Elderly feel the joy of jazz

Musicians entertained a large group of pensioners from Joburg and its neighbours in a Joy of Jazz Community Outreach programme. They also heard about healthy living.
PENSIONERS from Johannesburg and its neighbours spent the day enjoying live music and good times at the Joy of Jazz Community Outreach concert, held in Alexandra on 18 August.

Elderly people get down to the music of IdenticalElderly people get down to the music of IdenticalThe concert, at East Bank Hall, was held to include people who could not afford to attend the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, which will be taking place in Newtown on 26 and 27 of August.

The 500 pensioners danced and sang along to the music of Holy St John Brass Band, a group of young musicians. Identical, a duo composed of twins Zandile and Zanele Wardles, also entertained the elderly with gospel music.

They came from Alexandra, Soweto, Ekurhuleni and the Vaal Triangle, and not only jived to the music, but also learned to do a bit of exercise. They were encouraged to do daily exercises in the morning by Flash Thobejane, a news anchor at Alex FM.

He took the audience through a simple exercise programme, asking them to wave their hands, shake their shoulders, move their necks and stamp their feet on the ground several times while seated. They followed along as Thobejane demonstrated how each move should be done.

Daily exercise and eating healthy food should be a habit for the elderly, he added, saying it would reduce the pains and sickness that might attack them. “Whenever you feel stressed remember what we did today and do your moves.”

Sibongile Khumalo and Victor Ntoni will be performing at the Joy of Jazz FestivalSibongile Khumalo and Victor Ntoni will be performing at the Joy of Jazz FestivalElias Shange from Tembisa on the East Rand said he enjoyed the day. He would teach his peers how to exercise when he got home. “I do not know what to say to thank Standard Bank Joy of Jazz for this day.”

Elsi Dladla from Alexandra said coming together with people from other places had helped her forget things that had been bothering her. “I feel stress-free,” she explained.

The Joy of Jazz line up consists of renowned local and international musicians, such as Sibongile Khumalo, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Ringo Madlingozi. The international artists are the multi-award winning Wynton Marsalis, RnB singer Alexandra O’Neal, Frank McComb, Jeff Lorber, McCoy Tyner and Dee Dee Bridgewater, from the US.

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is sponsored by the City of Johannesburg, the Department of Arts and Culture and Gauteng Tourism. Tickets are available from Computicket and range in price from R350 to R900. For more information about the Joy of Jazz, visit the festival’s website.