Jazz music-starved fans in Bulawayo will have something to smile about as legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi headlines the Spring Feelings Jazz and Dinner concert in the city next month.
By Sindiso Dube
The event, to be held on September 7, will also feature South Africa-based jazz muso Sibonginkosi Tshabalala, better known as Mr Prince, and Bekezela Nkomo.
Local promoters Big Scale Entertainment are organising the concert to be held at the Large City Hall, with advance ticket sales starting this week at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel.
Big Scale Entretainment spokesperson Kefron Ndlovu said they had engaged more performers who they would make public soon.
“We have finalised talks with Tuku, Bekezela and Mr Prince. We will be announcing the names of other artistes who will take part,” Ndlovu said.
“We have a good line-up and all is set for the show.”
Local jazz devotees have been starved of the genre with many promoters opting for other beats like kwaito and dancehall artistes.
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“Jazz has suffered a lot in Bulawayo. We have no specific joint that is confined to jazz music and that’s why we are bringing this mature feeling to Bulawayo,” Ndlovu said.
“We will also have a dinner setting aimed at reaching out to the top-end lovers of jazz to ensure a spacious, relaxed, safe environment for them.
“It’s a new concept that has not really been explored in Bulawayo, but we are certain there are mature fans who would really love that setting as it presents a different environment for revellers.”
Tuku, who last week became the first non-South African to win the Oppikoppi Music Festival Heavyweight Legend Award, needs no introduction to Bulwayo fans as he has given five-star acts whenever he performs in the city. He is expected to perform songs from the old tracks and his latest offering Hany’ga (Concern). There are chances that the music superstar will sample songs from his forthcoming project titled Abiyangu, a compilation album featuring local and foreign musicians.
On the other hand, Mr Prince is also expected to perform tracks from his latest album Mixed Feelings, which he launched recently in South Africa.
Mr Prince was born in Mawabeni village, Umzingwane in Matabeleand South province, where his musical journey started. He led church music groups at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, but his love for musical instruments led him to join the Flaming Souls Band at the Apostolic Faith Mission Church, joining his friend Goodwill Dlamini, who now plays the lead guitar for South African diva Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
In 2005, Mr Prince moved to South Africa where he teamed up with Dlamini and joined ex-jazz Impacto bassist Robert Zimba to form a group called Africa Life.
Both Dlamini and Zimba have since left the group, leaving Mr Prince fronting it, backed by instrumentalists from Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
The popularity and unique appeal of the group saw them performing at Mohlakeng Stadium during the 2010 World Cup.
Their debut album titled Ngilamulela, which was released four years ago, is a fusion of western and African music, creating a rare sound that has a wide appeal to both cultures.
Mr Prince has worked with Nigerian guitarist Kunle Ayo on some of his albums. He has written and produced well over 50 songs, which mostly reflect on his life journey in the African Diaspora.
Spurred and inspired by legendary musicians such as Mtukudzi, Lovemore Majaivana and the late Freedom Sengwayo, Mr Prince says he is bound for greater heights on the international and African music scene.
Nkomo is riding high with his self-titled hit single Bekezela, which was recently crowned Song of the Year at the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards in May. He is also expected to belt out new and upcoming songs.
