American jazz giant Gerald Albright and South Africa’s Jonathan Butler will join forces on the opening night. Renowned American musician Bob James will join the galaxy of stars. James is a two-time Grammy Award-winning smooth jazz keyboardist, arranger and record producer, and is recognised as one of the original founders of smooth jazz and renowned for the complexity of his arrangements and instrumentals.
The line-up includes Grammy Award winner Bill Champlin, who co-founded the legendary Bay Area band the Sons of Champlin, but who is perhaps best known for his nearly three decades as a member of Chicago. He joins forces with four time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Deniece Williams; Brenda Russell (the co-creator of the music and lyrics for the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit The Color Purple) and drummer Paul Peress in a not-to-be-missed collaboration called Sounds of Love.
Other big international names in the jazz world include the award-winning José James,tenor saxophonist Houston Person, known for his partnership with the great vocalist Etta Jones, and Canada-based vocalist Ranee Lee, popular for her ability to channel the grand dames of jazz.
South African greats billed for this year’s edition, are: Barney Rachabane, Sibongile Khumalo, 2015 Grammy Award-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman; The Voice South Africa coach Lira and perennial favourites Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse and Ringo.
There are some exciting collaborations this year. The Graz Roots Project celebrates past South African composers and musicians who gave future generations the sound of mbaqanga, mgqashiyo, maskandi and African jazz, and features a powerhouse of musicians including Billy Monama, Concord Nkabinde, McCoy Mrubata, Lwanda Gogwana, Mduduzi Mtshali, Paki Peloeole and Themba Mokoena.
The inimitable firebrand percussionist and leader of the legendary Ritual Trio, Kahil El’Zabar brings an outfit that features jazz tenor saxophonist Teodross Avery and the incredible vocalist Dwight Tribble who makes his second return to the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz stage. El’Zabar comes out of the resilience of Chicago’s pro Africanist avant garde jazz tradition. His music is as intense as it is swinging.
Senegalese bass player and vocalist Alune Wade brings the Havana-Paris-Dakar project to this year’s festival. The project is an eclectic celebration of the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition with musical sojourns into Wade’s Franco-Phone Senegalese heritage. It features Argentinian piano maestro Leonardo Genovese.
US-born vocalist Deborah J Carter teams up with Paul van Kessel from The Netherlands for New York Round Midnight, which involves a rhythm section, horns, and vocalists from the cream of the Dutch jazz scene to take listeners back to the heyday of jazz in the '50s and '60s. It includes everybody’s favourite jazz hits from My Funny Valentine to I Love You Porgy.
Trumpeter Feya Faku presents The Swiss Unit Project– featuring music from his album 'Le Ngoma' (The Song) - with Swiss musicians Domenic Landolf (tenor sax, alto flute), Jean-Paul Brodbeck (piano), Fabian Gisler (acoustic bass) and Dominic Egli (drums). The concept includes tribute songs such as Miss Benjamin (for Sathima Bee) and Dirge (for Zim Ngqawana). “I created this concept to celebrate legends that came before me. I am what I am because of them. My quest is to recognise them and keep them alive,” he said.
The star-studded line-up will also feature the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year for Jazz Siya Makuzeni; Nonfunda Xaluva; America’s Kendrick Scott; Max-Hoba; Israel’s Ester Rada; Lindiwe Maxolo; Mozambique’s Moreira Chonguica; Judith Sephuma; Ntjam Rosie accompanied by the Dutch All Stars Orchestra in a programme titled Jazz Roots, the Music Academy of Gautengand the National Youth Jazz Band.
Tickets are on sale at Computicket. A one-day pass costs R750 with a two-day pass at R1250.
Discounted tickets are available for all Standard Bank card holders. There is a 10% discount when tickets are bought using a valid Standard Bank debit and cheque card. The discount is 15% when payment is made with a valid Standard Bank credit card at a Computicket outlet and online. The offer is limited to two tickets per person who meet the criteria. Terms and conditions apply.
