11 Jun 2009 The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a truly international line-up of top artists from around the world while continuing to discover and explore the heritage and riches of home-grown talent.

Two of the artists who appeared at the first Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in Newtown in 2000, US saxophonist Marion Meadows and pianist Bob Baldwin, return to celebrate the decade anniversary.

Running from August 27 to 29 in Newtown, the 2009 line-up features artists from America, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands who will be joined by top performers from South Africa and the African Diaspora.

Giants of the jazz world include Sweden’s Grammy-Award winning Andreas Vollenweider in performance with Pops Mohamed; world renowned trumpeter Ingrid Jensen accompanied by drummer Jon Wilken and bassist Ben Williams; show stopping American vocalist Phil Perry; Main Ingredient from America with vocalists Cuba Gooding Sr, Larry Moore and George Stanley Sr; Spain’s Sumrra and Room 11.

Performers from the African continent include South Africa’s Jonas Gwangwa; Afro Jazz featuring Jimmy Dludlu; Vusi Mahlasela; Brian Thusi; Sterling EQ; the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz Kesivan Naidoo as well as the Nigerian All Stars featuring Kúnlé Ayo and Rwanda’s Somi.
The Dinaledi Stage will showcase the opening night bill on Thursday, August 27, with

The Lao Tizer Band featuring Emmy Award-winning guitarist and composer Chieli Minucci and international violin virtuoso Karen Briggs. The band also comprises Steve Nieves (sax, percussion, and vocals), Jeff Kollman (guitar), Drew Megna (drums) and Andre Manga (bass). Also on the opening night double bill is smooth jazz guitarist Norman Brown.

Keyboardist and recording artist Lao Tizer captivates audiences of all ages and musical tastes and has been proclaimed “an independent artist with all the right moves” and “a torchbearer for the new generation of contemporary jazz”. In 2008, Tizer broadened his horizons and assembled an all-star concert tour The Lao Tizer Band featuring Chieli Minucci and international violin virtuoso Karen Briggs.
Chieli Minucci is a contemporary jazz guitarist, composer, music producer and arranger. Minucci was born in New York City and is primarily known as the leader of the Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz group Special EFX. Minucci has recorded and performed with top pop artists such as Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Jewel, Mark Anthony, Jessica Simpson, Anastacia and others, as well as jazz artists Marion Meadows, Jay Beckenstein, Gerald Veasley, and Nestor Torez. He is also known as a composer for television and film and has won three Emmy Awards.

Violinist Karen Briggs toured with contemporary instrumental keyboard composer Yanni for 13 years. Briggs made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1994 performing with pianist Dave Grusin. She has also performed with Stanley Clarke, the Wu Tang Clan, En Vogue and Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Benise, Marla Gibbs, Kenny Loggins, Ashley Maher, Taliesin Orchestra and Diana Ross.

American born Norman Brown is a smooth jazz guitarist and singer and who is often compared to George Benson, released his debut album Just Between Us from Motown Records' Jazz label, Mo Jazz in 1992. Collaborators include Boyz II Men and Stevie Wonder. In 2003, he and his producer Paul Brown won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for 2002's Just Chillin’.

More than 15 million records sold in 47 countries, a Grammy Award and several Grammy nominations as well as 3432 concerts in the most renowned venues around the globe … These are the figures behind the fascinating story of Andreas Vollenweider’s music. More than three decades ago, Vollenweider reinvented harp-playing with his own unique sound. He will be joined on stage at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz by South Africa’s Pops Mohamed.

New York native Bob Baldwin was taught to play the piano by his father Robert Baldwin Sr. With the help of his elder name sake, he discovered his ability of perfect pitch at the age of four. Baldwin studied the classical and jazz repertoire but his harmonies were honed due to his wide range of inspiration which included Oscar Peterson, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis.

Marion Meadows is a tenor saxophonist, soprano saxophonist, composer and smooth jazz recording artist who has releases nine albums. After studying jazz with Anthony Truglia, Meadows attended Berklee College of Music, where he majored in arranging and composition. He later went to the SUNY Purchase School for the Arts, where he studied under Ron Herder. Meadows has collaborated with numerous artists and musicians including Brook Benton, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne, The Temptations, Michael Bolton, Angela Bofill, Will Downing and Native American flute player Douglas Spotted Eagle.

The 2009 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz brings an array of quality jazz to satisfy all tastes across the jazz genre which should appeal to jazz lovers around the country.

Commented Clement Motale, Director Group Sponsorships at Standard Bank: “Ten years of Jazz in Johannesburg is a significant milestone, and we will be hosting a Standard Bank Joy of Jazz this year that promises jazz lovers a weekend to remember. Our continued support for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz has seen this prominent social music fixture grow in stature each year, and on the occasion of our 10th anniversary we look forward to celebrating a rich and warm blend of African and international jazz in the heart of Johannesburg, bringing jazz lovers together in a truly united and global celebration of jazz and its heritage.”

Said promoter T-Musicman’s Peter Tladi: “We are proud to be celebrating our 10th anniversary of a festival which has put Jozi on the international jazz map. Once again, we have endeavoured to provide a diverse range of jazz styles. The artists performing this year are all highly respected, heavyweight musicians, whether newcomers or those who are icons of the global jazz scene.”

Undoubtedly the premier event on Johannesburg’s jazz calendar, the 2009 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place at six venues in the city’s Newtown precinct. The Dinaledi Stage and the Mbira Stage will be erected on Mary Fitzgerald Square, creating two purpose-built venues to showcase this year’s line-up. Other venues include The Market Theatre, The Bassline, Sophiatown and Nikki’s Oasis.

There is free entrance to the Newtown venues of Sophiatown and Nikki’s Oasis where developmental and emerging bands are given the opportunity to gain experience and showcase their talent. Included in the line-up are bands from the Puisano Roving Jazz programme.

In the Joy of Jazz’s continuing programme of growing and nurturing the genre, the international artists will host workshops for local musicians. Details will be released at a later date.

For more information on the line-up, venues go to www.standardbankjazz.co.za and www.tmusicman.co.za.

The 2009 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is presented by Standard Bank and T-Musicman.

STANDARD BANK JOY OF JAZZ  TICKET PRICES

Tickets for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz - which takes place in Newtown from August 27 to 29 – go on sale on to the public June 26, 2009

A limited number of tickets are available at a 15 percent discount for all Standard Bank customers from June 11 to 25, subject to availability and on presentation of a valid Standard Bank card at a Computicket outlet. The offer is limited to two tickets per account holder and is not available for online bookings.  

Once again there’s the popular Standard Bank Joy of Jazz one day pass which allows patrons to move between performances at the Dinaledi Stage and the Mbira Stage on August 28 and 29.