ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

For the genre that is undoubtedly not as popular as hip hop, Rnb or rock, in Uganda it was surprising to find the Victoria Ballroom as Serena Hotel filled with fans on Ocotber 8 for the MTN Jazz Safari. By 8p.m., the weather which had started off as a little windy had quickly changed to chilling rain but this did not stop the crowd from pouring in and cheering to music by Eric Marienthal, Oscar Seaton, Matt Cooper, and Chuck Loeb, together with Uganda’s Black Roots Unlimited all stars. Jazz in Uganda was once described by an ardent fan as the “unappreciated music that fills the few hours on radio stations before the top of the hour or before a news bulletin.” His supporting argument was the fact that while Uganda’s music industry is growing, many people still think of only Isaiah Katumwa when talking local jazz. There have been many concerts by various local and international artistes while jazz is played in few (usually expensive) bars and hotels and on selected days and the radio air play allocated to jazz is usually one or two hours a week and not with every station. With that in mind one would have expected a smaller crowd or a certain group concentration but there were just as many if not more younger people than the expected middle-older aged group. The full house was packed with energy especially when Eric took a solo with the guitar or Oscar proved why even Lionel Richie needed him as a drummer. It was a different tune to that of last December when the group had performed to a much smaller audience in the Ange-Noir parking lot. Steven Oundo best known for his Spanish guitar skills in 2008 Tusker Project Fame had the crowd roaring in appreciation to his vocal skills and Pragmo yet again proved that people who had named him as Uganda’s future in Jazz music were not wrong. It was bass guitarist Tshaka Mayanja however who was the man of the night celebrating 20 years of his music career. With proud parents Mayanja Nkanji and wife, in the audience, he was credited for his role in the evolution of music in Uganda. As part of the organisers who brought UB-40 and also the man behind the first MTN Jazz safari, the reggae cum jazz artiste is one of Uganda’s earliest reggae voices and the one who popularised the genre of music. With his Midas music touch, the show was a success like he promised. Tshaka together with Eric Marienthal, Oscar Seaton, Matt Cooper, and Chuck Loeb launched the Jazz in school project on October 6 working hand in hand with Kampala Music School. The project is aimed at promoting jazz and exposing children to the kind of genre. Tshaka who has more spirit than fund for the project said that they were launching it in hope that other people would come on board and hopefully after the number of people that showed up jazz will no longer be so far behind in the countries music industry.

Other Stories - 20/10/2009