Safaricom jazz festival was indeed a delightful musical party

Despite the sizzling heat, the fifth edition of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival was a hit. Nairobi’s jazz lovers, unwilling to be deterred by the merciless equatorial sun, flocked in their thousand’s to the Kasarani Training Grounds and got some unforgettable, thrilling performances by some of jazz music’s finest artists. Styles ranged from Afro-jazz, swing jazz, bebop jazz, soul, funk, and contemporary jazz.

The most-awaited performance by the American contemporary jazz outfit BWB was the climax of the festival; the band’s offering was spot-on.

Indeed, there were platefuls of saxophone, trumpet and guitar chops to chew from trumpeter Rick Braun, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and guitarist Norman Brown, the trio that constitutes BWB.

Despite coming from different regions of the United States – Brown is from Kansas City, Kansas (home also to the jazz legend Charlie Parker), Braun from Pennsylvania but now residing in L.A., California, and Whalum from Dallas, Texas – they offered soulful and funky music, both original and covers. The audience was thrilled by the band’s rendition of jazzed-up hits by the “King of Pop”, the late Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” album, which BWB recorded in 2013 as a tribute to the immensely popular singer. One of the band’s finest performances was the funky “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” which the audience couldn’t resist dancing to, and “Billie Jean,” and the cheerful “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

Towards the end of their performance, Braun took the microphone to announce the band members’ deep sense of loss on the passing away of South Africa’s greatest jazz musician, Hugh Masekela, who passed away on January 23, 2018 at the age of 78. And in his honour, BWB performed one of Masekela’s most-loved songs, “Grazing in the Grass,” to a great appreciation from the audience.

BWB also performed hits by other singers and groups, including “That’s The Way Love Goes,” a popular song by Michael’s sister, Janet Jackson; the bebop master-piece called “Miles”, by the late jazz great, trumpeter Miles Davis; and a number soul-inspired of Motown classics.

It was indeed a great treat watching these master instrumentalists perform their stuff: great improvisations that are anchored in years of exemplary live and studio performances. Most thrilling were their exchanges, and the very well synchronized but complex arrangements. One couldn’t ask for anything more!

Earlier on before this set, a German pianist, Joja Wendt led his two accompanist – a lady drummer and double bass player – in a fervent offering of jazz standards, with his trio opening with the all-time jazz favourite “Take Five”, saxophonist Paul Desmond’s original. Prior to Joja Wendt trio, the audience was treated to one of South Africa’s greatest jazz singers, Gloria Bosman. Accompanied by a five-piece band (with her also playing the acoustic guitar), she performed original pieces from her recorded works.

Another interesting performance featured Kenya’s own Mambo Tribe, which was led by renowned percussionist Wakake.

An eight-piece ensemble from Israel, The Betty Bears, evoked many fond memories, especially to older jazz fans, with renditions of traditional blues, swing jazz and Dixieland jazz. Ella Daniel is the lead singer and only female in the band.  With heavy horns, the ensemble performed classic jazz from way back with the audience trying their best to swing along. It was indeed an excellent offering of jazz’s past played by a young generation.

Kenya’s foremost jazz event lived to its heralded billing.