2019 Joy of Jazz lineup unveiled

“We are excited about what the 2019 lineup holds for us,” says Thulani Sibeko, Standard Bank chief marketing officer. “Of particular joy for us is a large number of Standard Bank Young Artist Jazz alumni performing this year – including the opening night once off an all-star band of previous winners.”

Joy of African jazz

The lineup includes multi-award winning Mozambican composer and saxophonist Moreira Chonguiça, who is one of the finest creators of the innovative and original African jazz form. Cuban born pianist Roberto Fonseca draws on classical influences, rock influence and hip-hop. Drummer Manu Katché will bring his rhythmic charm to the SBJOJ stage. The French drummer embodies the spirit of jazz unleashed, having worked with everyone from Sting, Branford Marsalis, Peter Gabriel, Jan Garbarek and Youssou N'Dour. A rare treat on the bill is Ken Peplowski, who's been described as the greatest living clarinettist in jazz.

The festival will open with the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra led by trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis, who is, to many, the public face of jazz music. His ability to draw on history to point to a dignified future has been central to the global jazz tradition since he emerged on the scene. His band will share honours with the ZAR Orchestra led by Mzansi’s own eclectic horns-man Marcus Wyatt. The South African trumpeter was specifically chosen by Marsalis for the gig to celebrate jazz as a shared value in the struggle to perfect freedom and democracy in South Africa and the United States.

Another trumpeter not be missed is Nigerian-born Etuk Ubong – he is fast becoming a notable voice in jazz. Ubong’s music draws inspiration from jazz great trumpeters that stretch from Hugh Masekela to Miles Davis. The larger expanses of African jazz will rev up the festival through the music of Kyekyeku & Ghanalogue Highlife, a six-piece group who play a brand of music formed by Fela Kuti, Highlife. The historic band Stimela, the iconic Sipho Mabuse, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, singer and songwriter Siphokazi and The Soil will underscore the diversity that makes up South African jazz. Mzansi’s own rising star, vocalist and pianist Nomfundo Xaluva will explore local traditions for global tastes along with Nokukhanya Dlamini.

Collaborations and an all-star band

Not to be missed is Sankofa, led by US-born and SA-based saxophonist and composer Salim Washington. The band is simultaneously rooted in Mzansi, connected to the US while inspired by pan-African ideas. Sankofa is a Ghanaian philosophy looking back to inform the future. Arguably, the most daring avant-garde collaboration on the bill, ZACHUSA is a multinational outfit that features Swiss pianist Malcolm Braff, South African drummer Kesivan Naidoo, American bassist Reggie Washington. Bringing on other great music beyond straight-ahead jazz, the lineup also features soul singer Rahsaan Patterson alongside other soul jewels like RJ Benjamin.

The 2019 SBJOJ features a never-to-be-repeated all-star band performance to celebrate 35 Years of the Standard Bank Young Artist (SBYA) Awards. The performance will feature previous award winners like Swiss-based and South African-born saxophonist Shannon Mowday (2007), who will join the elder stateswoman of South African jazz Sibongile Khumalo (1993), inimitable composer-pianist Nduduzo Makhathini (2015) and singular bassist, Concord Nkabinde (2006) and others like Gloria Bosman (2000), Bokani Dyer (2011) Mark Fransman (2008). The 2019 Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz, trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni will also lead his own outfit in performance.

“We are perennially inspired by jazz as a symbol of freedom. It’s a freedom to be creative and explore beyond the tradition itself. This is at the heart of our idea of Jazz Unleashed. To go to the edges of our great music and rediscover it anew,” states Mantwa Chinoamadi, festival producer at T-Musicman.

Tickets available via www.joyofjazz.co.za