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Audiences

Who would not normally have an opportunity to experience top
musical events like the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival, are in for a treat
this year. Organisers of the jazz-travaganza, which opens in the Newtown
Precinct, Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 26, have laid on two free
concerts for music lovers.

The initiative is part of plans to contribute to the festival’s
on-going audience development drives. The free shows, devised as community
outreach projects featuring South African acts on the brink of commercial
success, will give wider audiences a taste of the festival.

Community

The programme involves two tailor-made shows taking place at the
Sci-Bono, a venue located in the Old Electric Workshop in Newtown, the cultural
precinct in the heart of the Johannesburg. The People’s Concert which takes
place at noon on Tuesday, August 24, is for adults from various community
organisations; and showcases acts like The Soil, Thulee and Nkulee Dube .

The Magnet Schools Concert, scheduled for Wednesday, August 25,
features Dineo Pule, Zonke and Vuyo Tyolo. This show is specifically for
learners who are part of the Magnet Schools programme, which provides music
training to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

One of those appearing of August 24, Nkulee Dube, is none other
than the daughter of the late South African musician, Lucky Dube. Nkulee has
overcome the tragedy of her father’s murder and is now making waves on the
music scene in her own right, by fusing ethno-soul and jazz with Ragga. Others
on the line-up, Vuyo Tyolo and Zonke, both recently returned to South Africa
from a successful tour of Holland.

Workshops

In-between concerts and other appearances during the festival,
some of the world’s leading jazz musicians will also make time to run free
workshops, teaching youngsters and aspiring musicians the intricacies of the
craft.

Among those who have volunteered their services are: R’n’B and
jazz musician, Lalah Hathaway; clarinet virtuoso, Anat Cohen; Grammy nominated
saxophonist, Ravi Coltrane; and saxman and composer, Kim Waters. Jazz violinist
Michael Ward and percussionist Poncho Sanchez will also assist with the
workshops, to help inspire a creative spirit in South African youth.

Women

There is also a women’s angle to the festival, in celebration of
Women’s Month and the legacy of women journalists in South Africa’s popular
media. The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will, as in previous years, be offering a
five-day practical workshop for women arts writers. The Lady Porcupine Arts
Journalism Workshop is now an established part of the festival’s educational
programme.

Scheduled to take place from August 23 to 27 in Newtown, the
women’s arts writers’ workshop will be run by Gwen Ansell, a music/jazz writer
and journalism trainer. The workshop title honours Johanna Pahlane, who wrote
for Bantu World under the pen-name ‘Lady Porcupine’ in the 1930s while also
directing the Merry Makers vaudeville troupe.

The course, which has Jazz-writing and critiquing as its content
focus, is targeted at Johannesburg-based women over the age 20 who are journalists
or media students, cadets or interns. Also targeted for the workshop, are
female musicians or music students with interest in the publicity, NGO or
artistic, culture and heritage sectors.

The 2010 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place at six venues
in the city’s Newtown Precinct. Other venues include The Market Theatre and The
Bassline, Sophia Town and Nikki’s Oasis. It is held in the 3rd week of August
every year.

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