Jazz will see the stages of downtown Jozi go global when the annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz runs in Newtown from 28 to 30 August.

Artists from America, Japan, Norway, Spain, Israel, Germany and Holland will be joined by performers from South Africa and Nigeria for a festival of all jazz styles: from Afro jazz and fusion to Latin rhythms, bebop and straight-ahead.

Big names include Japan's Keiko Matsui; the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Wayne Henderson and Lonnie Liston Smith; American saxophonist Joshua Redman; US guitarist Doc Powell; Israel's Avi Lebovich and the Israeli Jazz Orchestra; Spain's Sedajazz; Holland's Denise Jannah; Germany's Joy Denelane; and Norway's Tord Gustavsen.

Performers from the African continent include South Africa's Abigail Kubheka, Pat Matshikiza, Mark Fransman, the 2008 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for jazz, Simphiwe Dana and Yvonne Chaka Chaka as well as Asa from Nigeria.

The Mbira Stage will showcase the opening night bill on Thursday 28 August with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) paying tribute to The Union of South Africa, the band formed in the US in 1970 by Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Caiphus Semenya. Also on the opening night's programme is Matsui performing with the South African All Star Band and American saxophonist Jackiem Joyner.

Matsui is a smooth jazz/new age keyboardist and composer whose career spans three decades and 20 albums. Matsui's music blends both Western and Eastern influences, with her latest album 'Moyo' featuring Gerald Albright and Paul Taylor on sax and South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela.

Grammy nominated guitarist Doc Powell has built a legacy as a musical chameleon. Besides having a successful solo career, Doc has contributed to over 130 recordings of some of the premiere stars in R & B/pop/jazz and gospel including Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Ciara, Wycliff Jean, Vanessa Williams, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and John Legend.

Ever since saxophonist Joshua Redman burst onto the jazz scene in 1991, he has displayed the maturity and skill of a veteran. One of the so-called "new emotionalists", Redman's work aims to convey a raw power rather than an intellectual experience: “"usic doesn't come from music, music comes from life. That means taking walks, hanging out, going to parties, reading, playing sports... the list is endless."

The 2008 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place at eight venues in the city's Newtown precinct. The Dinaledi Stage — a new venue built especially for the event — and the Mbira Stage will be erected on Mary Fitzgerald Square, while other venues include The Market Theatre, The Bassline, Dance Factory and Museum Afrika.

There is free entrance to the Newtown venues of Museum Afrika, Sophiatown and Nikki's Oasis where developmental and emerging bands are given the opportunity to gain experience and showcase their talent. In the line-up are the Central Johannesburg College, George Tabor School of Music, Music Academy of Gauteng and The Tshwane University of Technology’s School of Music and bands from the Puisano Roving Jazz programme.

For more information go to www.standardbankjazz.co.za.