Jo'burg jazz pick: August 26 2011

Summing up this year’s programme for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Mail & Guardian critic Gwen Ansell wrote: “The bill is strong on jazz with integrity, with international guests headlined by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and also including pianist McCoy Tyner and vocalists DeeDee Bridgewater and Tania Maria. They are all commercially safe choices.”

As part of the festival, veteran South African musician and jazz luminary Jonas Gwangwa will be honoured with the exhibition Kukude Lapho Sivelakhona: The Life and Times of Jonas Gwangwa.

The show has been curated by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in collaboration with the Market Theatre, independent researchers Elinor Sisulu and Sam Shakong, and designer Clive van den Berg. It is based on original research, including interviews with Gwangwa, fellow musicians, members of his family, friends and political colleagues, and includes previously unpublished photographs, text, sound and film footage.

On various stages, local artists appearing at the festival include Hugh Masekela, Bokani Dyer, Mango Groove, Victor Ntoni, Simphiwe Dana, Tu Nokwe, Sibongile Khumalo, Ringo Madlingozi and Quiet Storm.

The festival runs in Newtown until August 27. A weekend pass costs R850. For more information, visit www.joyofjazz.co.za.