I got to know particularly about Rahsaan Patterson and Lalah Hathaway being on the bill for this year’s Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz Festival a few months ago. Since then more and more artists have been constantly added to the already impressive lineup.

Some of the world’s top artists will be providing a global mélange of sound at The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz joining an already impressive line-up at the country’s top jazz-travaganza!

Running from August 26 to 28 in Newtown, the 2010 line-up features artists from America, Japan and Israel who will share billing with top performers from South Africa and the African Diaspora.

America’s Ravi Coltrane, Kim Waters, Stacey Kent, violinist Michael Ward, percussionist Poncho Sanchez and jazz quartet Fourplay comprising Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason and Chuck Loeb will be joined by Japan’s Sadao Watanabe and Israel’s award-winning clarinettist Anat Cohen.

Performers from the African continent include Mali’s acclaimed Oumou Sangare and a strong South African line-up of Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Wanda Baloyi, Kyle Shepherd, Putuma, Nhlanhla Nciza, Wouter Kellerman,Tsepo Tshola and Melanie Scholtz, the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz for 2010.

Already announced for the festival are critically acclaimed soul singer Rahsaan Patterson, London based guitarist and vocalist Brian Temba and the phenomenal Cape Town jazz singer Auriol Hays who share the bill on the opening night of the festival on the Dinaledi stage. Headlining day two, on the Dinaledi stage, are trumpeter Chris Botti and celebrated jazz singer Lalah Hathaway.

Oumou Sangare, known as “The Songbird of Wassoulou”, is regarded as one of the greatest female African stars of her generation. Ravi Coltrane is a critically acclaimed and Grammy™ nominated saxophonist, bandleader, and composer who founded the prominent independent record label, RKM.

Japanese saxophonist and flutist Sadao Watanabe has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his contribution to the arts. Stacey Kent was voted best jazz vocalist at the 2001 British Jazz Awards and the 2002 BBC Jazz Awards and was also a 2009 Grammy nominee. Her greatest success came with the release of her debut album Breakfast On the Morning Tram.

Prolific saxman and composer Kim Waters, who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary in the business, juggles such diverse projects as The Sax Pack (with fellow saxophonists Jeff Kashiwa and Steve Cole) and his Streetwize and Tha’ Hot Club CDs that are known for their reworkings of the hottest hip hop, R&B and reggae hits. Anat Cohen has established herself as one of the primary voices of her generation on both the tenor saxophone and clarinet. The Jazz Journalists Association named her Clarinetist of the Year by in both 2007 and 2008 – the first time in the history of the awards that an artist has earned top clarinet honours two years running.

Says festival producer, Mantwa Odutayo of T-Musicman: “We have gone to great lengths to secure the finest artists and we believe we have a heavyweight line up befitting 2010’s stature.”

Commented Mandie van der Spuy, head Art & Jazz Sponsorships Standard Bank: “Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz 2010 will be a year to remember. Not only will we have successfully hosted one of the world’s greatest sporting events but we will be showcasing some of world’s best musical talent at the 11th Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz.”

The 2010 Standard Bank Joy Of Jazz will take place at six venues in the city’s Newtown precinct. The Dinaledi Stage and the Mbira Stage will be erected on Mary Fitzgerald Square, creating two purpose-built venues to showcase this year’s line-up. Other venues include The Market Theatre and The Bassline, Sophiatown and Nikki’s Oasis.

For more information on the line-up, venues go to www.standardbankarts.com and www.joyofjazz.co.za

Tickets are on sale at Computicket with a 15% discount for all Standard Bank customers.

The 2010 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is produced by T-Musicman and presented by Standard Bank.

I’m so looking forward to this year’s performances, i had a blast last year. I hope Rahsaan and Lalah give us a taste of their popular Lah & Rah sessions taking Youtube by storm.

Picture caption: Ravi Coltrane