They are celebrating 21 year this year – yup, thats 21 years that the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival has been at the forefront of international jazz entertainment on the Mother Continent. This weekend 27 – 29th September sees some of the biggest names in the industry converge on the Sandton Convention Centre for this monumental event.
People travel from far and wide to attend what is considered the most prestigious arena for live, musical excellence and a landmark occasion for musicians to display their performance skills, Joy of Jazz has hosted most of the world’s exceptionally gifted jazz practitioners – from swing and bebop grandmasters to the hottest prospects of Afro-jazz and avant-garde.
Some sensational saxophonists (Branford Marsalis and Ravi Coltrane) and prolific pianists such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Keiko Matsui and Ramsey Lewis, fusion’s greatest guitarists (Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh and Jonathan Butler), have enthralled audiences with their incredible talent over the years.
Joy of Jazz has not only acted as a draw-card for some of the illustrious names in the jazz iconography, it has also become a magnet and nursery for rising stars whose experiences in front of big crowds have given them the confidence to aspire for lofty achievements.
This year is no different with some amazing names on the performance line up. Oliver Mtukudzi headlines, this music legend hails from Zimbabwe and has been making incredible music for over 40 years. He is joined by Wazimbo and Banda Kakana (Mozambique), the Nairobi Horns Project (Kenya), Tlale Makhene (SA/eSwatini), Letta Mbulu (SA), David Sanborn (US), Bilal (US), Kengo Nakamura & Carl Fredrik Orrje (Japan/Sweden), Buika (Spain) and Cassandra Wilson (US), among others.
The festival will begin on Thursday 27 September with The Horn Summit in honour of the late Hugh Masekela, whose passing in January this year was a tragic loss to not only South Africa’s but also the World’s jazz music community.
Something else to look forward to is the Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong All Star Band from the US featuring trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, tenor Roderick Pauli, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, bassist Reginald Veal, pianist Courtney Bryan and drummer Herlin Riley – this promises to be a festival highlight – and much more, of course.
We also really love that the festival provides towards local youth development projects such as music workshops and the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band, the most significant development youth initiative in jazz in South Africa.
Tickets are available online on Computicket here…
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