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Some of the world’s
top Jazz music stars will be providing a global mix of sound at The
Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival, holding in the Newtown Precinct of
Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 26 to 28.

Now in its tenth
year, the festival will parade a line-up of international artists from
the United States, Japan, Israel, South Africa and the African
Diaspora.

One of the
headliners is Mali’s first lady of song, the acclaimed Oumou Sangare.
Famous for albums including ‘Moussoulou’ (Women) and the self-titled
‘Oumou’, Sangare, who sings in her native Bambara language, will bring
her Wassoulou music to South Africa during the festival. Musical acts
from the host country will also be on the bill, including: Sipho
“Hotstix” Mabuse, Wanda Baloyi, Kyle Shepherd, Putuma, Nhlanhla Nciza
and Melanie Scholtz.

From further
afield, America’s Ravi Coltrane (son of Jazz legend, John Coltrane),
Kim Waters and Stacey Kent will also feature. Still on the line-up,
percussionist Poncho Sanchez and jazz quartet Fourplay (comprising Bob
James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason and Chuck Loeb) will be joined by
Japan’s Sadao Watanabe and Israel’s award-winning clarinettist, Anat
Cohen.

Day one of the
festival will offer an eclectic mix of musicians on the programme.
Among those announced to feature are critically acclaimed soul singer,
Rahsaan Patterson, London based guitarist and vocalist Brian Temba; and
the Cape Town jazz singer Auriol Hays – all of whom share the bill on
opening night. Headlining day two, on the Dinaledi stage, are trumpeter
Chris Botti and celebrated jazz singer, Lalah Hathaway.

Speaking about the
preparations thus far for this year’s show, festival producer, Mantwa
Odutayo of T-Musicman said, “We have gone to great lengths to secure
the finest artists and we believe we have a heavyweight line-up
befitting 2010’s stature.”

A little history

The Standard Bank
Joy of Jazz first took place in Johannesburg in 2000 and featured among
others, US jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows and pianist Bob Baldwin, who
is being brought back by the organisers this year.

The debut edition’s audience of 2000 music lovers has since grown over the years to an average of over 20000 festival goers.

Joy of Jazz has a
good record of attracting heavyweight performers onto the programme.
Jazz greats who have performed at the event over the years include:
Keiko Matsui, Joe Sample, Earl Klugh, Dave Koz, Jamie Cullum, Hugh
Masekela, Lee Ritenour, Abdullah Ibrahim, Dianne Reeves, Joshua Redman,
Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis and The Count Basie
Orchestra.

The African
continent has been well represented, and among those who have appeared
in recent years, are: Nigeria’s Kúnlé Ayo (2005), Lagbaja (2007) and
Asa (2008), Swaziland’s Bholoja; Zimbabwean Sam Mtukudzi with Max Wild;
Kenya’s Valerie Kimani and the DRC’s Afro Fiesta.

The festival is
known for contributing to the cultural exchange between local artists
and international performers, many of whom have subsequently
collaborated on various projects.

The festival is
also recognised as one of the best platforms for showcasing young,
up-and-coming and emerging jazz musicians. The staging of the Standard
Bank Joy of Jazz Festival in the Newtown Precinct has played an
integral part in the regeneration of the inner city, having had
significant benefits in helping to shape the future of Johannesburg,
and contributing to the city’s changing creative and cultural
landscape.

The Standard Joy of Jazz Festival opens in Newton Precinct, Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 26 and closes on August 28.