The Sankayi Restaurant & Lounge welcomes jazz lovers to enjoy intimate nights of live music from some of South Africa’s most talented and revered artists with their Sankayi Jazz Series. Running weekly from, the series offers a space where music, atmosphere, and hospitality come together.
Talented acts fill Friday evenings with the smooth sounds of jazz
Hosted at Sankayi Restaurant & Lounge, the Sankayi Jazz Series marks a different chapter for the venue, bringing dedicated live jazz experiences within its already well-known hospitality offering.
Each Friday evening of the series features two sets by one (or more) artists, with a 30-minute interval between sets. The September edition includes an extra special Thursday night collaboration with the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival too. Each performance is presented in a setting designed to balance concert listening with a premium dining experience.
The Sankayi Jazz Series September programme
Week 1 – Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini
The Sankayi Jazz Series welcomes Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini to open its September programme, bringing his distinctive musical voice to the intimate Sankayi setting in Morningside.
A multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and performer, Dlamini has developed a musical language rooted in his South African heritage while drawing on a broad range of contemporary influences. His work brings together composition, improvisation and performance, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and musical expression.
Dlamini’s album Ingoma Busuku marked an important point in his career, earning him a Metro FM Music Award and further establishing his voice as an artist working across contemporary South African music. His career has seen him collaborate, perform and develop projects across a range of musical contexts.
For this Sankayi performance, Dlamini is joined by Sanele Phakathi on piano, Dalisu Ndlazi on double bass, Lungile Kunene on drums and Keenan Ahrends on guitar.
Cost: From R400pp. It is recommended that you arrive early to have dinner (at an additional cost) before the concert. Book via Quicket
When: Friday, 4 September 2026. Dinner and drinks open at 6pm and close at 7.30pm. Concert starts at 8pm
Where: Sankayi Restaurant & Lounge, Green Park Corner, Morningside, Johannesburg
Week 2 – Khaya Mahlangu
Sankayi Jazz Series welcomes South African jazz legend and saxophonist Khaya Mahlangu to the second showcase in the September programme.
Born in Soweto and raised during the liberation struggle in South Africa, Mahlangu has spent more than five decades immersed in jazz and has become a respected figure in South Africa’s musical heritage. His career has taken him from intimate jazz clubs in South Africa to major festivals across the USA, Europe, Asia and various African countries, where his performances reflect his deep love of connecting with diverse audiences.
Mahlangu is also an accomplished composer whose work blends traditional African rhythms with contemporary jazz. His compositions reflect his commitment to preserving the essence of African music while continuing to push its boundaries, creating what his biography describes as a musical conversation between the past and the future.
At 70, Mahlangu remains a dynamic and evolving presence. His performances are described as energetic and heartfelt, combining his seasoned style with the fresh perspectives of younger collaborators.
Cost: From R400pp. It is recommended that you arrive early to have dinner (at an additional cost) before the concert. Book via Quicket
When: Friday, 11 September 2026. Dinner and drinks open at 6pm and close at 7.30pm. Concert starts at 8pm
Where: Sankayi Restaurant & Lounge, Green Park Corner, Morningside, Johannesburg
Week 3 – Siya Makuzeni
Week three of the September programme sees South African trombone player and vocalist Siya Makuzeni take to the stage.
A professional trombone player, vocalist, composer, arranger, music producer and session musician, Makuzeni was the recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz in 2016.
She has collaborated with artists including Themba Mkhize, Khaya Mahlangu, Lionel Loueke, Sibongile Khumalo and Regina Carter, and has also featured in performances with Grammy artists David Murray, Jacky Terrasson and Branford Marsalis. She is also the bandleader of her own rock band,
She has toured and performed around the globe, including the premieres of His Day Is Done in Makhanda and Johannesburg and UpRising: A Future Her-story at the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles.
Her work extends beyond live performance. Makuzeni has worked as a music producer, session musician and arranger, contributing songwriting and vocal performances to a range of albums and collaborating with William Kentridge and Phillip Miller, among others. Her production and arranging credits include Nelson Mandela: The Lost Tapes, I Am All Girls, Joko Ya Hao, ROOTS and Book of Negroes adapted productions.
Cost: From R400pp. It is recommended that you arrive early to have dinner (at an additional cost) before the concert. Book via Quicket
When: Friday, 18 September 2026. Dinner and drinks open at 6pm and close at 7.30pm. Concert starts at 8pm
Where: Sankayi Restaurant & Lounge, Green Park Corner, Morningside, Johannesburg
Sankayi Jazz Series presents Anaïs Rosso in collaboration with the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival
Sankayi Jazz Series welcomes French artist Anaïs Rosso to Johannesburg on Heritage Day as part of its September programme and its new partnership with the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival.
Rosso developed her love of performance and the unexpected through Parisian jam sessions before establishing her own studio in Belleville, Paris, where she created her first EP, Scandale au Paradis.
Her music draws on blues, singer-songwriter traditions and contemporary Afro rhythms, creating an intimate world that moves between modernity and memory, groove and incantation.
On stage, Rosso brings a deeply felt and profound musical experience, using her voice and music to tell a story. Her performance at Sankayi offers audiences the opportunity to experience her work in an intimate setting, with the music and artist at the centre of the evening.
Cost: From R400pp. It is recommended that you arrive early to have dinner (at an additional cost) before the concert. Book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 24 September 2026. Dinner and drinks open at 6pm and close at 7.30pm. Concert starts at 8pm
Where: Sankayi Restaurant & Lounge, Green Park Corner, Morningside, Johannesburg
Win/get discounts on tickets to Standard Bank Joy of Jazz!
Sankayi patrons are in for some special discounts for the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival. Get 15% off Friday, 25 September tickets to the festival itself by booking through Ticketmaster and using the password #FriendofSBJOJ to unlock your discount.
Plus, for each of the remaining Sankayi shows of September, the person whose purchase includes the 60th ticket sold will win a double ticket to the Friday night of Joy of Jazz!
Website: alexproductions.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 050 053 3133
Facebook: @Sankayi Jazz
Instagram: @sankayijazz
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