The closing ceremony today will witness two venues hosting several artists set to wrap up the festival. Sulumani Chimbetu will take on the Summer Breeze and Jabavu Drive at Ochi City while Dino Mudondo and Jah Prayzah are set to perform at Jazz 105.
This year’s edition of the festival was running under the theme “Celebrating our own Jazz”.
The end of the festival paves way for preparations of yet another jazz event called Summer International Jazz Festival that will have its debut edition in September.
For the past three days Jazz 105 has been a hive of activity that began with the launch show that took place on Thursday. The opening show was a colourful event that was attended by people from all walks of life including notable figures like the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu, who is also the patron of Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, business mogul Phillip Chiyangwa and former Health minister Dr David Parirenyatwa.
Jeys Marabini had a bright start to the festival when he received a new guitar courtesy of a jazz fan, Ralph Chifokoyo who also bought a similar guitar for Prince Edward Jazz Band last year.
Granddads of jazz Mbare Trio thrilled audiences with their polished act that saw many getting on the dance floor.
Diana Samukange, who is fast maturing from a mere urban grooves artist into a notable jazz diva, gave a sterling act. She opened with a showcase of her mbira playing skills as she did folk song Nhema Musasa. With her youthful band all dressed in white, the musician showed other jazz musicians that she has the potential to match any levels in the genre.
Jazz Invitation capped the programme with a polished performance that spilled into the early hours of Friday.
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Festival organiser Josh Hozheri defended the inclusion of musicians from other genres in the festival: “We want jazz to live forever and we all know that the future lies in the youths, so we have to introduce them to the genre so that they begin appreciating it. The only way to do so is to juxtapose jazz artists with those non-jazz musicians that appeal to a wider audience,” said Hozheri.
