SA: Standard Bank Jazz Festival to honour luminaries

Now in its 31st addition, the programme will celebrate great jazz legacies with a number of international musicians. Artists who will showcase at the festival include Nduduzo Makhathini, Thandi Ntuli, Aaron Goldberg, Albert Frost Trio, Afrika Mkhize, Zenzi Makeba Lee, Amanda Tiffin and Sisonke Xonti.

“This year’s programme will celebrate key jazz milestones, give a nod to great musical traditions from across the African continent and showcase some of the best among what Europe and the US has to offer today,” SBJF director Alan Webster said.

Pianist Thandi Ntuli will lead Rebirth of Cool, a jazz band that is expected to bring classics from the great pool of hip hop and soul. Comprising four members, the group will play songs from Miles Davis’ 1957 seminal album Birth of Cool. Featuring unusual instrumentation and several notable musicians, Rebirth of Cool’s music is made up of innovative arrangements fused with classical techniques such as polyphony and post-bebop jazz.

The lofty legacy of historic band the Blue Notes is revisited with dexterous musical adoration by the star-studded Blue Notes Tribute Orchestra led by trumpeter Marcus Wyatt. Award-winning writer Percy Mabandu will lead an interdisciplinary performance to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of saxophonist Winston Mankunku Ngozi’s 1968 album Yakhal' Inkomo. The project will bring together the masterful jazz musicianship of Andile Yenana, Shane Cooper, Ayanda Sikade, Linda Sikhakhane and Sisonke Xonti.

Norwegian saxophonist Petter Wettre and his band will reimagine Michael Breckerwill’s music in a project titled Don’t Try This At Home. Well-known US pianist Aaron Goldberg will for the first time bring his trio to Africa while McCoy Mrubata and pianist Paul Hanmer will use their performance as an opportunity to celebrate their 30 years of collaboration.

To celebrate the impact made by Swiss state arts funding organisation Pro Helvetia in South Africa for more than 20 years, 12 musicians from Switzerland will perform at the festival this year. The musicians are expected to perform original music and collaborate with local artists.

The festival is going to be a rare feast for jazz piano enthusiasts too. Pianist, composer and Standard Bank Young Artist Thandi Ntuli will showcase music from her new genre album Exile at the DSG Hall on 29 June. Andile Yenana’s sextet Umnqgonqgo Wabantu will ascend the DSG Hall stage on 1 July. The band will include prolific South African and Swiss musicians such as bassist Christoph King-Utzinger and drummer Michi Stulz. The rhythm section and hornline includes Wyatt and Sikhakhane.

On 29 June, US composer and pianist Goldberg will lead his trio with New Zealander bassist Matt Penman and US drummer and percussionist Leon Parker. Afrika Mkhize will be on stage with Zenzi Makeba Lee and Amanda Tiffin as they break new ground with their collaboration on 30 June. Pianist Nduduzo Makhathini will also set the piano on fire when he plays music from his latest album Ikhambi on 4 July.

Educational wing at the festival

The SBJF, through its educational wing, will feature the Standard Bank National Schools Big Band conducted by Dr Gordon Vernick – a professor of music and coordinator of jazz studies at Georgia State University. The band is made up of musicians between the ages of 19 and 25 from across the country.

“There’s a reason the SBJF has a global reputation as a barometer of not only the current quality of jazz musicianship in South Africa but a launching ground for future industry leaders too,” Standard Bank head of brand and sponsorship Jenny Pheiffer said.

“The focus on development of young musicians and the way the festival celebrates our jazz heritage exemplifies our values captured by our campaign call for this year – Art_is! We are convinced art, and jazz music in particular, are central to building a healthy society,” she said.

Tickets will go on sale from 7 May via the National Arts Festival official website.