Jephtha comes full-circle at Joy of Jazz

FOR South African bassist and composer Benjamin Jephta, stepping onto the Joy of Jazz stage this year is far more than just another performance - it marks a full-circle moment, a powerful reflection of where he stands in his career today.

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This milestone also comes as Jephta celebrates a decade since the release of his debut album, Homecoming, with the Joy of Jazz standing as a central pillar in his journey since.

“The younger Benjamin would be wide-eyed, in disbelief at how far I've come. I remember being a student, going to the Joy of Jazz, watching the legends, and feeling that dream stir inside me. I was once part of the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Band, standing in the crowd and imagining what it would be like to play on that stage. To now be headlining one of the biggest stages at the festival is both humbling and affirming - it feels like a full-circle moment; he shares.

This year, Jephta joins a myriad of prolific performers from different parts of the world over the three day music extravaganza, September 26 to 28, where hewill also get a chance to lend his voice as part of the Jazz Wise Career Development Workshop panel - a space designed to offer guidance, training, and networking opportunities for aspiring professionals eager to carve their own paths in the industry.