2017 Joy of Jazz line-up announced
The line-up for the 20th annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz has been announced. The 2017 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 28-30 September 2017.
The three-day event will feature over 30 performances on four different stages – Dinaledi, Conga, Mbira, and Diphala.
Several established and up-and-coming international and South African jazz musicians have been included in this year’s line-up.
Event executive producer Peter Tladi of T-Musicman believes it’s a line-up that fits the occasion and will project the meaning of the hard work and passion that went into building one of Africa’s jazz festivals.
Tladi said: “We, as festival producers, spend a great deal of time both here and overseas seeking out artists who we believe will appeal to a wide spectrum of music fans. We want to present a diverse range of jazz styles inclusive of the giants of jazz and the upcoming young lions. There is something for everyone in this year’s line-up which, we believe, is international and truly inspirational.”
Lining them up
Six-time Grammy award nominee Nnenna Freelon will be one of the performing artists on the opening night of Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Freelon will share the Dinaledi stage with South African jazz vocalist Tutu Puoane and the Thandiswa Mazwai Belede Jazz Project, along with the Ramsey Lewis versus Roy Ayers musical concept.
Nnenna Freelon
The line-up also includes three-time Grammy award-winner Branford Marsalis, sax maestro Joshua Redman and his quartet, The Clayton Brothers as well as the MAC Power Trio with David Murray, Geri Allen, and Terri Lyne Carrington.
Other international names featured in the line-up include the five time Grammy award-winning American virtuoso bassist Christian McBride and Dutch jazz pianist Peter Beets.
South African performers in the line-up are legends Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, and Caiphus Semenya. Younger generation artists such as Zoe Modiga, Benjamin Jephta, Brenda Mtambo, and the Mabida Bay Jazz Orchestra will also feature.
Other highlights will include performances by the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band and South African guitarist, composer, producer, and teacher Selaelo Selota.
Artists joining from the rest of the continent include Mali superstar Salif Keita, Uganda's Somi, Lesotho's Tsepo Tshola, Maleh, and Bhudaza Mapefane.
Tickets are on sale at Computicket.
