Jazz Lovers get your JOJ tickets… fast!
This years Standard Bank Joy of Jazz looks to be sexying up jazz in SA as a slick array of global jazz favourites are jetted in to perform in the heart of Johannesburg city. Think other great Jazz festivals like Montreaux, North Sea Rotterdam, Montreal and of course New Orleans ongoing jazz extravaganza, they all started somewhere; but their defining features have to be the quality and range of Jazz muso’s in the lineup as well as the tight organisation that goes into running world class music festivals. It looks like JOJ is on it’s way up there, lets hope it becomes an international attraction.
But for now, all you local Jozi people that love Jazz, hurry up and buy your tickets, if you don’t know where to start, we’ll tell you what we’re excited about and MUST NOT be missed: Roy Ayers, Joy Denalane, Asa from Nigeria, Simphiwe Dana, Max Wild and Sam Mtukudzi, RJ Benjamin, Ringo Madlingozi, Abigail Khubeka and then we’d probably really dig hanging out with the ‘developmental and emerging bands’ to spot hot new talent, like the Central Johannesburg College, George Tabor School of Music, Music Academy of Gauteng and The Tshwane University of Technology’s School of Music and bands from the Puisano Roving Jazz programme. Anyways, whatever you do, GO GO GO.
The international language of jazz will see the stages of downtown Jozi go global when the annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz runs in Newtown from August 28 to 30.
Some of the world’s top jazz artists will be providing a musical mélange of sound at this not-to-be-missed jazz-travaganza. With its truly international line-up, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will incorporate all jazz styles – from Afro jazz and fusion to Latin rhythms, bebop and straight-ahead.
Artists from America, Japan, Norway, Spain, Israel, Germany and Holland will be joined by top performers from South Africa and Nigeria.
Giants of the jazz world include Japan’s Keiko Matsui who recorded her last album Moyo in South Africa; the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson and Lonnie Liston Smith; American saxophonist Joshua Redman; guitarist Doc Powell from the US; Israel’s Avi Lebovich and the Israeli Jazz Orchestra; Spain’s Sedajazz; Holland’s Denise Jannah; Germany’s Joy Denelane and Norway’s Tord Gustavsen.
Performers from the African continent include South Africa’s Abigail Kubheka, Pat Matshikiza, Mark Fransman, the 2008 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz, Simphiwe Dana and Yvonne Chaka Chaka as well as Asa from Nigeria.
The Mbira Stage will showcase the opening night bill on Thursday, August 28, with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) paying tribute to The Union of South Africa, the band formed in the US in 1970 by Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Caiphus Semenya. Also on the opening night’s programme is Keiko Matsui performing with the South African All Star Band and American saxophonist Jackiem Joyner.
Keiko Matsui is a Japanese smooth jazz/new age keyboardist and composer whose career spans three decades. During this time she has released 20 CDs and has received international acclaim. Matsui’s music is powerful and introspective, blending both Western and Eastern musical influences. Her latest album Moyo features Gerald Albright and Paul Taylor on sax and South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela, and when recording it in South Africa last year, she commented at the time: “I could feel the nature and the landscape and the culture of the people. All those thing affected me and I really got inspired.”
Legendary Grammy nominated guitarist Doc Powell has built a legacy as a musical chameleon. Besides having a successful solo career, Doc has contributed to over 130 recordings of some of the premiere stars in R & B/pop/jazz and gospel including Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Ciara, Wycliff Jean, Vanessa Williams, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and John Legend.
Ever since saxophonist Joshua Redman burst onto the jazz scene in 1991, he has displayed the maturity and skill of a veteran, earning immediate recognition from critics and colleagues alike. One of the so-called “new emotionalists”, Redman’s work aims to convey a raw power rather than an intellectual experience: “Music doesn’t come from music, music comes from life. That means taking walks, hanging out, going to parties, reading, playing sports … the list is endless.” Redman’s approach has helped to popularise jazz to a wider audience. He is also the first jazz musician to have a clothes designer – Donna Karan – as a corporate sponsor.
Undoubtedly the premier event on Johannesburg’s jazz calendar, the 2008 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place at eight venues in the city’s Newtown precinct.
The Dinaledi Stage – a new venue built especially for The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz – and the Mbira Stage will be erected on Mary Fitzgerald Square, creating two purpose-built venues to showcase this year’s stunning bill. Other venues include The Market Theatre, The Bassline, Dance Factory and Museum Afrika.
There is free entrance to the Newtown venues of Museum Afrika, Sophiatown and Nikki’s Oasis where developmental and emerging bands are given the opportunity to gain experience and showcase their talent. In the line-up are the Central Johannesburg College, George Tabor School of Music, Music Academy of Gauteng and The Tshwane University of Technology’s School of Music and bands from the Puisano Roving Jazz programme.
In the Joy of Jazz’s continuing programme of growing and nurturing the genre, the Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners for Jazz Concorde Nkabinde (2006), Shannon Mowday (2007) and Mark Fransman (2008) will be joined by a number of the international artists in hosting workshops for local musicians.
OPENING NIGHT DINNER
The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz’s opening night gets a new-look this year when revellers at this not-to-be-missed jazz-travaganza are treated to both five-star entertainment and a five-course dinner.
The new Dinaledi Stage – to be erected in Newtown especially for Joy of Jazz – will be reminiscent of Sophiatown, which played a pivotal role in the development of South African jazz.
The line-up on Thursday, August 28 makes for an impressive opening night. Japanese pianist Keiko Matsui takes to the stage with The South African All Star Band featuring Lucas Senyatso, Lawrence Matshiza, Tlale Makhene, Rob Watson, Bez Roberts and Adam Howard.
Also on the bill is the the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO), to be accompanied by the Afrotenors, in a tribute to The Union of South Africa, the band formed in the US in 1970 by Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Caiphus Semenya. The Afrotenors, comprise Agos Moahi, Given Mabena and Lucky Sibanda.
For the first time in the staging of the Joy of Jazz, the Opening Night will include a five-course, sit-down Gala Dinner, which includes a full premium bar and wine service.
The line up of the 2008 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz on August 29 and 30 includes The Spinners; the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson, Miki Howard and Lonnie Liston Smith; American saxophonist Joshua Redman; guitarist Doc Powell from the USA; Israel’s Avi Lebovich and the Israeli Jazz Orchestra; Spain’s Sedajazz; Holland’s Denise Jannah; Germany’s Joy Denalane and Norway’s Tord Gustavsen.
Performers from the African continent include South Africa’s Abigail Kubheka, Pat Matshikiza, Mark Fransman, the 2008 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz, Simphiwe Dana and Yvonne Chaka Chaka as well as Aşa from Nigeria.
Tickets for the Opening Night Gala Dinner are R1 500 per person excluding VAT and can be booked through Warwick Hospitality on 011 467 8400. All other tickets for shows on Friday August 29 and Staurday August 30 can be booked through Computicket.
For more information on the line-up and venues go to www.standardbankjazz.co.za and www.tmusicman.co.za.
