Saskia Laroo Band - Live in Zimbabwe

Jazz trumpeter Saskia Laroo and her eight-piece funk unit give a cooking live concert in Zimbabwe at the unique Harare international
Festival of the Arts [HIFA] May 3, 2013. The band features a rocking
rhythm section, rappers Complex and Phantom, African percussionist
Pape Seck and American pianist/vocalist Warren Byrd. Includes the
debut performance of their new single "Africa Dancin" POV footage of
their adventures in Greater Harare: a Hang in an African village; a
lion park trek; a music workshop with aspiring local youth; scenes
from performances at First Street, Harare center, and at a Dutch
inauguration reception in Zimbabwe.
http://saskialaroo.com/live-in-zimbabwe-dvd-paradiso

Monoswezi - The Village (Riverboat 2013)

“The Village” out now on Riverboat reaching number 7 in February and March on World Music Charts Europe and receiving critical acclaim!

“A unique sound blending traditional songs from ZImbabwe with Scandinavian Jazz“ CNN, USA
  interview and feature

“Highly, highly recommended” The Strand, BBC World Service, UK
  Interview and feature

"Even though we're only a week into January, I feel confident their strikingly atmospheric debut album The Village will be on my end-of-year list for 2013."  The Independent, UK

"A hypnotic blend of Norwegian saxophone and Zimbabwean mbira" Financial Times UK

"The Village largely whispers rather than shouts, and it's all the more powerful for it." The Independent, UK

"Classy stuff" The Guardian, UK

"A fusion of with an airy and expressive feel that displays a remarkable balance between two different cultures"  Songlines UK

“Their sound is as intriguing as their makeup.” CBC Radio feature, Canada
http://www.monoswezi.com

Zimbabwe: Jabavu Drive launches new album

Veterans of Zimbabwe’s jazz scene, Jabavu Drive launched their new album entitled Harare at a colourful ceremony in the capital recently.

The quality six-track CD without doubt reinforces the band’s status as one of the country’s premier jazz outfits. Jabavu Drive’s mastery, experience and maturity easily shine through on every tune with superbly polished musical arrangements.

Music on Harare is authentic home-grown Afro jazz that is reminiscent of the pioneering sound of the golden era of township music that spanned from the 1950s to the early 1970s.

Jabavu Drive’s captivating jazz is a unique blend of instruments that feature a prominent brass section with two tenor saxophones and a trombone. The horns are seamlessly fused with the sound of the guitar, two keyboards and some smooth vocals on some of the tracks.

Newsday

Zimbabwe: Mbangwa Promises 16-Track Double Album

Jazz sensation and vocal teacher Rute Mbangwa is set to release her third album, a 16-track double CD in April after a five-year breather.
Rute, who last released her second album in 2007, entitled Rute Goes Kumanginde has matured like wine and her versatility, creativity and innovation is displayed in the new album.
"I am now back in the studio following a break I took to focus on my studies. I graduated last year and I want to make up for my absence because I know my fans had been starved of my music," said Mbangwa.
Rute embodies hope for the future of Zimbabwean women artists. In a time of uncertainty in the industry, she has forged ahead strongly, working hard and employing a highly professional outlook which has earned her respect of other players in the industry, and is already paving the way to acclaim.ALLAFRICA.COM

Zimbabwe: Fungisai invades jazz territory

Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave opens a new leaf in her musical career on Friday with a show at Jazz 105.
This comes after her successful trial at the Women in Jazz Festival in September last year at the same venue. She played alongside the likes of Kudzai Sevenzo, Jean Masters, Diana Samkange, Rute Mbangwa and Edith weUtonga Katiji, among others.
Though she received criticism for joining the line-up, Zvakavapano-Mashavave lived up to the billing and wowed revellers, much to the amazement of those who doubted her abilities.
In an interview with NewsDay the gospel diva said she was mesmerised by the audience when she played at Jazz 105 last year. Read More

ZIMBABWE: All that jazz: A great year for jazz

2011 was truly a great year for jazz with unprecedented activity on the scene.
Upon reflection, there were a number of notable events, concerts, festivals and album releases.

In February, Jazz Under the Stars, a new concept created by new players on the scene, brought South African sensation Lira to perform in Zimbabwe for the first time.

According to reports, Lira gave a memorable performance that delighted the audience.

Harare Jazz Festival presented its third edition in April in a two-day festival that featured the inaugural Jazz Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The Cool Crooners, Dorothy Masuka and Lina Mattaka were honoured at a high- profile gala dinner that was also the opening ceremony of the festival.

At the main event, the festival presented some exciting performances from Kunle Ayo, Tanga wekwa Sando, Oliver Mtukudzi, Dudu Manhenga, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana and Amanda e la Banda from Italy.

The Winter Jazz Festival commemorated its 10th anniversary with a colourful opening ceremony and great performances from local artists.

The festival continues to grow, support local artists and take the genre to a wider audience.

Jazz 105 also launched a new festival, Women in Jazz, which seeks to promote female artists.

The festival also saw gospel star Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave performing at a jazz venue for the first time ever.

The October International Jazz Festival, organised by the Italian Embassy in Harare, set a new standard for jazz festivals in Zimbabwe.

The week-long festival had a developmental aspect with music training workshops targeted at children.

These workshops were held at Zimbabwe College of Music, Celebration Centre, Streets Ahead and Pakare Paye.

The festival also brought out some fantastic performances and collaborations from participating artists including Mtukudzi, Ayo, Amanda e la Banda, Jazz Invitation, Raffaele Casarano and the Tinissima Quartet from Italy.

The Soweto String Quartet also performed in a garden setting in Harare alongside popular local artists.

This was also an new initiative from promoters venturing into jazz for the first time.

All these major events were a great achievement by the jazz fraternity and society as a whole. Most importantly, the corporate sector is increasingly realising and appreciating the value of jazz to their brands.

It is very encouraging and gratifying that prominent brands and organisations including Lion Lager, Coke Zero, Pacific Storm, European Union, Ethiopian Airways, FBC Bank, Peroni, Telecel, Fiat, Rainbow Tourism Group, Progressive Insurance Brokers and Sontine Travel supported jazz in one way or another.

We hope for continued support to ensure that the popularity of the genre keeps growing.

The year also saw growth in the body of music with new releases from Tanga wekwa Sando (Sunrise), Too Open (Still Alive), Manhenga (Ngangiwe), Munya Matarutse (Dengu Remhodzi), Jazz Invitation (Tsoka) and Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana (Prudence).

Manhenga also went on her maiden tour of Italy where she flew the Zimbabwean flag high, thrilling audiences wherever she performed.

As we look forward to a new year, we hope stakeholders build on these successes to ensure greater value for society.
NEWSDAY.CO.ZW

ZIMBABWE: Solo Fest Beckons for Dyer, Owiyo

International jazz artistes Steve Dyer and Suzanna Owiyo are expected in the country ahead of the Spar Solo Fest slotted in for this weekend at Pakare Paye Arts Centre.
The two internationally acclaimed artistes are set to share the stage at the solo festival, which features a line-up of up to 20 artistes, which includes the likes of Chiwoniso Maraire, Alexio Kawara, Munya Mataruse, Sulumani Chimbetu and many others, who are expected to make the event a worthwhile one.
Dyer remains one of the most prolific jazz artistes in the world bringing out that unique jazz vibe fused with afro-pop.
He plays the saxophone, flute and guitar and sings too.
Suzanna Owiyo, on the other hand, is an artiste of repute with three albums to her name, the latest being entitled "Roots" which features Oliver Mtukudzi and Mbilia Bel from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In December 2004, the Kenyan crooner sang at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, where she performed the song "Imagine" with artistes such as Cyndi Lauper, Andrea Boceli Chris Botti and Patti Labelle
She was nominated for the Best Kenyan Female Artiste category at the prestigious Pearl of Africa Music Awards in 2007. The brainchild of iconic superstar Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, the solo festival is now in its fifth year and has grown from strength to strength over the years.
This year's edition will witness a workshop and performances by secondary school pupils on today with the main acts taking to the stage tomorrow.
The performers include musicians, poets, dancers, instrumentalists, dramatists, comedians, storytellers and more.(allafrica.com)

ZIMBABWE: Jazz diva to launch new album

AFRO-jazz artiste, Clare Nyakujara will next week launch an album titled Unleashed at the Spanish Embassy Cultural Centre.

The young composer and musician who has impressed audiences with her talent and personality has participated as special guest in various initiatives of the Spanish embassy. November 30 would be her celebration day as she unleashes the new album.
“Her new album, Unleashed, is aptly named as it coincides with her musical journey of self-discovery and transformation. The album reveals an authentic, fresh new sound and energy, and for those fans of the Afro-jazz genre, this is an album not to be missed,” said Spanish Embassy cultural attachee, Marina Garcia.

The eight-track album features tracks like Zvandawona, Ndiwe and Come Along among others and also includes a bonus remix of Haudi Nei, the title track of her first album.

Garcia said Nyakujara’s first album had enjoyed fair airplay and this time she was returning with a more defining musical experience through her second offering.

Nyakujara said her latest album was a combination of exposure to a lot of different musical influences and hard work.
“My music is inspired by my pain, my happiness, motherhood, real life experiences that other people can relate to,” said Nyakujara.
She said with Unleashed her idea was to take her music to another level as she had discovered what she loved and was willing to do it the best way she could.

“The release of her first album opened doors for her as she was invited to participate at the Shanghai Expo 2010 and Pakare Paye Annual Solo Festival.
“This year she took part at the Harare International Festival of the Arts and the annual Jazz Festival,” said Garcia.

Nyakujara began writing her own songs in 2006 and has been playing at gigs in bars, restaurants and hotels around Harare.

Garcia said she embraced a perfect cross-cultural mix, blending beautiful melodies with a fusion of several other musical contents, especially jazz.
She has performed at the Book Café with the band The Other Four, and in some of these performances she has shared the stage with Zimbabwe’s finest musicians, including Oliver Mtukudzi.

Tinashe Sibanda

Zimbabwe: Dudu Manhenga Thrills UNWTO Delegates

Gyeongju — Zimbabwean born Afro-Jazz artiste Dudu Manhenga put up a splendid and spirited performance that thrilled delegates during the recently held Victoria Falls Night jointly organised by Zimbabwe and Zambia on the sidelines of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly being held in the city of Gyeongju in Korea.
 The over-subscribed but glamourous event held at the upmarket Hilton Hotel, was graced by high profile world dignitaries and delegates to the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly who included the deputy secretary general of the United Nations Asha-Rose Migiro and the secretary general of the UNWTO Dr Taleb Rifai among others. Read more

WORLD JAZZ FLASH / September 24, 2011

Italian quartet set for Jazz Festival
INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed Italian jazz outfit, the Tinissima Quartet is billed to perform at this year's edition of the October International Jazz Festival. The Italian Embassy-organised festival is set to take place in Harare from October 7 -16The group will perform only one concert in Zimbabwe after which they travel to other countries in the region. The group’s performance will feature their critically acclaimed works which include X (suite for Malcolm) inspired by the life and work of the American civil rights activist Malcolm X.


KSPR: Community Closeup Jazz Festival
The Missouri State University jazz studies program is co-sponsoring the 2nd annual Springfield Jazz Festival Sept. 23-24. The weekend festival will feature local, regional and international jazz artists as well as an art competition for high school.


Jazz review: Sonny Rollins at Royce Hall
Although Rollins' 90-minute set may not have been marked by the same sort of improvisational swinging-for-the-fences that can characterize many players who came up since the avant-garde era, what it delivered was a showcase for one of the titans of the music to flex his ongoing dedication to an unfettered exploration of melody, invention and time.

Fall ushers in season of festivals from Daytona to DeLand to New Smyrna
The 11th Annual New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival continues today through Sunday, with more than 20 bands and artists performing in numerous venues, most on or near Flagler Avenue or Third Avenue. Performances are free. For more information on the festival, call 386-423-9760 or visit newsmyrnabeachjazzfestival.com.


Third Newton Jazz Festival Takes Stage Saturday

Performers Saturday include:

• The Leo Colon Latin Jazz Group (noon)
• Nathan Aronow NEXTET (1 p.m.)
• The Joe McMahon Trio (2 p.m.)
• It's a Two-Tenor Battle with The Rusty Scott Organ Group (4 p.m.).
• (Vocalist Patrice Williamson had been scheduled to perform but had to cancel due to a family emergency.)

Newport Festivals Foundation Announces 2012 Dates for Folk & Jazz Festivals
George Wein, Chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc., is pleased to announce the dates of the 2012 Folk and Jazz festivals in Newport, RI. The Newport Folk Festival will be held July 28 – 29 and the Newport Jazz Festival is set for August 3 


HBO special highlights Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival
"With this premiere, we once again show our commitment to the region by producing and investing in Jamaica," said Miguel Angel Oliva, vice-president of public relations and corporate affairs for HBO Latin America Group.The One Love: Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2011 special was a collaborative effort between Flow, HBO, and the Ministry of Tourism.

WORLD JAZZ FLASH / September 23, 2011

Gospel songstress Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave makes an appearance at the Ladies in Jazz Festival on Sunday night. The festival, which started last night, ends on Saturday at Jazz 105.
Organiser of the festival Josh Hozheri confirmed Zvakavapano-Mashavave’s participation at the festival and said they had been negotiating for some time, but they had finally come to an agreement.

Jazz Festival spotlights Canadian talent
PORT HOPE — The All Canadian Jazz Festival made its name with diverse and talented homegrown performers.The 10th annual lineup comes to Port Hope this weekend, kicking off with a free Friday-night party in Memorial Park showcasing the Downchild Blues Band from 6:30 to 10 p.m.Saturday morning brings the Blow Your Own Horn jazz parade at 11:15 a.m., starting and Pine and Walton streets, then going down Walton to turn right at Queen and arrive in Memorial Park.

Santa Clarita Jazz Festival
By Jim Walker Escape Editor If you've been craving some great jazz music and wishing you didn't have to drive out of the SCV to hear it, your longings will be satisfied. Jazz is back! The Santa Clarita Jazz Festival comes to the Valencia Country Club

ALL ABOUT JAZZ NEWS
CD/DOWNLOAD/ALBUM: UK Composer Marvin Ayres Celebrates New Release "Harmogram Suite"

Seeing music: Art contest celebrates diversity in jazz

Ramsey Lewis Releases 80th Recording

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe: All-Female Jazz Fête!

An outstanding line-up featuring some of Zimbabwe's female jazz connoisseurs will grace the stage during the Ladies 'n' Jazz concert to be held in Harare in two weeks' time.

It will be a unique package designed for our female jazz sisters who will showcase their talent to jazz lovers from Harare and its environs.

 Long known to have been supportive of their male colleagues in the music sector, this time around the ladies will hold their own when they take on the flute, blow the saxophones and jazz it up with their mellow lyrics in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Some of the artistes expected to take part in the three-day event include Rute Mbangwa, M-Net Project Fame finalist Kudzai Sevenzo, Dudu Manhenga, Jean Masters, Selmor Mtukudzi, Edith Weutonga, Diana Samkange, Sister Kessia Claire Nyakujara and Sister Pamela and Jabavu Drive.

Show organiser Josh Hozheri said the festival was meant to showcase the ingenuity among female artistes who continue to remain in the background, despite their immense talent.

"We are saying the ladies are just as good and can even hold a three-day event on their own. We want them to have as much floor as possible to really express themselves while entertaining their fans," he said.

Most of the artistes who will take part in the jazz fete are not new in the entertainment sector.
 Take Dudu, for instance, the lady has toured the width and breadth of the continent and remains a force to reckon with in the entertainment sector.

She was in Italy recently, where she wowed the crowds and will next week join Mozambique's marabenta jazz 'living legend' Mingas and South African superstar Judith Sephuma for joint performances at the month-long Arts Alive festival in Johannesburg.
Edith does more than just sing, she tells stories in song.
Whether she's crooning jazz standards or modern original compositions she delights listeners with her velvety voice and engaging delivery.
On the other hand, Sevenzo is a vocalist with a warm voice that is quite extraordinary and thoroughly captivating.
She made a name for herself with the song "I Don't Know Why" and accompanies herself with a simple elegance and sweetness, while maintaining a deep and thrilling stage presence.
It would be good to see how Jean, who is still to find her feet in the industry, holds her own, among some of the established names in the game.
I have no doubt that some of the established artistes will be in for a surprise, when the petite crooner jams some of the songs from her new album, "Africa".
Some of the songs to look forward to are "Chipo Changu" featuring Suluman Chimbetu and Valour and the track "Nherera", which also features renowned saxophonist Philip Svosve.
Known for her wit and easy going manner on stage, she is certainly set to rock the crowd in a big way.
Jean has got clarity, passion and an exciting way of moving audiences.
SOURCE

Zimbabwe/Italy: All that jazz: A glimpse of Zim-Italy cultural relations

Zimbabwean jazz songstress Dudu Manhenga recently concluded her maiden tour of Italy.

The three week tour was very successful and NewsDay correspondent Munya Simango (ND) took some time for a conversation with the Italian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Stefano Moscatelli (SM) about the tour and the cultural interaction between Italy and Zimbabwe.

ND: Your Excellency, thank you for your time, what role did the Italian Embassy play to make this tour possible?

SM: The Embassy facilitated contacts between Dudu and Italian musicians and producers. As some of them had already worked with her, they were well aware of her great artistic talent and realising her attraction to the Italian public, they organised this tour for her. I must mention that Dudu has always generously given of her time and artistic collaboration when the Embassy organises concerts and being such a great friend of Italy meant that sooner or later she would naturally have to tour Italy.

ND: Are there going to be tours for other Zimbabwean artists in the future?

SM: Should the opportunity arise again, of course. One of the main tasks of a diplomatic mission is the organisation of events aimed at promoting the culture of the country but this does not mean only the culture of that country in the host country. Cultural exchange is only successful when it works both ways, in other words, Italian art in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean art in Italy.

ND: How has the Italian Government supported the arts in Zimbabwe?

SM: Every year Italy brings a certain number of artists, particularly musicians, to Zimbabwe to take part in Hifa, the Harare Jazz Festival and the Italian Jazz Festival. During their time in the country they also hold seminars and workshops for the benefit of local school children as well as the Zimbabwe College of Music. Our artists often perform with local well known celebrities like Oliver Mtukudzi and others.
It is also worth mentioning that this year the Embassy worked closely with the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture in support of Zimbabwe’s candidature to the Venice Biennial Exhibition and, having achieved the result, we are proud of the fact that for the first time, Zimbabwe was present at the event with its own stand.
Futhermore, earlier this year, in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Unity of Italy, the Embassy organised a classical music concert which combined the world — renowned talents of Zimbabwean concert pianist Manuel Bagorro with those of Italian flautist Francesca Canali. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe was specifically chosen as the venue for the concert for its natural acoustics but more especially in order to showcase its collection of art by Italian masters.

ND: What other initiatives are planned for the future?

SM: We are currently planning the Italian Jazz Festival in October, which has now become a regular date, with new artists and new sponsors. We are also already working on next year’s Hifa programme with the aim of attracting even bigger names from Italy. We have a few well known performers in mind but it might be too early to talk about them. It will, in any case, be a surprise.

ND: What has been your experience with the arts sector in Zimbabwe?

SM: The experiences of the past five years have made it very apparent that there is talent in Zimbabwe and any artist needs the opportunity to express his or her artistic abilities, be they musical, sculptural or figurative, in different environments. As a country with very close ties to the world of the arts, Italy is always keen to promote local traditions and often, particularly in the case of Zimbabwe and thanks to the support of the business world, these artists even have the opportunity to benefit from international exposure.

ND: Your Excellency, thank you once again for your time and for your facilitation of meaningful cultural exchange between Italy and Zimbabwe.

ZIMBABWE: Soweto String Quartet Line Up Family Concert

LISTENING to jazz and classical music that is punctuated with drum and dance rhythms in a plush garden on a Saturday afternoon makes for a refreshing experience.

Tomorrow afternoon Raintree Gardens in Umwinsdale will present such a unique experience when South Africa's Soweto String Quartet teams up with local acts of Dudu Manhenga, Jazz Invitation, Drum Café and Essence of Women in a family concert.

With their violins, viola and cello Soweto String Quartet always serenade audiences with classical tunes that exude legendary expertise.

Manhenga is known for her soothing jazz tunes that have endeared her with music lovers in the country and abroad.

Fresh from a tour of Italy, Manhenga is likely to be rejuvenated to lead her Color Blue through a spirited performance.

Also presenting a jazz act will be Jazz Invitation, a group that boasts wealthy vocal and instrument experience. Jazz Invitation has a reputation of sending audiences to dance with sober-but-danceable tunes. They spice their original compositions with copyrights from various local and international music greats.

The event will have a traditional African feel courtesy of Drum Café Zimbabwe, an ensemble of drummers that will present various rhythms and showcase their skills with drums from different parts of Africa.

The Drum Cafe concept is a unique hands-on application of African drums and percussion that not only entertains but energises the audience. It was launched in Zimbabwe recently.

It will also be an afternoon of dance as an assemblage of female dancers known as Essence of Women will also take to the stage. Their thrilling fusion of traditional and contemporary dances has left people asking for more at various occasions.

The dance troupe has a mission to promote and encourage dance amongst women of all cultures here in Zimbabwe, and to provide a platform for young choreographers to showcase their work.

Through the leadership of Soukaina Edom they aim to express the universal spirit of womanhood.

Raintree Gardens' executive director Tenjiwe Mutiti said the show would be a great opportunity for families to socialise and have fun in an exciting environment.

"The gardens present a refreshing environment and the music will complement such a setting, giving audience a refreshing afternoon," she said.

Godwin Muzari 

Mega line-up for Zimbabwe Winter Jazz Festival

The organizer, Josh Hozheri, said long time Jazz gurus Cool Crooners, Oliver Mtukudzi and Mbare Trio are expected to perform at the popular annual festival.
Other names in the line-up are Sulumani Chimbetu, Dino Mudondo, Victor Kunonga, Jeys Marabini and many others will take turns to entertain music lovers for five days.
Source: The Zimbabwean