Martin Audio Drives a Joy of Jazz in South Africa

The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival stands as South Africa’s largest and most prestigious jazz-focused event — and one of the continent’s leading showcases of musical excellence. From its humble beginnings with just 2,000 attendees, the festival has grown into a cultural powerhouse, drawing over 36,000 jazz lovers each year. It continues to provide a world-class platform where international icons meet local legends, sparking collaborations that transcend borders and genres. 

This year’s edition brought an electrifying mix of global stars and South African trailblazers to the Sandton Convention Centre, which hosted four distinct stages across three days. More than 60 acts performed, filling every corner of the venue with rhythm, soul, and technical brilliance. 

Headlining the Friday and Sunday lineups was none other than the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis. Touring the world since 1988, this New York-based ensemble continues to redefine big band and modern jazz. They shared the stage with Grammy Award-winning bassist and songwriter Esperanza Spalding, the energetic Fischermanns Orchestra from Switzerland, and a stellar roster of local and international artists. 

Among the standout technical achievements was the Diphala Stage, which featured a complete Martin Audio system — a 12-a-side WPC Line Array setup paired with eight SXH218 subwoofers for powerful, precise low-end reinforcement. 

WPC, part of Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision series, is a three-way, bi-amped system featuring horn-loaded LF, mid, and HF sections. Its twin 10” neodymium drivers deliver deep, articulate bass through a hybrid horn-reflex design, while dual 5” midrange and four 0.7” compression HF drivers ensure clarity and detail across the spectrum. With a frequency response of 65Hz–18kHz, peak SPL of 135dB, and a 100° x 10° coverage pattern, the WPC provides exceptional intelligibility and balance — perfect for the nuance and dynamics of live jazz. 

Complementing this, the SXH218 subwoofers employed the same hybrid loading principle to deliver tight, musical low frequencies from 32Hz to 150Hz. Each cabinet houses two long-excursion 18” neodymium drivers capable of handling 3000W AES, offering chest-thumping impact while maintaining precision and musicality. 

Powering the system were Martin Audio’s iK42 amplifiers, efficient Class D units providing up to 20,000W with integrated 96kHz DSP on every input and output. The iK42’s advanced processing, including 1000 FIR filter taps per channel, allowed for meticulous system optimization via Martin Audio’s DISPLAY software — ensuring perfectly tuned performance across the challenging acoustic environment of the venue. 

The response from both international and local sound engineers was overwhelmingly positive. The Martin Audio rig impressed with its dynamic range, clarity, and warmth — perfectly capturing the expressive essence of live jazz and keeping audiences deeply connected to every note. 

Martin Audio is proudly distributed in South Africa by Audiosure. 

Ready to elevate your next event? Contact Audiosure today — and let’s turn your vision into sound.