Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust (ZJCT), in collaboration with the Alliance Française network in Zimbabwe, is set to host an exclusive workshop ahead of the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival 2025.
Themed “Effective use of Cultural Rhythm in Jazz Improvisation”, the workshop promises an immersive masterclass designed specifically for local musicians. Scheduled for Friday, September 12, the 90-minute session is open only to musicians and will be moderated by acclaimed Zimbabwean musician Tinashe Mukarati.
A highlight of the workshop is the participation of the internationally acclaimed ensemble, The Frank Salis Experience, offering Zimbabwean artistes a rare chance to engage with the group’s diverse approaches to blending cultural rhythms with jazz improvisation.
The workshop serves as a prelude to the festival’s main concert later that day at Alliance Française de Bulawayo, where The Frank Salis Experience will headline alongside other top acts.
The project, “Frank Salis Experience – The Zambezi Sessions”, brings together five exceptional musicians from five countries: Frank Salis (Switzerland) – Hammond Organ and Artistic Director, Alex Wasily (United States) – Trombone, Max Covini (Italy, based in Zimbabwe) – Drums, Mr Chanx (Zambia) – Guitar and Theresa Muteta (Zimbabwe) – Vocals.
Designed as a creative residency and concert tour across Zimbabwe and Zambia, the project promotes cultural dialogue and regional engagement through music. The tour will begin in Lusaka (5 September), followed by Mutare (7 September), Victoria Falls (10 September), and culminate in performances at the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival in Bulawayo (12 September) and Harare (13 September).
“The inclusion of the Harare and Bulawayo concerts in the prestigious Zimbabwe Jazz Festival underscores our shared commitment to supporting local arts. This fourth edition in Bulawayo shows growing recognition and international collaboration.
“The workshop is central to this mission, reflecting our dedication to making Alliance Française a hub where art resonates with everyone,” said Guillaume Ripaud, director of Alliance Française de Bulawayo.
The Zimbabwe Jazz Festival 2025 marks the eighth edition in Harare and the fourth in Bulawayo, featuring top performers such as Dudu Manhenga, Vee Mukarati, The Frank Salis Experience, and The Tich Makalisa Band in Bulawayo, while Harare’s edition expands into an eight-hour celebration with acts including Josh Meck, Rute Mbangwa, Charles “Mahlaba” Banda, Mbare Jazz, NokuTenda with The Legacy Band, alongside Mukarati and The Frank Salis Experience.
This ambitious festival is supported by a consortium of international partners committed to artistic exchange, including the Embassies of Switzerland, the United States, Italy, and France, as well as the Alliance Française network in Harare, Bulawayo, and Lusaka.
Organised by the Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust, which since 2016 has been steered by a committee of jazz artistes and enthusiasts, including Robert Basvi, Marova, Kumbula Chiweza, Tinashe Mukarati, and Blessing Chaumba, the festival continues its mission of reviving and preserving Zimbabwean jazz culture while forging global connections. – Follow on X: @MbuleloMpofu
Bongani Ndlovu