Windhoek — The much anticipated Old Mutual Jazz Encounter will take place in Windhoek on October 3 at the well-known venue,Vegkop in the capital.

Jazz enthusiasts can look forward to a spectacular show with South African artists Don Laka and Swazi as well as talented Namibian artists.

The participating musicians are:

Don Laka - The Don

Born in 1958 near Pretoria in Mamelodi, Don Laka was the first child in a family of five. In 1969, he formed his first band and made his first recording in 1972, which featured Ray Phiri on guitar.

A student, teacher, producer, artist, composer, engineer, and executive, Laka is a connoisseur of note, with a platinum track record that speaks volumes of a man who has achieved mastery of a vision unfolding.

Amid the medley of voices that are unique to South Africa, Laka's is amplified by the rebellious streak that has seen him, single-handedly strike a chord with the young and not so young to build the Kwaai-Jazz brand - an eclectic fusion of classical, traditional, modern and all that is jazz; creating a soul-drenched, uniquely South African experience that has enthralled hordes of enthusiasts across the globe.

Laka continues to be an instrument to the evolution of the South African music industry and a growing voice in the Diaspora and like so many venerated icons in their respective disciplines, Laka's career is a testament to the relentlessness of the ever rising without fail.

Swazi Dlamini

Swazi Dlamini a 30-year-old female artist, who is also a business woman in the music industry with Swazitainment Productions and Shammah Records, was born in Durban kwamashu.

After 11 years of living in Johannesburg making a name for herself as an esteemed professional artist, she and husband Tshepo Mngoma have relocated to Durban with their two kids.

This is where she has begun work in developing up and coming talent of her home town, through her company Swazitainment productions, she hosts monthly concerts at the Zulu Jazz lounge in partnership with Ethekwini municipality and Ilanga where she brings an artist of her calibre and couples them with aspiring talent from Kwazulu Natal using a band of students from the university. This programme has not only created a platform for local talent but has revived the city of Durban, as live shows were almost unheard of when she started this May 2008.

Dlamini's debut album , 'My First Love' released 2003 with Sony Music, won her much acclaim as one of the most celebrated young artists in South Africa and internationally alike.

This album saw her being awarded, SAMA 2004 Best Female Artist, and KORA 2004 most promising African Female Artist. Dedicated to her first son, Thandolwami, born in the same year, the album displayed Dlamini's versatility as a singer and her ability to experiment with new sounds and languages.

Year 2006 saw her release a power-packed sophomore album entitled 'Dance with Me', the album though confused to be an RnB offering because of the title-track with has a strong RnB "stepping" feel, is actually yet another showcase Dlamini's use of her voice in jazz, gospel, blues and African styles of music.

African Boy (AB)

There is a tradition of soulful black music that goes back ages and only a few artists are equipped to carry the torch with any sense of authenticity. African Boy may be the sole - indeed, soulful-tell-it-like-it-is-exception.

Born of Southern African roots in 1982 as Rudolf Schimming with musical influences of African giants such as Sankomoto, Manu Dibango, Salif Keita to name only a few and from the West hip-hop, soul and jazz greats such as Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Kool and the Gang and new soul artists like D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Muziq Soul child and Alicia Keys as his inspiration.

African Boy blends hip-hop, soul, jazz and the art of African story telling rhythms filling an obvious void in today's marketplace. Simply put, African Boy continues to prove to be the real deal with the release of he's new single 'Mirror Back' topping local radio charts in Namibia.

African Boy began singing in the local church choir at the age of 10, and spent several years making the rounds on the local nightclubs and talent show circuits, performing alongside fellow artist in the industry.

He is epitome of a well rounded entertainer and recording artist. He has loved music since a tender age and comes from a family of musicians.

The name African Boy materialised from his strong cultural background and origination.

"I feel that any and everything that will unfold from my singing career; I'd like to give it back to my African people. I feel very strongly about my cultural inheritance."

Today with his newly found music label So Sick Music, African Boy is working on his second much-anticipated album with Namibia's top producer's Chritain Polloni, Becoming Phil and Eclips.

Jesse

Jesse, born Jesse Goliath, is an emerging singer in the Namibian Jazz & Light Music arena. Jesse brings to stage years of singing experience.

Like many others, his singing started in church as a young boy where he later led the congregation in song. His singing further developed under the baton of Ernst van Biljon, the man who was awarded the Life Time Award at last year's Sanlam Music Awards for his contribution to the music industry in Namibia.

Jesse is currently a student at the Windhoek School of Singing under the training of Ina Di Michele, an outstanding singer herself who brings with her vast international experience. Jesse boasts an outstanding achievement during last year's Singing Examinations of the Trinity College of Music, a premier institution in the United Kingdom.