Headlining the SBJF this year is Ladysmith Black Mambazo, South Africa’s top-selling musical group that was formed in 1960 by Joseph Shabalala, now a visiting Professor at the University of Natal. Shabalala celebrates his 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his founding of the three-time Grammy-award winning group with a major international tour that includes a performance at the National Arts Festival for the first time. They will be closing the SBJF on 8 and 9 July.

The SBJF opens with a powerful collaboration between an unorthodox Norwegian trio and two of South Africa’s jazz stars. Excess Luggage showcases a Hammond B3 organ, piano and drums. On piano is Vigleik Storaas, one of the most important piano players in Norway who has received two Norwegian Grammys for his releases with his own trio. Steinar Nickelsen on organ, now based in China, was voted Young Norwegian Jazz Musician of the Year in 2002. Drummer Håkon Mjåset Johansen is one of Europe’s most exciting young musical talents and has played with the likes of Chick Corea and Michael Brecker. Joining them, fresh from a new collaborative recording, is the powerhouse Cape Town sax duo of Buddy Wells and Mark Fransman.

Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2004 vocalist, Tutu Puoane’s mesmerising voice has brought her acclaim and a widening international audience, and she appears again in Grahamstown with her top-class Belgian quartet of Ewout Pierreux (piano), Nicolas Thys (bass) and Lieven Venken (drums). Joining the quartet are trumpeter Marcus Wyatt and Mozambican percussionist Tony Paco, with whom the group recently completed a successful European tour and recording as a sestet.

For the first time we hear Alvin Dyers and David Ledbetter, two of Cape Town’s premier guitarists, in concert together. They are supported in their explorations by the rock-solid Cape Town rhythm section of Shaun Johannes (bass) and Kevin Gibson (drums).

Each year the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival sets the stage for a national search for the finest young jazz talent in the country. Hopefuls between 13 and 26 years get the chance to play their hearts out for a prestigious place in one of two national bands, one at school level, and one representing the best players under the age of 26. The nightly National Youth Jazz Festival (NYJF) jam session includes professionals from the main jazz stage in spontaneous collaboration, musicians attending the NYJF or locals eager to play.

“We are proud of the fact that a number of past members of this band are featured on the main jazz stage of the National Arts Festival this year, having made the step up from being talented students to seasoned performers in a demanding industry,” said Alan Webster, director of the Jazz Festival.

For more information on the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival and the performers visit www.youthjazz.co.za.

This festival is produced by Eastern Cape Jazz Promotions with support funding from Mmino, Royal Netherlands Embassy, ProHelvetia, SAMRO, US Fulbright program, Spedidam, The British Council, Business & Arts South Africa and Paul Bothner Music.