Latest news with #StandardBankJoyofJazz
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Esperanza Spalding set to mesmerise Johannesburg jazz lovers at Joy of Jazz festival
Five-time Grammy award-winning jazz singer, bassist, songwriter, and composer, Esperanza Emily Spalding, set to wow Standardbank Joy of Jazz crowd with her music Image: X Five-time Grammy award-winning jazz singer, bassist, songwriter, and composer, Esperanza Emily Spalding, known to music fans as simply Esperanza Spalding, is poised to grace the stage at the 26th edition of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival. This much-anticipated event will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, showcasing over 50 acts over three days and celebrating a spirit of jazz that resonates deeply in South Africa. Spalding, whose latest collaboration with Brazilian musician Milton Nascimento, titled Milton + esperanza, embodies the essence of friendship, is particularly excited about immersing herself in the vibrant Johannesburg music scene. "I have some dear friends and the arts community in Johannesburg. I have heard some beautiful things about the people of Johannesburg and their spirit of community," the artist remarked. "Coming to Johannesburg for the Joy of Jazz is like coming to meet a community that I do not know yet. For me, it is about sharing and creating beauty through our art form, and I am excited." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Having previously performed for the Cape Town crowd in her last visit to South Africa, just over ten years ago, the 38-year-old muso says she cannot wait to meet a new community of music lovers in Johannesburg. "I have some dear friends and the arts community in Johannesburg. I have heard some beautiful things about the people of Johannesburg, about their spirit of community. So, coming to Johannesburg for the Joy of Jazz is like coming to meet a community that I do not know yet. For me, it is about sharing and creating the beauty through our art form, and I am excited," she said. Having won five Grammys since the start of her career, Spalding says, like her music, her life has also grown, which is something she looks forward to sharing with her new community of jazz fans when she takes to the Joy of Jazz stage later this year. "Even though Joburg is a different city from Cape Town, I look forward to sharing my music, which has grown over the past 15 years. I am excited to share what I have been building and what I have to offer. I am open and ready to meet Johannesburg and its people because you do not know a place until you get there and meet its people. The 11-time Grammy nominee has previously released eight full-length albums and, in addition to working with her heroes, including Nascimento and Shorter. She has also collaborated with Q-Tip, Janelle Monae, Robert Glasper, Terri Lyne Carrington, and many others. As a composer, her credits include writing the libretto for the opera Iphigenia with Wayne Shorter, which premiered in 2021, among many others. Having been born in Portland, Spalding reflects on her time growing up in a musical family and a deeply cultural neighbourhood, which gave her first shot at music through a communal and community-driven mentorship, allowing her to blossom early in her now illustrious career as a professional musician and teacher. "Growing up in Portland, the community realised that there was this gap, and learning about jazz music or contraband music, as it was called. There were music classes, and other elderly women ran a low-cost tuition for a string orchestra. It was a very big cultural mentorship program. Music was the first thing I knew growing up, and there was this association, and learning music became a thing that you could do at an early age, because grown-up people did and taught music to children, and my mother was also instrumental in teaching me,' she said.
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Berita on juggling studies and working on new music
The singer is working on new music while pursuing her MBA. Afro-soul singer and songwriter Berita is working extra hard, balancing her music career with her academic ambitions. Earlier this month, the singer-songwriter graduated from the University of Pretoria with an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration. Speaking to The Citizen, Berita said her decision to return to education was driven by a desire to strengthen her leadership and business skills in the ever-evolving creative industry. 'This milestone represents growth and resilience. I was inspired by a desire to better navigate the music business and build long-term impact as a creative entrepreneur.' Berita said balancing her music career with her studies was no easy feat. 'It was tough, but I stayed focused, managed my time carefully, and leaned on the support of my team and peers. Passion is what kept me going.' ALSO READ: Berita, Eugene Mthethwa and Idols Top 5 finalist among nominees for spot as a trustee of Samro's retirement fund New music in the pipeline for Berita's fans Berita is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, part of the University of Pretoria. She is also preparing to release new music. 'I'm preparing to release new music while continuing my studies, and I'm exploring ways to merge creativity, business, and social impact.' Berita also has several performances lined up this year, including the prestigious Standard Bank Joy of Jazz on 26 September. 'I'm also excited to perform at the Mayibuye iAfrika Concert at Joburg Theatre on the 28th and 29th of June,' she shared. NOW READ: 'From the cage to the stage,' says Chris Brown after being granted over R120 million bail
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Events: What's on in Johannesburg
The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival returns to the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, for its most ambitious edition yet — three full days of genre-defining performances, global icons, bold collaborations, and an elevated celebration of jazz's enduring legacy. With over 60 artists from 15 countries across four stages, this year's festival puts a spotlight on powerful women in jazz, visionary Pan-African sounds, and cutting-edge global talent. Highlights include Esperanza Spalding, Lakecia Benjamin, Oumou Sangaré, Meshell Ndegeocello, Thandi Ntuli, Jazzmeia Horn, The Baylor Project, Amanda Black, Tresor, and a full showcase of Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners. From soul-stirring solo sets to orchestral grandeur, audiences will experience an immersive musical journey rooted in African heritage and shaped by contemporary voices from across the world.
News24
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Standard Bank Joy of Jazz artist line-up unveiling aligns with International Jazz Day
This year's Jazz Day commemorations were amplified by the unveiling of this year's Standard Bank Joy of Jazz (JoJ) artist line-up that recently took place at Artistry in Sandton. Themed 'I Heart Jazz,' the main affair taking place over three days from 26 to 28 September will be ushered in by an array of build-up events all year round. From neo and Afro-soul genres to house to amapiano and beyond, festival producer Mantwa Chinoamadi described jazz as the mother of other music forms as artists across multiple genres borrowed from it to create timeless pieces. She told City Press that while the festival can sell itself, the artists were the real commodity behind it, describing it as a privilege that this country was able to export world-class creativity. Supplied Joy of Jazz Chinoamadi asserted that making the artist line-up being unveiled on Jazz Day Eve was to make a statement about South Africa's position in the creation of African jazz. She reiterated that jazz was far from dying in South Africa as young people were actively threading it into their musical explorations as both fans and creators. She added: We were made to believe that jazz was for old people, but the musicians themselves are changing the narrative. But in fact, it is a cross-generational genre that 26-year-old, a 16-year-old can identify with and because it's also a global phenomenon, this was the perfect time of year to make the announcement. Chinoamadi beamed at how the likes of Nduduzo Makhathini, Benjamin Jephta and others proudly spoke of JoJ on the global stages that they graced, prompting music makers from those parts of the world to reach out to her to express interest in participating. She explained: We have cultural exchanges with the Amersfoort Jazz Festival, the Sicily Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz festival and many others. As a producer, I sit in so many consortiums and committees where everyone sells their country and how jazz is defined over there. We are in a very good space as a brand that our own are able to go and spread the word about us, she continued. Jazz being taught at a tertiary education level in this country was something Chinoamadi said had been instrumental in propelling the music to even higher notes. Many younger musicians and fans have introduced her to music from Brazil and other parts of the world, which she said made her believe that the development of the genre in this country needed young ears. Supplied Joy of Jazz Supplied Joy of Jazz The 60 artists gracing the Dinaledi, Conga, Diphala, and Mbira stages this year include: The Baylor Project Jazzmeia Horn Phinda Matlala Siya Charles Kyle Shepherd Trio Ayanda Sikade @JoyOfJazz unveils this year's artist line up in Sandton and announces festival's extension from 2 to 3 days. Over 60 artists from 3 continents converge across 4 JHB stages this September. @City_Press @StandardBankArt — Women Love Each Other (@mbathambali493) April 29, 2025 Steve Bedi Ababhemu Quartet L'Wei Netshivhale Esperanza Spalding Mandla Mlangeni Cameron Ward Andile Yenana The Muses Amanda Black Muneyi Berita Elaine
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Jazz fans in for global musical journey at festival
The three-day Joy of Jazz festival will feature top talent from three continents, celebrating South Africa's rich jazz legacy. Musicians taking part in 26th Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival in September at the launch in Sandton yesterday. Picture: Nigel Sibanda From the inspiring isiXhosa sounds of jazz vocalist Nomfundo Xaluva, to popular American artist Jazzmeia Horn, music followers are in for a memorable treat at this year's three-day Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival. Unveiling a star-studded lineup yesterday in Joburg, organisers assured jazz fans of nights of live music, featuring more than 60 musicians from 15 countries and three continents – all performing at the Sandton International Convention Centre from 26 to 28 September. Mantwa Chinoamadi, CEO at T-Musicman and festival producer said: 'The line-up is focused on more than celebrating great music.' More than celebrating great jazz music 'We wanted to keep our eye on projecting and cementing the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Africa's premier jazz event, that is rooted in South Africa's undeniably rich and varied musical traditions – balancing the demands of jazz connoisseur patrons, while creating exciting entry points for the novice jazz lovers too.' Standard Bank head of brand experience Yolisa Koza said: 'While jazz will always pay homage to its roots, it is by its very nature, a music of innovation and forward momentum. ALSO READ: Joy of Jazz: The 'Black Jew' driving force behind music festival 'With over 40 years of championing the arts, we are thrilled by the 2025 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz line-up.' The festival will be held on the Dinaledi Stage and will start with strong female voices. Strong female voices The performers signed up for the festival include Grammy Award-winning American bassist and composer, Esperanza Spalding, whose latest record with Brazilian Milton Nascimento honours the spirit of friendship. Other artists are Thandi Ntuli, with Blk Elijah & The Children of Moroë – featuring special guests Sipho 'Hotstix' Mabuse and Alec Khaoli.
