“Jazz is not just music. It’s a way of life, a way of being, a way of thinking.” – Nina Simone.
The late great Miss Simone had it right. For those who are so inclined, jazz is more than just idle listening. It’s a whole innovative world of sonorous exploration, all wrapped up in discordant notes and a trendy hat. If you ask anyone who’s even a little into jazz about why they like it, everyone will have a different answer. Maybe it’s the way jazz is both meticulous order and total chaos all at once. Maybe it’s the rich history of resistance and liberation that runs parallel to the art form. Maybe it’s the wide range of stylistic choices you can make while still falling under the “jazz” umbrella. Or maybe it’s the aforementioned trendy hat. No matter WHY you love jazz, the place to do it is at the Joy of Jazz festival taking place in the Sandton Convention Centre, starting on Friday the 25th of November.
What is the Joy of Jazz festival?
The Joy of Jazz festival is a two-day event taking place in the last weekend of November in the heart of Sandton Central. Billed as “South Africa’s premier jazz festival,” Joy of Jazz has entertained jazz lovers in Johannesburg for over twenty years. 2022 marks the festival’s 23rd year running, and the standard of local and international musicians on the bill continues to exceed expectations. Festival Producer, Mantwa Chinoamadi-Mutsinya says, “We see this as the year of recovery for us as a festival, but also for the whole local music ecosystem. The industry has been under severe strain for the past two years. We’ve chosen to use this year’s festival as a catalytic investment in the recovery for local talent. Joy of Jazz has also been a central platform for the development of jazz talent over the past 23 years. As we rebuild from the hiatus of the pandemic, we thought it prudent to prioritise local music and talent.” The inaugural 2022 Joy of Jazz “Music and Lifestyle Experience (Expo), ” will be running concurrently to the festival,” organised in collaboration with Synergy Business Events. With 3 000 predicted visitors and over 100 exhibitors, it’s open to concert attendees and members of the public alike, and highlights the festival’s focus on economic recovery and development.
Who’s playing at the festival?
With over 20 individual acts performing, there’s guaranteed to be a litany of acts to delight any jazz lover, no matter the level of technicality you enjoy. Some of the highlights on the line-up include the baritone, Dumza Maswana and his set, Celebrating African Song. The band, Mahube, is made up of a selection of multinational musicians, and will entertain crowds with their aptly titled set, “Music from Southern Africa.” Multi-award-winning pianist and composer Bokani Dyer will perform his highly anticipated project Radio Sechaba on a premier jazz stage for the first time, followed by up-and-coming saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane and his quintet that includes pianist Afrika Mkhize, drummer Sphelelo Mazibuko, bassist Benjamin Jephta and Siphamandla Dlamini. Gloria Bosman will lead a choir to pay tribute to the late great Sibongile Khumalo in a celebration of music and legacy. The Mbira Stage, powered by Sampra, will host a selection of young artists whose sound is defining the youth’s “spirit of Mzansi,” including Thandiswa Mazwai, Brenda Mtambo Re- Framed, Presss and The Gathering With Ntsika.
Where can I get tickets?
Because of this incredible line-up, tickets are selling fast. The good news is that there are still some available, so you won’t miss out on this incredible showcase of international and local jazz talent. The even better news is that you can get them online at Computicket, so your seats are saved well in advance. Are you ready to get jazzy with Sandton Central? We’ll see you there. We’ll most definitely be wearing that cool hat.
