A Celebration of African Jazz in Nairobi for International Jazz Day

International Jazz Day is celebrated every year on April 30^th and is the culmination of Jazz Month, which is the month of April. Jazz in Kenya has been gaining popularity over the years, with many bands and events centering around the genre. One of the biggest events that has aided in the growth of Jazz in Kenya is the Safaricom International Jazz Festival. Safaricom Jazz puts on 3 shows a year with the main festival taking place in February, followed by the International Jazz Day celebrations in April/May and then the Safaricom Jazz Lounge in October. This has turned Nairobi into a fledgling jazz hub and transformed the lives of the kids from the Ghetto Classics, the beneficiaries of the festival.

Some of the amazing artistes that have graced the Safaricom Jazz stage include legends like David Sanborn, Dianne Reeves, the late Hugh Masekela, Jimmy Dludlu, Richard Bona, Manu Dibango, Jonathan Butler, among others. Kenyan jazz acts have also taken the stage and won over audiences and have included Mwai and The Truth, Edward Parseen & The Different Faces Band, Shamsi Music, Nairobi Horns Project, Afrosync Band, The Limericks, among others.

The setup was fantastic as always, with plenty of room for picnic blankets, and chairs for those who preferred it. There were vendors for those who wanted to shop for African jewelry and clothes, and natural skin and hair products, as well as plenty of affordable vendors for delicious food and drinks.

Hosted by the fantastic Kavutha Mwanzia-Asiyo, the festival kicked off with a performance by Ghetto Classics, showcasing the incredible progress the kids in the programme have made. Kato Change and The Change Experience , that includes his frequent collaborator, Idd Aziz, went up next and delivered a great set. Kato is a self-taught guitarist and has an impressive repertoire that has gained him international opportunities and accolades.

Afrika Groovers from South Africa were up next and they came through with that beautiful South African sound. I especially enjoyed Mandla Mlangeni on the trumpet. Jazz Brigade featuring Dorota and Hendrix were next. Their performance was unique as it combined Polish sounds with African sounds, and I especially enjoyed their take on the work of one of my favourite Classical composers, Frédéric Chopin.

Shamsi Music are a favourite when it comes to Kenyan Jazz bands, and with good reason. They not only create beautiful music, but they have a knack for infusing storytelling into their performances making them very memorable to audiences. They put together a great performance and everything was clearly well thought out, all the way to their stylish African inspired outfits.

Jacob Asiyo is a maestro on the piano and he put on a beautiful set and was joined on stage by his wife, Kavutha Mwanzia-Asiyo, whose sultry voice serenaded the audience. I especially enjoyed her rendition of the classic, Afro Blue.

Nairobi Horns Project were the last Kenyan act on stage for the day and they reminded everyone why they are easily one of the biggest jazz bands in Kenya with an energy filled set that gave homage to various genres of music including pop, reggae and benga.

Headlining this year’s International Jazz Day celebrations in Nairobi was world-renowned jazz fusion drummer, Paco Sery, from Ivory Coast. Paco Sery has had an illustrious career, collaborating with greats like the late Nina Simone, Salif Keita, the late Papa Wemba, Manu Dibango, Ray Lema among others. He was joined on stage by the legendary Cheick Tidiane Seck from Mali, a musician who has written for and played with world famous African musicians including the late Fela Kuti and Salif Keita, and American jazz maestros, Dee Dee Bridgewater and the late Hank Jones. He’s also worked with pop, hiphop and alternative rock bands Gorillaz and The Black Eyed Peas. Together they put on an unforgettable show that was the culmination of a day that had been spent in celebration of music.