thursday at various Jozi venues, including the Gauteng Tourism Authority auditorium, Central Johannesburg College, South West Gauteng College (Soweto) and the Bassline.

Motale says that the information and knowledge that will be shared will go a long way to affirming and mentoring young South African musicians, "and we hope [it] contributes to the success of the industry in years to come".

And in another big plus, ticket prices for the festival remain the same as last year - despite the soaring prices elsewhere.

For the first time, a day-pass allowing the holder to move between performances at the Dinaledi Stage and the Mbira Stage on 29 and 30 August will be available and sold at the venue for R380 per person per night.

The ninth annual Johannesburg Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival runs from 28 to 30 August at an assortment of Newtown venues. Tickets range in price from R280 to R380; book at any Computicket outlet on 083 915 8000 or through its website.

For more information, log on to the Johannesburg Standard Bank Joy of Jazz website or call Zandile Nkonyeni at Total Exposure on 011 788 8725 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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