The saxes will be playing and 30000 music fans will be swaying when the 16th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival gets under way today. US singer Amel Larrieux will join more than 40 South African and foreign stars, including Al Jarreau, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi, at the event on five stages at the Cape Town International Convention Centre over the next two days.The 42-year-old Larrieux, best known for her rendition of Get Up will perform tomorrow night. She landed yesterday afternoon after a 22-hour flight from the US."Here safe and sound. #Gratitude #Cape Town #CapeTownJazzFestival," she tweeted yesterday, posting a picture of Table Mountain shot from her hotel room.The organisers have kitted out the venue with 2500 ushers, 300 security personnel and 20 food stalls to ensure that the festival goes smoothly. Most hotels in the city are full and restaurants are expecting a bumper weekend.The show will be closed tonight by legendary mbhaqanga trio The Mahotella Queens.Billy Domingo, head organiser of the festival, said he wanted it to showcase 75% local acts and 25% foreign performers."People who come to the festival from out of the country don't want to see somebody they can see in their home town."They are coming down here to see what we do and what we have," he said.The festival hit a glitch last week when the SABC pulled out as a sponsor because of differences with festival organisers espAfrika.SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said: "There is hope we will be back as sponsors next year, but time is needed to reach a mutually beneficial deal."..