Undoubtedly the premier event on Jozi’s jazz calendar, the 2008 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival marks its 9th year with a truly international line-up that incorporates all jazz styles – from Afro jazz and fusion to Latin rhythms, bebop and straight-ahead.

Artists from America, Japan, Norway, Spain, Israel, Germany and Holland will be joined by top performers from South Africa and Nigeria in a diverse and eclectic line-up with a strong emphasis on jazz.

For the first time a classic orchestra will play at the not-to-be-missed jazz-travaganza when the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra pays tribute to The Union of South Africa - the band formed in the US in 1970 by Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Caiphus Semenya.

Giants of the jazz world include Japan’s Keiko Matsui who recorded her last album Moyo in South Africa; the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson and Lonnie Liston Smith; American saxophonist Joshua Redman; guitarist Doc Powell from the US; Israel’s Avi Lebovich and the Israeli Jazz Orchestra; Spain’s Sedajazz; Holland’s Denise Jannah; Germany’s Joy Denelane and Norway’s Tord Gustavsen.

Performers from the African continent include South Africa’s Abigail Kubheka, Pat Matshikiza, Mark Fransman, the 2008 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz, Simphiwe Dana and Yvonne Chaka Chaka as well as Asa from Nigeria.

So don’t miss the more than 40 acts as eight venues in Newtown reverberate to some of the hottest musical sounds on the planet from August 28 to 30.

New venues include The Dinaledi Stage – built especially for The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, and the Mbira Stage, which will be erected on the Mary Fitzgerald Square, creating two purpose-built venues to showcase this year’s stunning bill. Other venues include The Market Theatre, The Bassline, Dance Factory and Museum Afrika.

Incorporating all jazz styles from Afro jazz and fusion to Latin rhythms, bebop and straight-ahead, the 2008 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will bring an array of quality jazz to satisfy all tastes across the jazz genre which should appeal to jazz lovers around the country.

This was echoed by T-Musicman’s Peter Tladi who said: “As the festival promoter we spend a great deal of time searching for artists who will appeal to a broad base of music fans. We want to present a diverse range of jazz styles as well as the giants of jazz and the upcoming young lions. There is something for everyone with this year’s line-up which is truly international and inspirational.”

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