CATCH ALL THE ACTIVITIES AS SANDTON PREPARES FOR STANDARD BANK JOY OF JAZZ

Sandton becomes the centre of the jazz universe for the whole week with a series of free performances, concerts and activations as part of the build up to the weekend of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival.

Standard Bank Joy of Jazz – which will attract more than 30 000 fans when it takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 25 to 27 – injects approximately R600 million annually into the Gauteng economy.

Says Alida Canevari, chairperson of the Sandton Tourism Association: “Sandton is geared and ready to welcome Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. It has been embraced by all our members and there’s plenty on offer for everyone visiting – even if they aren’t lucky enough to have secured tickets to this world class festival. Sandton is the place to be this September.”

The action takes place at Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square as well as other Sandton establishments.

Sandton City’s Checkers Forecourt will host performances at 10h15, 11h15 and 14h10 from Heritage Day on Wednesday, September 24, to Saturday, September 27. Included in the line-up are Thandokazi, the Bushy Obazana Jazz Band, Shoe Lace and Gurulogic.

Buskers will be performing in Nelson Mandela Square from noon until 16h00 from September 24 to 27.

There will also be performances at a number of restaurants in the Sandton precinct.

Friday September 26
• Riffs Bar and Grill (Garden Court Sandton City) 19h00 – 20h00 Ayo Solanke; 20h30 – 21h30 – Gurulogic
• Parc Ferme (8 Maude Street) 19h00 – 20h00 Cloud Notes Experiment; 20h30 – 21h30 Native 2120
• Hard Rock Café (Nelson Mandela Square) 19h00 – 20h00 Kyle McDonald; 20h30 – 21h30 Lunggie
• Pappas Greek Restaurant (Nelson Mandela Square) 19h00 – 20h00 Leandro; 20h30 – 21h30 Throwback

Saturday September 27
• Riffs Bar and Grill (Garden Court Sandton City) 19h00 – 20h00 Victor Kgantlape; 20h30 – 21h30 Amandla Freedom Ensemble
• Parc Ferme (8 Maude Street) 19h00 – 20h00 Csana; 20h30 – 21h30 Bushy Obazana Jazz Band
• Hard Rock Café (Nelson Mandela Square) 19h00 – 20h00 Hendrick Mboweni; 20h30 – 21h30 Bongi Mvuyana
• Pappas Greek Restaurant (Nelson Mandela Square) 19h00 – 20h00 Spha Mdlalose; 20h30 – 21h30 Sebenzile Mthombeni

Meanwhile Jazz meets Lounge at the San Deck at Tsogo Sun’s Sandton Sun Hotel, official hotel sponsor of Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, on Sunday, September 21, and Sunday, September 28, from 14h30 until late. It features Metro FM’s Nothemba Madumo and Jazzy Vez. Entrance is free.

The Maslow Hotel also has a number of activities:
• Sunday, September 21, and Sunday, September 28, from 13h00 to 17h00 – Jazz Sunday Gourmet Braai with a live performance by the Johannesburg Youth Band (JYO)at the Lacuna Bistro. Cost is R250 a person and includes a glass of bubbly.
• Monday, September 22, to Friday, September 26 from 18h00 to 21h00 – Jazz evenings at Lacuna Bistro and Bar every evening with the JYO.

DAVINCI Hotel and Suites on Nelson Mandela Square is offering jazz at its pool deck every Wednesday to Friday from 16h30 until 21h00 until October 30 with a resident saxophonist.

For more information go to www.sandtontourism.com