New international stars announced for Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival

Also coming to the "jazztravaganza" - which takes place in Newtown, Johannesburg, from 23 to 25 August, 2012, are the UK's Lizz Wright, Ken Philmore from Trinidad and Tobago who is one of the top steel-drum soloists in the world, and France's Orchestre National de Jazz (ONJ).

Both Palmieri and Katche join the opening night line-up, which includes Sax Summit and the Tribute to Miles Davis.

Sax Summit has five of the world's top female saxophonists playing the music of Kippie Moeketsi. They are America's Grace Kelly, Holland's Tineke Postma, British tenor Rosemary Quaye, as well as Shannon Mowday (a former Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz) and Nthabiseng Mokoena. The Tribute to Miles Davis features two former Crusader players, trombonist Wayne Henderson and drummer Ndugu Chancler, trumpeter Tom Browne, saxophonist Everette Harp, pianist Bobby Lyle and bassist Edwin Livingston.

Eddie Palmieri is one of the foremost Latin jazz pianists of the 21st century, with a technique that fuses jazz influences from the styles of Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk and McCoy Tyner into a Latin context. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards.

Drummer Manu Katche blossomed as a contemporary jazz drummer and band leader thanks to his involvement with the touring and recording projects of Peter Gabriel and Sting.

Manu Katche

Clarence Carter

Eddie Palmieri

Worldwide music ambassador

In a career that spans more than four decades, Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander has performed and recorded with artists from every corner of the musical universe and was awarded the title of Commander in the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for outstanding services to Jamaica in his capacity as worldwide music ambassador.

Clarence Carter won legends of fans around the world with songs such as Patches, Slip Away and Too Weak to Fight. He found a new audience with songs such as Strokin' and Dr CC in the 1990s. Carter's strong soul sound also found an audience within the hip hop community where he is known as Dr CC for his soulful guitar work intertwined with his sexy lyrics.

Lizz Wright's music is a mixture of jazz, folk, gospel, and R&B. The Georgia-based singer-songwriter is already a celebrated contributor to the jazz world, having recorded four albums.

Ken "Professor" Philmore has performed and recorded with a number of international artists. Apart from his work in Trinidad, he currently arranges music for steel bands both in US and the UK and lectures at universities worldwide.

A unique musical path

Orchestre National de Jazz (under the current leadership of artistic director Daniel Yvinec) has charted a unique musical path over the last quarter of a century, with projects tributes to Billie Holiday and art rock pioneer Robert Wyatt. Their latest offering is the acclaimed Shut Up And Dance.

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place on eight stages in Newtown including the Dinaledi Stage, the Conga, Mbira, Bassline and The Market Theatre. Other venues include free concerts at Sophiatown, Shikisha and Nikki's Oasis.

Weekend passes for Standard Bank Joy of Jazz are already sold out, but day passes and all other ticket classes are still available although tickets are selling fast and festival-goers are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

Artists already announced for the festival include Grammy-Award winner Kurt Elling, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon (who has just been named Trombonist of the Year at the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards with Downbeat magazine naming him Best Trombonist at the 60th Annual Critics Poll); Grammy-winning guitarist Earl Klugh as well as an appearance by the world-famous Duke Ellington Orchestra. Luminaries from the African continent include Caiphus Semenya, Bakithi Kumalo, Manu Dibango from Cameroon and Mory Kante from Guinea.

For more information on the full line-up and venues go to www.joyofjazz.co.za and www.standardbankarts.co.za See also http://www.facebook.com/standardbankjoyofjazz http://standardbank.mobi/jazz

Tickets are on sale at Computicket.