2014 Joy of Jazz cancelled

The annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz concert will not take place this year, organisers have announced.

Standard Bank states that the postponement of the concert until 2015 is due to scheduling commitments of artists in the planned line-up.

Traditionally, the live concert, which started two years ago, takes place in September, but was this year pushed to November 29 due to the renovations that were going on at the conventional venue, Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC).

However, a statement signed by the bank’s chief executive officer Andrew Mashanda explains that the postponement will be used to reflect on the achievements made so far in relation to the jazz concert.

“The popular Standard Bank Joy of Jazz event is to be revitalised in its focus, staging and concept, promising Malawian music lovers an improved and unique experience.

The bank aims to build on previous renditions, using the postponement period to reflect and improve on improving and repackaging the experience for clients, stakeholders and jazz fans. We remain committed to promoting Malawi’s arts, culture and music,” he says.

Further announcements on the new scheduling and event details will be made in due course, the statement further reads.

This year, Lawi was the Joy of Jazz Malawi act and was billed to perform with an unnamed South Africa jazz star.

So far, the artists that the bank had contacted include Jimmy Dhludhlu, Lira, Zonke and Lady Smith Black Mambazo.

Apart from Malawi and South Africa, Ghana and Zambia have this year taken on board the Joy of Jazz concert.