 |
|
15 July 2005
In what is undoubtedly the most impressive line-up the South African music scene has witnessed all year, a gathering of world-class international and South African award-winning jazz musicians is heading to Johannesburg for the 2005 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival.
The festival will be held in the Newtown Precinct on 26 and 27 August 2005. The opening night on 25 August will be staged at the Standard Bank Arena. Then line-up of over 35 artists includes international, African, South African and development bands
Line-up
Heading the list of artists taking to the stage are globally renowned jazz guitarists Stanley Jordan and Lee Ritenour, as well as Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer, Dave Koz and pre-eminent jazz vocalist, Dianne Reeves.
These astonishingly accomplished and in-demand international artists are joined by a raft of South African talent that draws on the country's gifted array of artists, among them iconic jazzmen, Hugh Masekela, Themba Mkhize and Jonas Gwangwa. The renowned and award winning Thandiswa Mazwai, and Simphiwe Dana are also on the bill.
And that awe-inspiring list is just for starters at a festival that prides itself on selecting artists renowned for their individuality, quality and peerless standing in the global jazz (and related) community.
Also adding their own unique flavour to the premier jazz gathering in Johannesburg are:
- American songwriter and vocalist, Jeffrey Osborne
- respected Israeli jazz composer and performer, Albert Beger
- South African artist, Andile Yenana
- saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr
- Ghana's Rex Omar, multi-instrumentalist Steve Dyer
- 2005 Best Male Composer SAMA-winner, Umanji
- talented vocalist, Swazi Dlamini
- successful newcomer, Zamajobe
- singer and pianist, Rachelle Ferrell
- vocalist Everett Greene, Nigeria's Kunle
- "People's Poet" Mzwakhe Mbuli
- Cape Town's FreshlyGround, which is achieving huge success with the close-to-gold album, Nomvula.
|
Khanyi Mlambo, Director, Group Sponsorships at Standard Bank, says: "Standard Bank is pleased to enable thousands of jazz lovers to enjoy the festivities at this acclaimed festival with its star-studded line up of international and local artists.
"The festival has become a prominent fixture on the Johannesburg social and music calendar, growing in stature each year - not just because Standard Bank prides itself in bringing the best selection of jazz musicians to the city, but because of the continued support and growing numbers of appreciative audiences over the traditional three-day period."
Standard Bank's jazz sponsorship and development started in 1997 at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Since then Standard Bank's jazz involvement has grown significantly, and now includes the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival, making it one of the top corporate supporters of this beloved music form in South Africa.
Festival promoter and respected music industry leader, Peter Tladi of T.Musicman is confident music fans will be delighted with the dazzling breadth and range of artists on this year's bill.
"When planning the 2005 event, a line-up of artists that outstripped last year's Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival was key - and many months of hard work went into securing this year's artists. Of the list of artists coming to Johannesburg this year, they are all highly respected, heavyweight musicians, whether newcomers or those who are icons of the global jazz scene."
Venues
The enormously impressive line-up of artists means music fans will be hard-pressed to choose which shows to attend at the seven venues, specially chosen to host the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival, in the city's Newtown Precinct.
By far the most unique venue is the purpose-created tent that will be hoisted onto Mary Fitzgerald Square and which will play host to top-drawer artists working in the mainstream vocal jazz genre.
Indeed, to make the music fan's choice easier, each different venue will be devoted to a different musical style, with the Market Theatre an additional venue (to the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival Tent) for mainstream vocal jazz, the Horror Caf? being the venue to experience poetry and contemporary jazz, The Laboratory home to township smooth jazz, the Newtown Music Hall showcasing mainstream jazz, Nikki's Oasis giving new jazz a platform and Shivava the place to be for fans of traditional jazz music. The Bassline will also be used, hosting several of the festival's biggest names.
Regeneration of the city
Aside from offering accessible venues with high-end sound and visual appeal, the choice of staging the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival in the Newtown Precinct is a considered one.
Explains Mlambo: "The Festival's growing prominence and international acclaim has also had significant benefits in helping to shape the future of Johannesburg, and has contributed to the city's changing creative and cultural landscape. There is no doubt that 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. As Newtown emerges as one of the world's most exciting and dynamic cultural centres, Standard Bank has been central to its continued development."
Workshops
An important part of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival is the numerous workshops taking place on August 26 and 27.
The international artists on the bill will conduct these workshops, which are free to jazz enthusiasts and see the Festival reach out of the Newtown Precinct and into areas like Mogale City and Soweto.
As part of Standard Bank's commitment to skills transfer and knowledge sharing, the chance to be part of a workshop run by the likes of Dianne Reeves, Stanley Jordan, Lee Ritenour, Dave Koz, Everett Green, Albert Beger, and Rachelle Ferrelle is an unmissable opportunity for musicians.
Gala opening
The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival swings into action on August 25 with a Gala Opening Night at the Standard Bank Arena featuring pianist and songwriter Themba Mkhize. The bill also sees Lee Ritenour and Dave Koz come together for an unmissable night of world-class jazz music.
August 26 and 27 will see more than 30 performances taking place in the Market Theatre Precinct in Newtown, offering music fans an unprecedented feast of heavyweight music from the leaders and most inventive members of the jazz genre.
Booking for The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival opens at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers on July 15 - and with a line-up as extraordinary as this year's, there is no doubt that demand for tickets is going to be heavy.
As Mlambo says: "This year's festival has something for everyone - whether it is straight-up, globally-renowned jazz or jazz spiked with a real South African flavour. For the chance to see some of the new faces entering this amazing music genre, or hear some of the world greats, there is only one place to be: The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo'burg International Festival."
|
|
|
