“The true beauty of music is that it connects people.” Roy Ayers
This May 1st, Music fans were treated to a delicious array of Kenyan music, with something from everybody who managed to make it to the Carnivore grounds. 12 Kenyan bands played and it was a great introduction for Manu Dibango as the fans got to sing and dance and warm up, chasing away the chilly weather. Manu Dibango took to the stage at 7 PM but performances started pretty early with the Ghetto Classics at 1 PM.
The day was a cold and chilly, and the grounds at the Carnivore were a bit muddy. This did not deter the crowds who came to listen to some great music, dance, catch up and have a good time. Safaricom had anticipated this scenario which is why this time around fans got seats instead of having to sit on the ground, which although it was covered in some kind of plastic cover was still slightly damp.
Part I of #SafaricomJazzAt5 featuring
– Ghetto Classics
– Mambo Tribe
– Mwai
– Limericks
– Juma Tutu
– Jacob Asiyo
– Kavutha pic.twitter.com/DrcNcHPRnL— ? S! (@swambi) May 1, 2018
The Ghetto Classics
They opened the event and thrilled fans with their mashups of different songs. What I love about the kids is how they have grown over time and how they are becoming masters at playing more and more complex songs. Their songs included Camila Bello’s Havana and a mashup of rap songs.
The awesome @GhettoClassicsK with their mash-up of songs – Beautiful #SafaricomJazzAt5 pic.twitter.com/vzULZkZJNL
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
Mambo Tribe
Mambo Tribe blends Jazz and traditional Mijikenda songs. They played Maisha, Kijembe and Kifudu. This time they also incorporated the sax in their music, playing with Rabai from Nairobi Horns.
.@mkubwarabai on stage at #SafaricomJazzAt5 with Mambo Tribe pic.twitter.com/f42EbQd6GC
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
.@MamboTribe performing at #SafaricomJazzAt5 with @mkubwarabai #Twaweza #MusicThatMoves pic.twitter.com/bA881PlXxA
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
AfroSync
AfroSync were next on stage and they played “All God’s Children” and “Senegal. Sometimes less is more and I thoroughly enjoyed the performances. Smooth all the way.
One of my favourite performances at #SafaricomJazzAt5 – @AfroSyncBand @timoriungu #Twaweza #MusicThatMoves pic.twitter.com/AaeIRvQwpX
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
Chris Bittok
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 3, 2018
.@EddieGreyKenya manze. Dopeness on another level. #SafaricomJazzAt5 Always a pleasure to listen to you play ???? ????????#MusicThatMoves #Twaweza #CamonX pic.twitter.com/I5dtzOjRFg
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 3, 2018
Eddie Grey And Swahili Ally (Salim Ali)
Eddie Grey is a fantastic guitarist and he did not disappoint. He delighted fans with a cover of Human Nature and Despacito before playing Every Day and No Trains To Kibera. He was joined by Swahili Ally who was playing the kora. Swahili Ally’s vocals are just haunting, it was beautiful.
.@EddieGreyKenya With @Salim Ali from Tanzania. #SafaricomJazzAt5 pic.twitter.com/DgzeZAIVCw
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
Mwai and the Truth
Mwai and the truth had their usual magic and this time they introduced a new element to the set, a powerful singer.
Mwai and the Truth band making sure the crowd is up on their feet as e celebrate ? International #JazzDay. #SafaricomJazzAt5 #MusicThatMoves @IntlJazzDay pic.twitter.com/cegEzaLOM7
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) May 1, 2018
Limericks
Juma Tutu with Ephy Shitakwa
Juma Tutu brought the sunshine with his beautiful colourful sax and he had a surprise guest Mzee Ngala.
Juma Tutu and his beautiful sax on stage at #SafaricomJazzAt5. Great performance – he was really feeling the music pic.twitter.com/heHMiFcnjD
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
Juma Tutu had a surprise guest on stage at #SafaricomJazzAt5. The legendary Mzee Ngala ??????#Twaweza cc @MaureenShelmithpic.twitter.com/xHjj9xldiP
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
Joseph Ngala aka Mzee Ngala serenaded us and took us to a time when life was simpler and music was sweet. Juma Tutu really went all out. Four sax players on stage at #SafaricomJazzAt5 ???? #MusicThatMoves pic.twitter.com/0iqGt8n3e8
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
Jacob Asiyo And Kavutha
Jacob started his set with teasers of some crowd favourites that got appreciation from the crowd. He started off with Phantom Splendour and Enigma In Chief. Rabai and Mackinley from the Nairobi Horns were there to lend their horns and it was a beautiful set that was clearly a crowd favourite.
Kavutha then joined them to sing one day, Afro Blue and songea. All I could say is wow. Kavutha has a voice range on another level and she kept striking some high notes which left the crowd delighted.
James Gogo and the Gogo Simo Band
James Gogo Simo is an entertainer who knows how to get the crowd up on their feet with his electric energy. From the intro of very suspicious to Ngoma, Gogosimo to Penzi biggie the Gogo Simo Band kept the crowds entertained and asking for more and more, fans kept asking for an encore but time was up.
Edward Parseen
You always know that Edward Parseen will be entertaining and he was. He started out by playing the Game of Thrones theme tune, then went old school to play Reke Tumanwo – harusi yetu na yekeke, followed by his own composition Brew. He rounded it up with a Kenyan pop medley of Sanaipei Tande/Jua Kali, and Juju by Nameless. But before he left he did Keyande which is a Kisii Folk Song.
Edward Parseen with the Kenyan set.
?Amenipa juju ooooh ooh oooohh?#SafaricomJazzat5 #Twaweza #MusicThatMoves pic.twitter.com/FMpgbVYBVD
— Magunga (@theMagunga) May 1, 2018
Shamsi Music
Murata! ????? @ShamsiMusicKE #SafaricomJazzAt5 #MusicThatMoves #JazzDay pic.twitter.com/55efeQKXsQ
— Kenyan Collective ? (@KenCollective) May 1, 2018
Nairobi Horns Project And Africa Plus
Nairobi Horns were the last band to perform before the main act and they brought the fire. They played I need to ask, I think, dance like your life depends on it, African skies and Mukoye. They thrilled the crowd with their music and got the crowd dancing. They also collaborated with Africa Plus from South Africa to bring a South African feel to the event. What I love about Nairobi Horns is that their music is so danceable and they get the crowd involved – like with the song Mukoye where we had to shake our shoulders and go all the way to Kakamega. The perfect way to end the Kenyan set.
.@NairobiHorns taking it over at #SafaricomJazzAt5. #MusicThatMoves @IntlJazzDay pic.twitter.com/sK6s1S10GR
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) May 1, 2018
Manu Dibango
Manu Dibango; The man, the myth, the living legend! We’re honored to have him celebrate International #JazzDay with #SafaricomJazzAt5. #MusicThatMoves #Twaweza pic.twitter.com/OwG4KVfTcd
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) May 1, 2018
By the time Manu Dibango took to the stage, jazz fans were psyched up and ready to get down. It was easy to see why Manu Dibango has won a Grammy twice. He is very versatile in his playing and his tunes remain in your head even hours or days later. It was truly a pleasure to listen to him and his Soul Makosa band perform.
Bonita describes the experience best
Manu Dibango himself. Graceful,tactful,versatile,afrojazzmaestro,soulful. See how he caresses his sax,calculates his steps and calmly smiles as his audience begs for more. He has mastered his art. Good music knows no age! Viva Soul Makossa! #safaricomJazz #SafaricomJazzAt5 pic.twitter.com/g3v4pGoUY9
— Bonita (@bonitaonsafari) May 2, 2018
Manu Dibango now on stage #SafaricomJazzAt5 #MusicThatMoves #Twaweza pic.twitter.com/crQdLxU9UW
— Droid-Wan Kenobi (@droid254) May 1, 2018
The big man himself @ManuDibango_Cla performing at #SafaricomJazzAt5 #MusicThatMoves #Twaweza. Video courtesy of @MaureenShelmith pic.twitter.com/jfJCh7Z1OM
— Vote Potentash Best Lifestyle (@potentash) May 5, 2018
At the end of the concert, Safaricom gave a cheque of 18 million to Ghetto Classics. For those who may not know all proceeds from Safaricom Jazz go towards helping the kids of Ghetto Classics to get both a musical and academic education. It was a fantastic concert.
It was good to see that the Kenyan artists are now doing more collaborations with other artists in order to bring a fresh feel to their set, instead of just playing the usual numbers that fans have heard before.
One thing we are hoping to see is more female jazz musicians playing, not as an accompaniment for a band but as main acts in themselves. Somebody I was with, who was at Safaricom Jazz for the first time asked me if there are no female jazz musicians and I said there are. I know we are ready for more female representation in jazz. So lady jazz musicians when there is a call out for bands, please apply. Also hopefully Safaricom is working to bring a major female jazz musician as a headline act, that would be awesome.
All in all, it was a great experience and I can’t wait for the next Jazz Lounge coming up. We did a short documentary on some of the artists who have taken part in the Safaricom Jazz International Festival. Check it out here.
https://youtu.be/jpzZAwhRV7oI
Speaking of festivals, here are Travel: Top 10 African Music Festivals you need to attend. We need to take the Safaricom Internation Jazz Festival to the next level and encourage jazz fans from around the world to come to check out our awesome Jazz Festival. Music And Travel: KTB Needs To Promote The Safaricom International Jazz Festival – The Financial Gains Are Ridiculously High
