adminoutfit Down Time Quintet as well as Zimbabwean artistes Rute Mbangwa, Hope Masike and Patience Musa in collaboration with Ammara Brown backed by Afro-pop band Cynergy.
The headline act, Down Time Quintet, performs free jazz in the traditional style that took root in America in the 1960s. The group is made up of Piero Quarta, a composer and music arranger, who also plays the baritone saxophone, bass clarinet and the flute.
Other members include saxophonist Carlo Conti, who has performed at various jazz festivals across the world and Ermanno Baron on drums, who has had a well constructed artistic training which combined the sensitivity of the academic world with the freshness and creativity of the jazz world.
Down Time Quintet also boasts the talents of guitarist Francesco Poeti. In addition to releasing two albums in his own name; “Lost in g.r.a” and “Emergentry”, Poeti has featured on albums of various artistes as well.
Luca Fattorini plays double bass and electric bass for the quintet. The masterful artiste won second place at the European contest organised by the Saint Louis Jazz in Rome at the Atina Jazz Festival in 2009.
He has also performed with the great American saxophonist George Garzone.
Rute Mbangwa, an established songstress on the local jazz scene, will add the afro-jazz flavour to the evening as she performs a fusion of traditional African rhythms and modern jazz.
Rute, whose hit single entitled “Harare”, is currently doing very well on Zimbabwe’s airwaves, has performed widely, locally and in the region, collaborating with a number of artistes.
Emerging mbira princess Hope Masike will add her exhilarating multi-faceted sound that is fused with mbira influences to create new exciting musical arrangements.
She has placed he own unique thumb print on world music and has a busy international tour schedule. Hope Masike’s two albums, entitled “Hope” (2010) and “Hope,
Love and Chocolate” (2012) have received critical acclaim.
Patience Musa and new kid Ammara Brown backed by Cynergy will put up a joint performance at the festival. Patience has added her petulant vocal talents to jazz as well as other genres. She has released one album and recorded with other artistes including Jazz Invitation.
The festival will also have performances tomorrow at the Italian Club, Sanganai/Hlanganani Fair on Sunday and close with a free show at Mega 2, that will feature the Giovanni Falzone Quintet from Italy.
The October International Jazz and World Music Festival is organised by the Italian Embassy in Harare in partnership with Pamberi Trust.
The festival is meant to enhance artistic development amongst schoolchildren and young musicians through artistic influence, education and cultural exchange.
The workshops programme includes master classes on practical instrumentation and voice skills, mentoring, film screenings, discussions and role modelling.
Its sponsors include FBC Bank, Freight World, Telecel, Ethiopian Airlines, Rainbow Tourism Group, Red Graniti, Progressive Insurance, Sontine Travel, Perspectives, Celebration Centre and the Italian Club.
Online Reporter