My learned colleague and former Sowetan’s entertainment reporter Edward Tsumele, can and will vouch on that.
As Africa’s premier jazz event all jazz legends and young-ones came to party with the first citizen of the province Mayor Herman Mashaba. He’s a jolly fellow- one must point out.
Having flown thousands of miles to grace the 22 edition of this prestigious gathering- international stars from Wynton Marsalis to Moreira Chonguica to Manu Katche, look forward to sharing the stage with our own Nduduzo Makhathini (met him last night -humble as ever), bra Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Sibongile Khumalo and Grammy award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo, amongst others.
The 2019 SBJOJ will present a never to be repeated performance that will see the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra – JLCO (a 15-piece band made up of the finest soloist, ensemble players and arrangers? in the jazz music), led by the great African American trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis, trade chops with South Africa’s own inimitable trumpeter, Marcus Wyatt, leading his 17-piece ZAR Orchestra.
It comes as Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra project celebrates South Africa’s 25 years of freedom at the Kennedy Centre in the US. This is jazz as an instrument for building bridges of national friendship across borders.
An all-star band featuring former
SBYA alumni will ascend the stage in fitting fashion to
celebrate this long standing act of patronage by Standard Bank.
The band will include, but not be limited to, the singular jazz vocalist and inimitable mezzo-soprano operetta Sibongile Khumalo, the prodigiously gifted pianist and composer, Bokani Dyer; internationally renowned saxophonist and conductor, Shannon Mowday, enterprising producer and bassist, Concord Nkabinde and arguably the most energetic drummer of his generation, Kesivan Naidoo.
The festival takes place from 26 – 28 September 2019 at the Sandton Convention Centre and draws over 40 local and international jazz players to the city of Joburg.
It also pulls thousands of visitors to the city. There’s joy for jazz lovers wanting to be there for the revelry.
Visit www.joyofjazz.co.za for full line-up, programme and times.
Tickets can be purchased at Computicket outlets.
Image (Nduduzo Makhathini (fully bearded), Wyton Marsalis (far left) and others at the media brief held in Jozi today.)
