Dorothy Masuka is one of the jazz divas billed to headline the Joy of Jazz

Letta Mbulu promises to take her fans down memory lane

RELATED LINKS: Jazz pioneers engraved in stone IN the steps of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Johnnie Walker Pioneering Spirits of Jazz were given stars in the granite around Mary Fitzgerald Square. Read more Jazz legends to get walk of fame A JAZZ walk of fame is planned for Newtown. So far, nine jazz legends will be honoured for their contribution to South Africa's unique jazz tradition as part of the Pioneering Spirits of Jazz initiative. Read more Kippies is back in full swing TO the sweet sounds of Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse and friends, Kippies was reopened in a shiny new venue. But the old building may still be saved. Read more Radium Beer Hall THERE'S only one venue in town where you can listen to the classic 18-piece jazz band The Fat Sound - the popular Radium Beer Hall in Orange Grove. It has been playing there for the past 14 years. Read more What's on YOUR first-stop guide to city events, our interactive calendar ranges wide, from concerts to lectures to DIY shows. Read more This week in Joburg CHECK out Lucille Davie's round up of the best happenings in the city of gold this week. Read more

Mirriam Makeba will belt out her classical and more contemporary songs to delight jazz lovers

Thandi Klaasen will take jazz lovers back to the hip 1960s

Jazz superstars head for Joburg Some of the greatest jazz artists of all time are expected in Jozi for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Joburg International Festival – make sure you get your tickets now. July 2, 2007 By Lucky Sindane AUGUST is women's month and the 2007 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Joburg International Festival will pay its own tribute by bringing together four of the country's legendary jazz divas on one bill – Miriam Makeba, Dorothy Masuka, Thandie Klaasen and Letta Mbulu. The festival, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, opens on Thursday, 23 August at the Jazz Dome in Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown. It runs until Saturday, 25 August. Other venues in Newtown that are taking part are Bassline, Dance Factory, Mbira Stage, Kippies, Sophiatown and Nikki's Oasis. This year the line-up is one of the most diverse and powerful in the festival's history. On the bill is the first American big band to play here in about 30 years, the Count Basie Orchestra; the Clarke/Duke Project, featuring Stanley Clarke and George Duke; trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis; acclaimed fusion jazz band Pieces of a Dream; Israel's Common Bond; and France's No Jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra – with an astounding 17 Grammy awards to its name - is the greatest swing band in history. The band recorded One O'Clock Jump in 1937 and never looked back. Since Basie's death in 1984, the orchestra has been led by Basie alumni: first Thad Jones, then Frank Foster, followed by Grover Mitchell. Today the man at the helm is trombonist Bill Hughes who first joined Basie in 1953. Making its first appearance in South Africa will be the Count Basie Orchestra – winners of17 Grammy awards - they are the greatest swing band in history Other South African giants who will join the impressive line-up include Caiphus Semenya, Jonas Gwangwa, Stimela and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse. Speaking at the festival launch, Peter Tladi, the chief executive of T-Musicman, said, "As the festival promoters we spend a great deal of time searching for artists who will appeal to a broad base of music fans. We are thrilled this year to be presenting some of the best South African musicians of all time." International artists will also host workshops for aspiring musicians. "When we created the festival the aim was to develop young artists, which is why we are going to have workshops conducted by international artists," Tladi added. Young South African performers on the bill are jazzy Afro-soul singer Siphokazi, Nokukhanya, Nombulelo Maqetuka and Shannon Mowday. "At the festival we discover and explore both the heritage and riches of home-grown talent, host an enviable clutch of international stars and meet the young jazz starts of the future," said Mandie van der Spuy, the head of jazz and arts at Standard Bank. "We are proud to sponsor an event that not only brings jazz lovers together but which also allows us to stage a wonderful collaboration and celebration of jazz in the heart of Johannesburg." The Gauteng MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture, Barbara Creecy, was also pleased about the festival. "We in the Gauteng government see events such as this one as critical to our achievement of the vision of Gauteng as a global city region providing citizens and visitors with a world-class celebration of South African jazz. "This festival enhances Gauteng's profile as the home of jazz and has a positive impact on the entire value chain of Gauteng jazz from new creative sounds to world-class recordings and innovative distribution channels, as well as the broadening of the audience for jazz," she said. Entrance to venues like Kippies, Sophiatown and Nikki's Oasis is free. Development bands such as Julia Lamberti and Signature, the Vusi Mahlasela Music School, TUT Music School and Black Mok will perform here. Tickets for other performances are available from Computicket on 011 340 8000 or on the Computicket website, and range in price from R280 to R380. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za