The Italian Jazz affair

at this year’s Italian International jazz festival to be held in October.
The concert comes hard on the heels of two similar local jazz fetes that were held this year in Harare in April and July.

In April, jazz lovers had best of both worlds when they were treated to some good music at the Harare Jazz Festival where the legendary Dorothy Masuka, the revered Nigerian guitarist Kunle Ayo and the Italian Amanda e la Banda (Amanda and the band), put up stellar performances.
It was clear during the show that musicians perfectly captured the music’s emotion. Even when there wasn’t a solo, you could not doubt that the artistes played with almost tangible energy, and the fans just loved every bit of it.

Last month, it was yet another jazz fiesta with a difference, when the annual Winter Jazz Festival brought together 27 artistes to entertain fans at this annual event.
Dubbed “Celebrating Our Own Jazz” the festival, which was organised by Josh Hozheri can best be described as a potpourri of music, because it brought together jazz, ragga, dendera and sungura artistes under one roof, celebrating local talent, while affording local revellers an opportunity to enjoy local jazz flavour.

This time around, it would be a purely jazz affair that will see several yet to be named local and international artistes serenade jazz lovers with soulful acts, come October, in what will surely be a festival to remember.

The fest that is being hosted by the Italian Embassy, in partnership with the National Arts Council and Pamberi Trust will also hold workshops for schoolchildren who have an interest in the genre.
The children, would also have an opportunity to interact with some of the artistes, and possibly find ways to collaborate on several musical projects.

A few selected kids from the group will actually work on an album with the renowned jazz connoisseurs, that would be released by the end of the year.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, acting director Nicholas Moyo said they were still working on the list of international jazz artiste who will grace the October event.

“This year, the event would be bigger and better, and I am happy to say local jazz fans have really expressed their appreciation for our participation in this noble opportunity,” he said.
Moyo added that because of the Art Council’s commitment to nurture and develop the local arts industry, a lot of local jazz artistes would also be part of this big and exciting jazz occasion.