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Joy of Jazz to rock Joburg
Lucky Sindane
23 August 2004
The cultural heart of Johannesburg, the Newtown Cultural Precinct, hosts the ninth annual jazz festival, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Joburg International Festival, from 26 to 28 August.
The city will come alive with the sizzling smooth sounds of some of the best exponents of jazz around, with over 200 local and international musicians lined up for the event.
The festival kicks off at the Standard Bank Arena on 26 August with the internationally acclaimed Earl Klugh and Michael Franks, along with South Africa's Don Laka, setting the mood.
Klugh, an acoustic guitarist with a funky laid-back style, was putting the "smooth" into jazz long before it became fashionable. Franks, a singer and songwriter who started his career in the 1970s, was influenced by a wide range of music, including folk and the blues. Piano man Laka will also add his special blend of magic to the evening.
This will be followed by an array of sessions at nine
venues around the Newtown Cultural Precinct on 27 and 28 August.
The Turbine Hall will feature smooth jazz and R&B, the Newtown Music Hall will offer mainstream jazz, while local artists will perform blazing township jazz at the Market Theatre and Kippies Jazz International.
New artists will be on show at the Laboratory; Nikki's Oasis will feature new jazz; Horror Café will feature a mixture of poetry and music; and new venue Shivava will host traditional sounds.
Mpumalanga has chosen Shivava restaurant as a showcase for artists from the province - the first time in the history of the festival that a province has booked a venue.
The ninth stage will be in the corporate village, between Shivava and Horror Café.
The three-day festival will not just be a showcase for music. According to T-Musicman managing director Peter Tladi, there will also be arts and craft stalls, as well as tours "where we'll take visitors and show them around the beautiful City
of Gold".
The Joy of Jazz line-up includes:
- Turbine Hall - Jazz Brothers, Kunle, Sipho Mabuse, Chieli Minucci and the Joburg Big Band.
- Newtown Music Hall - Abdullah Ibrahim, Special EFX, Dondo, Victor Ntoni, Andy Narrel and the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band.
- Market Theatre - Musa Manzini, Vanessa Ruben, Kevin Mahogany, Gauteng Music Academy and Gloria Bosman.
- Horror Café - Mzwakhe Mbuli, AJA, Oliver Mtukudzi, Mac Jays and Black Spirits.
- Kippies Jazz International - Music Ye Africa, Eve's Women, Chiwoniso and Loading Zone.
- The Laboratory - Nana, Siphiwe, Tlale Makhene, Mlungisi Gegana, Seed, C Bokeng and Brown.
- Shivava - Mpumalanga Artists Council.
- Nikki's Oasis - Bow & Arrow, Derrick Scheepers, Take Three, Unit 6 and Moralla.
- Corporate Stage - MXO, Stix Hojeng Project, Pondo, Stone, Matoro and 4 Piece.
All shows start at 7pm. For a complete programme, visit the Joy of Jazz Festival website.
Tickets are available through Computicket.
Joy of Jazz is supported by the City of Johannesburg, and held in association with T-Musicman, Big Concerts and Metro FM.
Source: City of Johannesburg
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