Siya Makuzeni returns to Standard Bank Joy of Jazz leading a 17-piece ensemble

Nine years after her last performance at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz—a pinnaclemoment marked by her 2016 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz—Siya Makuzeni makes her long-awaited, momentous return to the Dinaledi stage.

The accomplished trombonist, vocalist and composer joins a stellar lineup at the longstanding three-day music festival, which continues to position itself as a vibrant celebration of South African jazz, creativity and musical excellence. For Siya, returning to the stage where it all began is nothing short of magical.

“The award was catalytic in terms of the trajectory of my career,” she reminisces. “The most important thing it really did was allow me to step into my role as a solo musician and truly work at defining my distinctive voice within the genre of South African jazz,” she shares.

That moment unveiled new strength in the many hats she wears — particularly in composition. Her album Out of this World offered a vivid glimpse of that growth. This year’s performance will not only reflect the evolution nine years have bestowed upon her but also mark her return as a band leader and conductor of a 17-piece ensemble — a full-circle moment in every sense.

“The upcoming performance is also an opportunity to showcase some of the brightest voices we’ve got in South Africa, especially the youngsters who are emerging. I’m excited to share music people already know from our catalogue in this big band format. I can’t wait to see how the audience responds,” she says.

True to her progressive spirit, Siya is also set to introduce new material. “Albeit not recorded, I have definitely been adding to my catalogue over time,” she adds.

Siya has also carved a multifaceted career where she, on the one hand, is able to perform not only as a vocalist but also as a trombone player, and also operate on an entirely different scope of being a music director or an arranger.

The latter has opened interesting doors for the creative, like working on TV series and film productions.

For twenty-six years, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz has stood as one of South Africa’s most prestigious music festivals—a beacon for the genre and a stage where legacies are celebrated while new voices rise.

More than just a calendar highlight, it has become a cultural institution, drawing jazz lovers from across the globe, fostering collaborations, and reaffirming Johannesburg’s place as a vibrant home of jazz.

“Platforms like Joy of Jazz, being such a keen participant of jazz over so many years,it’s definitely clear in my mind how such festivals are quite a lifeline.

''They are anincredibly magical space, an opportunity to really showcase your music to the world.”Music, for Siya, has always been a constant. From her childhood days of beingenamoured by her father’s collection to her own explorations across genres, her passionhas only deepened, sealing her love for the art form.

“Joy of Jazz, I believe, is definitely playing its part in pioneering women. Just looking at the lineup this year, it is scattered with amazing women in jazz. I am especially happy that I get to present my show, leading a big band. Having spaces that allow us to showcase all our strengths is so important, and Joy of Jazz is very mindful of that,” she reflects.

“People must come expecting a traditional big band sound, but also maybe a new outlook and maybe a new take on how modern big band jazz sounds, as much as it is South African because I am the composer.

''The music and the style — I think there are a number of tunes that are going to be quite jivey, and I hope they will get some people upon their feet,” she shares with excitement. Siya encourages the aspiring next generation of jazz musicians to attend the weekend-long festival, adding,

“I can definitely say that my show will be a moment of representation that allows them to understand that the circumstances they may find themselves in right now do not have to define them.

“In watching a person such as myself, who has encountered varying challenges while onthe come up, one can realise that anything is possible,” adding that from starting off asa youngster with a burning passion for the music to being able to create a livelihood outof it is a story worth hearing.

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place at the Sandton International ConventionCentre from 26 to 28 September 2025. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.