Compared with previous events, the fun and pageantry that characterised the 12th edition of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival, which was held at the city of Gold, Johannesburg, will continue to be an experience too many to forget, going by the display of style, ingenuity and electrifying performance by the great line up of jazz aficionados.For four days, the venue of the 2011 Joy of Jazz Festival (Dinaledi stage, Mbira,Conga, Bassline, Nikis Oasis, Sophiatown and Shikisha stage) was agog with over 20,000 jazz fans and enthusiasts, who were either first timers or faithful returnees to the annual event.Unarguably, the Jazz festival was a rallying point for people of all ages that breezed into the different venues, which hosted a line-up of America great jazz artistes, Alexander O'Neal, Wynton Marsalis, Frank McComb, McCoy Tyner, Tingvall Trio, Gerald Veasley, Jeff Lorber, Dee Dee Bridgewater, at the appointed time on stage, thrilled audiences to a night of pleasure and funky gyration.South Africa, the host, paraded great jazz artistes like Hugh Masekela, Julius Schultz, Sibongile Khumalo, Sinphiwe Dana, Kwale Tebza, Bokano Dyer, Victor Ntoni, McCoy Mrubata, Take Note, African Jazz Pioneers, Ringo, Tu Nokwe, Mango Groove and the NYJB.From other countries were Brussels Jazz Orchestra and Tutu Puoane, Belgium, Bonga, Angola, Tania Marie, Brazil, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Germany, Oliver Mtukudzi, Zimbabwe, Olufemi Ogunkoya, Nigeria and HGM Jazz Messenger and Jeunesses Musicales international from the world.Other homegrown talents and entertainers who added flavour to the master piece of great Jazz musicians on the roll call of the 2011 Joy of Jazz include, Bow and Arrow, Tingwall Trio, New Afroteens, Solace, Upbeat, Quite Storm, Juxtaposed Virture, Taiwa Jazz band, D Tonic Momentum, Colours of Africa, Minor Jazz band, Medumo Art Ensemble and African Jazz Giants.Incidentally, it was not only news that the Joy of Jazz Festival have put South Africa on the global map of jazz, but has greatly increased the patronage trend vis--vis making the buzzing Newtown a cultural precinct.Olufemi Ogunkoya, a great jazz entertainment artiste and a pride of Nigeria at the just concluded festival, went down memory lane to give jazz enthusiasts a resounding display of the abami eda hit songs and dance steps which attracted people to the dance floor.Done with his performance at the Conga stage, Olufemi mastery of the stage, audience did not only treat people to different dose of the Naija flavour but got a passionate response from the crowd when he tarried for a while and told the crowd; 'I be original African man from Nigerian,' while switching the tone of his music to Fela's beats.Meanwhile, as the festival opened on August 24, star jazz icons and multiple awards winners identified the annual event as a rallying point for African-Americans to reunite with cousins again.Most of the America-based jazz legends who spoke at the festival world press conference held at Emperor Place, Ekurhuleni, Newtown, Johannesburg said the invitation to play at the festival was a home coming for them.Describing Africa as motherland, Alexandra O'Neal said that he was happy to be back home and also found it interesting to see that his music is getting a significant number of fans and patronages.'When I was invited for the Joy of Jazz Festival, what came to my mind was that, hay! I was going to Africa finally because back in America, we kind of envy you people because you people know where you come from, which is a great advantage and identity for you.'Corroborating O'neal's view were Wynton Marsalis and Frank McComb, who played at the Emperor palace and Mbira stage on August 25 and 27 respectively, agreed that jazz is universal and a strong bond that rally Africans and African Americans in Diaspora together.'It is a unique kind of music that should not be allowed to die. There are many great jazz legends who have gone, who most of us do not know, but doing what we know how to do best to keep their memories live.'For the South Africa great jazz icon, Huge Masekela, who ignited the Dinaledi stage with undiluted and sensational jazz rhythm alongside five others, also electrified the audience with an innovation that kept the hall different from what it used to be.The high point of the entertainment at the Dinaledi stage was Masekela's tribute to Fela as he played some of his musical notes blended with other contemporary jazz music and a performance with seven other jazz musicians who also added colour to the day.
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