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Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
IN a development that is set to proffer an opportunity for local and upcoming artistes to shine and market their brands and talents, Mutare now has its own weekly jam sessions.
Artistes from genres like afro-jazz, jazz, sungura, hip-hop, rhumba and gospel are converging at Chitsa Sports Bar in Dangamvura every Wednesday for the jam sessions which last for seven hours.
A jam session is usually an impromptu performance by a group especially of jazz musicians that is characterised by improvisation.
However, the newly-introduced jam sessions are set to incorporate other genres and will see new, upcoming and established artistes showcasing their music and talents while entertaining fun lovers.
Harare and Bulawayo are popular provinces with most vibrant jam sessions.
The sessions are now in their third week and artistes such as Romeo Expressions, Lamerk Mutero, Hungwe Stars, Joseph Makureya and Assegai Crew are taking turns to showcase their unique and exceptional artistic prowess.
It has not been a stroll in the park for local artistes who have been struggling to shine and prove mettle outside the eastern border city despite diverse and distinct talent endowed in most of them.
Chitsa Sports Bar proprietor, Tawanda Chitsa said the response is positive and encouraged other budding artistes to be part of the initiative.
“We have started off well and we are happy with the response so far. A lot of artistes have expressed interest, with some of them coming in with full bands. We are talking a leaf from jam sessions that usually take place at City Sport Bar in Harare as well as Bulawayo.
“We believe with enough support from established bands, we will make the sessions popular as we seek to give artistes a platform to shine and popularise their brands,” said Chitsa.
Artistes interviewed said the development was long overdue.
“We applaud the development, and we are happy that at least we now have a venue where we can showcase our talents as well as a promoter who is willing to popularise our brands. It has not been easy for some of us to make it in this cut throat industry,” said Lamerk Mutero.
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