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Standard Bank National Jazz Festival

In the city of Saints, among the people with peculiar hats, the hippies on donkey carts and the street children singing for their bread, lies a venue whose walls resounded with the most amazing music and the tremendous applause from the audiences who literally pushed and shoved to see their favorite musicians in action.

The venue was The Jazz Hotel and the occasion was the tenth Standard Bank Jazz Festival, a celebration of jazz featuring musicians of note from South Africa as well as abroad. From Dludlu to the No No Diet Bang Band (more about that later!), audiences were treated to, what one critic called "Kick -Ass Jazz".

The twelve jam-packed days of jazz got off to an explosive start when the African Jazz Pioneers and the Masakheke Youth Choir joined hands and voices in a moving tribute to Nelson Mandela. Reviving the spirit from days gone by, the African Jazz Pioneers got people stamping their feet and clapping their hands. By the end of the concert, the soulful performances from both outfits had the crowd chanting "Viva Mandela" louder and louder each time. People of all races, cultures and genders could be seen holding hands. Others danced in the aisles, some cried. After the show I overheard someone say, "I don't even like jazz…but that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen."

Bringing a touch of Europe to the stage in Grahamstown, was the No No Diet Bang Band. This Swiss sensation is truly innovative and contemporary. I confronted both the guitarist and the saxophonist about the mysterious name of their band. Both looked at me quizzically, shrugged their shoulders and said, "I wish I knew…ask him". They pointed to the drummer and leader of the band Andreas Brugger. I investigated further. "Ah!" he said, "it's a long story." Twenty minutes later I was still not sure of the exact meaning…but then again neither was he. He explained that there was no specific message behind the name - just that he liked the "enigma" of the name and felt that it helped symbolize that the band attempted to roll jazz, funk and rock into one, to provide a truly unique and contemporary music form. "Experimentation is the name of the game." he said.

And so it was. Performing with this band was Ready D. You will be excused if you have never heard of this name in jazz circles. He is not, after all, a jazz musician. He is a turntablist, A DJ and rapper for Prophets of the City, a rap band with hits that have made the top forty in this country. This musician combined his musical form with that of this jazz band to create a truly unique sound - delighting audiences who perhaps did rub their eyes to make sure they were seeing correctly when they walked into the Jazz Hotel and were confronted with turntables, a pair of headphones and records on stage along with the regular sax and drum kit.

Another sell out performance was that of the Afro Jazz All Stars. This show, which in is infact a preview of the show that they are taking to the North Sea Jazz festival, combined the talents of the musicians from the Sheer Sounds CD label. A definite highlight of their show was Alone in a Strange Place, a piece written by Sipho Gumede himself. Not a breath could be heard from the audience during this number and as I turned around to watch the reaction of the crowd, I couldn't help but notice the silhouette of a couple dancing slowly near the bar - a beautiful scene for a music video if I have ever seen one. I was left with a lump in my throat.

Jazz is an emotional music form and this was extremely evident during Sylvia Mdunyelwa's outstanding performance. The "African Diva" sang her heart out with enthusiasm and passion despite being plagued by the flu. Sharing the stage with her, were her two daughters. Her pride for them was clearly evident in her face. These two came very close to stealing the show from their mother with their incredible dancing and even voices. Emotions ran high on stage (and off-stage, I am sure) when the one daughter grabbed the mike from her mother to tell the audience of a lady who was not only her mother but also her best friend and mentor. "I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for her," she said. Tears rolled down the face of the African Diva.

If the sax is your favorite instrument, then the 1999 Standard Bank Jazz Festival was definitely the place to be. Sax legends Morris Goldberg, Robbie Jansen and Ezra Ngcukana, shared the stage at the first ever Sax Summit. With each of them taking turns to impress the audience with their super sax skills, these three had the audience wanting more. Robbie Jansen, especially, has to be singled out for his impressive performance. His delightful harmonies on an Abdullah Ibrahim classic was particularly powerful. The three musicians declared their performance in honor of their friend, the musical legend Basil "Mannenburg" Coetzee. Rather fitting when one considers that he played the first piece at the very first Standard Bank Jazz Festival ten years ago.

An exciting and dynamic aspect of this year's jazz festival is the inclusion of a trio of big bands. In the style of Glen Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Bassie, these university bands showed Grahamstown festinos that the era of the big band is certainly not dead. The contrary in fact. Rhodes University's rendition of Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island was truly inspiring. In an innovative move, UCT's big band was joined by Winston Mankunku, who gave a sterling performance oozing passion and emotion.

In a similar big band fashion, Standard Bank also promotes a youth program. This consists of youngsters from around the country coming together in Grahamstown for a week of intense training and sharing of ideas and musical passion. This all happens under the watchful eyes of some of South Africa's best jazz musicians. A weeks tuition culminates in a performance on the main festival program for the National Schools and National Youth Jazz Bands. These bands played to packed audiences who were understandably impressed with their spontaneous and fresh jazz sounds. These performances were often interrupted by screams of delight as audience members encouraged the youngsters and begged them to continue. If this is the future of jazz in our country, then jazz lovers definitely have something to look forward to. Look out for these youngsters, they hot!

Hot certainly summed up another performer at this years Standard Bank Festival - so much so that bouncers were needed at the doors to prevent people who did not have tickets from flooding the venue. Jimmy Dludlu, dressed to the "tee", in his wide brimmed hat and long overcoat, mesmerized the crowd with his lightning-fast guitar picking. Playing pieces from his previous CD's, as well as those from his new record Essence of Rhythm, this two times SAMA award winner tantalized and treated those at the Jazz Hotel. A brilliant show by this musical virtuoso reaffirmed his reputation as the guitar wizard of jazz.

Another musician who is destined to become one of the greats, is Camillo Lombard, pianist extraordinaire. He is a member of Out of Town, who often graced the stage more that once a night to provide backing for other musicians. The youngster's talent was obvious to every one attending performances at The Jazz Hotel.

At this carnival of jazz, the organizers efforts were well rewarded, for it left many smiling youngsters enthusiastic and jazz lovers satisfies beyond a doubt. What was overly apparent during these twelve days of jazz, is that jazz transcends boundaries of race, class and gender. As a form of entertainment it is unparalleled, taking audiences to a place where nothing else exists except pure pleasure.