From the Standard Bank website: This year, the Standard Bank Jazz Festival programme – which runs place alongside the highly popular 38th National Arts Festival (from 28 June to 8 July in Grahamstown) - is developed around six distinct genres of Jazz. The themes are Youth, World Music / Gospel, Cross-over Jazz, Afro-Jazz, Mainstream Jazz and Modern Jazz.

The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival (SBNYJF) celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2012 with a suitably powerful line-up of musicians and teachers, gathered to perform for the audiences of the National Arts Festival, but also to inspire the 350 young South African jazz players gathered in Grahamstown - our national jazz future. The Festival celebrates two decades of jazz development with a blow-out performance of some of those who have been teaching and performing at the NYJF, putting together some of Europe’s leading performers with young South African talent in the Youth genre.

The World Music / Gospel genre is ushered in by the legendary Mango Groove, who has helped pioneer the course of South African music for over 25 years, enjoyed twelve Number 1 hits, performed to an estimated audience of a billion people via direct satellite link-up, and received every conceivable South African music and video award.

Known as South Africa’s “King of R&B”, the multi-awarded Loyiso Bala has broadened his musical horizons to focus on Gospel with his recent CD release. He is able to carry audiences through a musical kaleidoscope with his stage performances, and creates an astonishing blend of Jazz, Classical, Gospel, R&B, Soul and traditional South African music.

Hassan’adas epitomises the exoticism of World Music, blending original African rhythms and sounds with eclectic influences from musicians around the globe. Under Mozambiquan leader John Hassan the band produces a captivating collection of polyrhythms, sound textures, and musical colours to make it nearly impossible to stay in your seat and not start dancing!

With smooth and enchanting melodies and a beautiful fusion of Gospel, Jazz and R&B, Durban songbird Natalie Rungan compels listeners to relax, unwind and reconnect with the harmonious soul of music. Having performed on top international jazz and world-music stages, garnered a host of awards, and released her own albums, Natalie’s musical experience has earned her a place amongst South Africa’s greats. She performs with a band of exceptional musicality to create a sound described as “pure sunlight”.

To read more, visit the Standard Bank website. Standard Bank has been recognized as a leading sponsor of the arts for many years - to see all their initiatives, click here.

NOTE: If you’ve never been to the Standard Bank Jazz Festival or to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, do what you can to get there. Musos, magic and marvellous things happen there!