Whoop! Whoop! The Safaricom Jazz Festival is back again! A musical showcase which has become part and parcel of our lives.
The festival is turning five this year at Kasarani Training grounds in Nairobi, and it is evident that Kenyans appreciation for jazz music has grown immensely.
From the first event in 2014 which featured acclaimed acts like Richard Bona from Cameroon to our very own Aaron Rimbui, Safaricom has made great strides in redefining music in the country and supporting young Kenyans from underprivileged backgrounds.
In that regard, we can’t fail but mention the Ghetto classics program which has uplifted many children from Korogocho, Huruma, Dandora, Mukuru Kwa Reuben and many others equipping them with skills in live music performance as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty that many of them are born into. The programme also provides them with income generating opportunities and has been supported by proceeds from the Safaricom International Jazz since its inception.
[caption caption="Bob Collymore with Children from Ghetto Classics"]
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Great international acts from all over the world have graced the festival in previous years. In 2015, Jonathan Butler made his debut on Kenyan soil while Grammy Award Winner Branford Marsalis impressed the Nairobi crowd the following year. World Renowned Saxophonist David Sanborn headlined the event last year accompanied by a star-studded lineup.
This year promises to live up to expectations and actually go a little extra judging from the acts scheduled to perform.
The Festival will be headlined by the highly acclaimed American jazz trio BWB who will perform some of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits.
The Chart-topping band comprised of guitarist Norman Brown, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and trumpeter Rick Braun will perform their 2013 Human Nature album which was a tribute to the music maestro.
Human Nature includes tracks that span from Jackson’s early days as part of the Jackson Five (Shake Your Body, I’ll Be There, Who’s Lovin You) to his prolific career as a solo artist (Human Nature, Beat It, She’s Out of My Life, The Way You Make Me Feel, I Can’t Help It, Billie Jean, Man in the Mirror, and Another Part of Me).
The morning till dusk event which guarantees revelers a great time will include a line-up of other brilliant performers from Israel, Belgium, Germany, South Africa and Kenya.
Fans should particularly be excited about the performances from Kenyan favourites Mambo Tribe and Limericks.
[caption caption="Safaricom Jazz Poster"]
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“This edition of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival has a special place in our hearts for many reasons. Not only are we celebrating five years of great live jazz performances from world renown and locally admired musicians, we are also celebrating the social impact we’ve created through funds raised from the Festival.
“The whole idea of the festival is to make jazz music more accessible and inclusive, and to use this to break down barriers and create opportunities for talented Kenyan artists to play alongside international stars and appeal to a larger local audience,” Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore stated.
This great work of uplifting lives of children through music as well as quenching your musical thirst continues and you are invited to be part of it by grabbing your tickets for the VIP show to be held on 23rd February for Sh 10,000 per person and Sh 150,000 per corporate table.
There is also the main show to go down on Sunday 25th with tickets going for Sh 2,000 and Sh 500 for regular and student tickets respectively.
For more updates go to www.safaricomjazzfestival.co.ke. You can also follow #SafaricomJazz on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Here is a sneak preview of what to expect:
