You see, the Joy of Jazz has been one of the most successful jazz projects since it was launched in its current format seven years ago.
In that period the organisers have brought some of the greatest names in jazz to these shores, such as Keiko Matsui, Gerald Albright, The Crusaders, Ray Gaskins and Ray Ayers.
One of the main drawcards of the multi-event festivities is the Johannesburg International Festival, which starts on August 28 and runs until August 30.
The premiere evening will see two of the world’s most gifted pianists — American Joe Sample and Durban-born Bheki Mseleku — share the stage with Zimbabwean Oliver Mtukudzi and alto saxophonist Donald Harrison.
The next two days see gigs taking place concurrently across Jo’burg’s cultural hub — the Newtown Precinct.
At the Newtown Music Hall on August 29, Kenny Garret headlines a show that features bassist Sipho Gumede, Harrison and the National Youth Jazz Band.
On August 30 Garret and the National Youth Jazz Band return to share the stage with pianist Andile Yenana and saxophonist McCoy Mrubata.
At the Main Theatre on August 29 Selaelo Selota and Angela Bofill take centre stage, with Bofill returning on August 30 for a date with Alon Oleartchik.
Kippies Jazz Bar is the venue for Absolute Zero, 4 Sure and Allou April over the two nights.
Festival promoter Peter Tladi, of T-Musicman, said the festival “will be a truly international affair with South African artists being joined by musicians from the United States, The Netherlands, Israel, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho”.
By this, Tladi means that South African artists such as pianist Mseleku, Jonas Gwangwa, Selota and Absolute Zero, will share the stage with international luminaries such as Harrison, Regina Belle and Bofill from the United States, 4 Sure from The Netherlands and Oleartchik from Israel.
Sure, the purists will argue, not altogether unjustifiably, that the organisers have used jazz’s name in vain by inviting what essentially are pop stars to jazz gigs.
Names such as Don Laka, Mtukudzi, Belle and Selota would hardly be among the first that those who are fussy about their jazz would pencil in as first choice.
Which brings us to one of the most pertinent questions ever asked at a launch of a jazz gig: “What do we mean by jazz?”
The question is even more intriguing considering that it was asked by world-renowned trombonist Jonas Gwangwa at the launch of Joy of Jazz on July 29.
While the organiser, in particular Standard Bank’s communications chief Victor Nosi, was adamant that “jazz ke ya rona [Jazz is ours]”, the launch evening ended without unanimity of what qualified as jazz.
Not even one of the most committed jazz cats in South Africa, radio personality Mesh Mapetla, could help with a definition of jazz. Something that could cause everyone involved to be in a pickle when and if a jazz radio station is ever launched.
For now the organisers will do what they can — keeping out of the semantics and arty debates and ensuring that those who “sound” talented get a chance to hone their skills.
In keeping with the festival’s tradition, a series of music development workshops aimed at guiding young jazz aspirants will be held in Dobsonville, Soweto, at the Newtown Music Hall (the former Mega Music Warehouse) and at the State Theatre in Pretoria.
One thing that needs to be said though, is that with the number of sponsors associated with the festival, one would have hoped for less prohibitive entrance fees. These range from between R100 and R200 at the Standard Bank Arena and R150 for the Horror Café and Kippies shows.