There will be a global blend of sound at The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz when top international artists join the legendary Wynton Marsalis (legendary trumpeter and winner of nine Grammy Awards, plus the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music) at the country’s premier jazz-travaganza. Running from August 25 to 27, the 2011 line-up features artists from America, Brazil, Croatia and Belgium who will share billing with performers from South Africa and the rest of African.
America’s Dee Dee Bridgewater (a Grammy and Tony Award winner), McCoy Tyner (with four Grammys), Gerald Veasley, Jeff Lorber (Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer and record producer), Alexander O’Neal and Frank McComb will be joined by Brazil’s Tania Maria, Croatia’s HGM Jazz Messengers and Belgium’s Brussels Jazz Orchestra who perform with our own Tutu Puoane.
South African jazz greats Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo are part of a strong South African line-up including Mango Groove, Simphiwe Dana, the African Jazz Pioneers, Tu Nokwe, Kwela Tebza, Victor Ntoni, McCoy Mrubatha, Ringo, Julius Schultz and pianist Bokani Dyer (2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Jazz). They join performers from the African continent including Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi, Angola’s Bonga and Nigeria’s Olufemi.
Wynton Marsalis will perform at Emperor’s Palace on Thursday, August 25 with the Gauteng Jazz Orchestra (featuring The African Soul Sisters Nokukhanya Dlamini, Nombulelo Maqetuka and Wanda Baloyi) before the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz continues in Newtown on August 26 and 27.
Taking place on seven stages, including brand new venue The Conga Stage, the Dinaledi Stage and the Mbira Stage will once again be erected on Mary Fitzgerald Square, creating three purpose-built venues to showcase this year’s line-up. Other venues include The Bassline, Sophiatown, Shikisha and Nikki’s Oasis.
For more information on the line-up and venues go to www.joyofjazz.co.za and www.standardbankarts.com. Also find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Tickets cost from R500 to R900 from Computicket (with a 15% discount for all Standard Bank customers).
