Stage is set for jazz duo

Bokani Dyer and Tutu Puoane ready to thrill, writes Chivimbiso Gava

Music is a sensory experience vigorously consumed. It has the power to take you to different places and spaces, sometimes even back in time or into the future.

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz this weekend promises to be an experience that will take you on a smooth and rhythmic voyage with jazz greats.

Jazz music in South Africa has seen the birth of legends and budding new talent. Tutu Puoane and Bokani Dyer are among a new breed of young, South African jazz musicians, and both are recipients of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz. They will be performing this weekend.

Pianist Dyer performs with his six-piece band boasting trumpet, saxophone, drums, guitar and bass. Puoane, with her sultry voice, promises a highly original big band arrangement and will pay homage to the late mama Miriam Makeba.

Dyer says his music is "classic sounding because of the instrumentation - it's acoustic music in the South African jazz tradition".

He creates his music during sporadic moments of inspiration.

"It's different for every composition, sometimes it's doodling and improvisation," says Dyer.

"Sometimes something comes into my head and I go to the piano and try to put it together."

Juxtaposed with Dyer's classic instrumentation, Puoane's Afro vocalisations encompass rhythm and blues, soul, gospel and mainstream jazz. And, as she points out, it's "all with an African accent".

"I'm a terrible composer therefore I don't do it. I choose material written by musicians I admire. I take compositions by my band members and come up with lyrics," says Puoane.

"I'm also always on the lookout for fresh South African composers - young, talented South African jazz musicians such as Marcus Wyatt, Buddy Wells, Mark Fransman and, of course, the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa."

Dyer released his second album, Emancipate the Story, earlier this year and will play songs off the album during his set at the festival.

"It's going to be a high-energy acoustic performance," says Dyer.

"I don't think many young people listen to jazz because there isn't proper exposure. But good music is accessible, whether its hip-hop or jazz, it's not genre-specific," he says.

Puoane has been based in Europe since 2002. I ask her how the experience has been.

"Cold, but I've had many wonderful opportunities that I doubt I would have had if I was still living here," says Puoane.

Although audiences have received her well across the world, "generally audiences in Europe are shyer", she says.

"They will show their appreciation very politely, whereas here in South Africa people tend to react very outspokenly in the moment."

Dyer is uncertain of who makes up his market, but is working on a project he feels will appeal to a younger crowd. He is currently working on a project with Sakhile Moleshe, known for his vocal work with electro duo Goldfish.

"It's groove music. Music for young people."

• The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz takes place this weekend in Johannesburg's Newtown precinct