Veterans serenade jazz enthusiasts

together a cross-section of yesteryear musicians in R&B, rock and soul in what was one of the most memorable shows to date.
Musicians like Austin Zvoma, Picky Kasamba, Rowland Nindi, Kenny Neshamba, Sam Mataure, Cuthbert Maziwa, Friday Mbirimi and Josh Hozheri, among others, came out in full force to play music mainly from the 1970s and took jazz lovers on a memorable music voyage.
If you thought Zvoma was just good at being the Clerk of Parliament, then you should have watched him in action.
Zvoma proved that he is a polished and passionate jazz musician gifted with a rich voice when he thrilled the largely mature crowd that thronged Jazz 105 for the event.
The affable crooner surprised many when he effortlessly belted out renditions of popular tracks like “Stand By Me” and “Malaika” among others, much to the delight of the audience. To those not in the know, Zvoma – who was born on December 22, 1946 in Chegutu – started off his music career at a very tender age before taking it seriously later in life, playing the saxophone and guitars as well as singing in the school choir.
Picky Kasamba proved that music runs in his blood and that he knows how to make the audience tap their feet, twirl their bodies and jump when he played some rock tunes.
The former Black Spirits band member – who was Oliver Mtukudzi’s sidekick and dancing partner for many years before deciding to call it a day – played songs like “Seiko?” and “Weropa Ndeweropa” and people just loved his act.
As if not to be outdone, show organiser and owner of Jazz 105, the bulky Hozheri, also revealed his other side when he did the vocals for one of Hugh Masekela’s plug tracks “Mbombela” before playing the congas for Summer Breeze on one of their new songs.
Peter Chikwanha (lead guitar), Rowland Nindi (rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Baxter Mawoza (drums), Moses Kabubi (keyboard), Jeff Kumambwa (tenor saxophone) and Friday and Lovejoy Mbirimi were some of the jazz veterans who played at the concert. Jackson Phiri from Norton played solo on the acoustic guitar while Summer Breeze, Too Open and Sound Bank also showcased their stuff.
“I think young musicians have learnt something from these veterans because these are people who took their music seriously and put into it a lot of passion and zeal.
“I was also impressed by the full house of mature people who graced this event,” said Hozheri.
Transport and Communications Minister Nicholas Goche and his wife Marjorie, among other personalities, attended the concert.