Safaricom jazz festival was indeed a delightful musical party

Rick Braun, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and guitarist Norman Brown

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.