THE International Jazz Day is commemorated on April 30 every year since 2011.
April has been designated as Jazz Appreciation Month, in which people have a good time commemorating the diversity of the genre.
Jazz music in Zimbabwe is one such style that has grown through cultural nurturing and assimilating established prominent Western and African jazzers.
The pioneers of Zimbabwean jazz include, and are not limited to, August Musarurwa, whose timeless hit was rerecorded by the likes of Louis Armstrong and Hugh Masekela.
Dorothy Masuka, Prince Kudakwashe Musarurwa, Oliver Mtukudzi, Victor Kunonga, Tanga Wekwa Sando, Louis Mhlanga, Edith Weutonga, The Cool Crooners, Jazz Impacto, Jabavu Drive and Summer Breeze make the partial list of the Hall of Fame for Zimbabwean jazz.
The list continues to grow as schools and colleges take Jazz music as an integral part of their teaching and learning.
Elsewhere in the world, Jazz Appreciation Month has grown big over the years and this year, the biggest celebration is expected in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
An all-star concert featuring artistes like Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater and John McLaughlin will spotlight Jazz Month on April 30.
- International Jazz Day to reignite Zim’s fading jazz flame
- Jazz club celebrates sixth anniversary
- Visual artist Phiri exposes his love for jazz
- Chipanga breaks silence over Uhuru gala line-up exclusion
Keep Reading
The Jazzy Uhuru Gala
On April 18, the likes of Sulumani Chimbetu, Sandra Ndebele, Chief Hwenje and others set alight Gokwe, Nembudziya district with their music and dance. The gala portrayed the unity in diversity of Zimbabweans as they celebrated 45 years of independence from colonial rule.
Despite the heavy rains that pounded the area, the commemorations were a resounding success. Zimbabwe Independence Day celebrations involve a mix of traditional festivities, cultural performances and symbolic events aimed at commemorating the nation's liberation from colonial rule. The celebrations were characterised by the waving of the Zimbabwean flag, patriotic songs and speeches emphasising national unity and progress.
Schools and colleges
Zimbabwe College of Music, an affiliate of Africa University, runs a Bachelor's of Arts degree in jazz and Music Crossroads Academy offers certificates and diplomas in professional music.
The Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University and Africa University have a resilient musical culture and offer degree programmes in music, including a jazz component. Schools like the Watershed College, Prince Edward, Peterhouse, George's College and St John's College, among others, are traditional rivals for becoming the adjudicator's favourite during the annual Eisteddfod Jazz Music Competitions.
The Eisteddfod Jazz Music Competitions are annually held at the Prince Edward School in Harare. Consequently, Prince Edward School was named the Best School for promoting arts and culture during the 23rd edition of the National Arts Merit Awards.
Jimmy Dludlu, Josh Meck and Trust Samende
On April 11, the three prolific guitarists, South African Jimmy Dhludlu, Josh Meck and Trust Samende brought light moments to the Alliance Francaise in Harare. The show was again a great, enchanting moment after the well-attended French Film Festival, which had several music shows by local and international artistes.
Concertino ace O’Rourke and Kusandira Pamwe collaboration
Irish musicologist and concertino ace Jason O’Rourke was at his best as he belted out traditional melodies and his compositions in a performance done during his two-week collaboration residency for music composition and performance with Music Crossroads Academy in Zimbabwe, students and alumni at their premises in Belvedere.
O’Rourke provided the opening act with an instrumental solo of the song Reels as the quintet, made up of Fungai Tanyaradzwa, Blessing Chinogaramombe, Chiedza Melody Weeler, Panashe Mujuru, Polite Tanaka Mwanangeni and Washington Bungu, joined the stage for the highly dynamic and melodious song Air.
From there on, a partially filled Prince Edward School Music and Computer Centre got active in dance and sing-along songs like Shandira Pamwe, Dande, Nehondo, Slides, Ichanaya, Mugarandega and Polkas.
Filbert Marova matures on his Mbiriano Style
Music teacher, prolific pianist and director of the Zimbabwe Jazz Community has music albums like Kariba Bream, Nyanga Trout, Hard Hat Area and Zim Jazz Chapter One to his credit. He recently released a new album, Mbiriano, which is set to cause another jazz craze after his well-known set pieces such as My Children, Free Fall and Chamunorwa.
Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana
Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, director of Music Crossroads in Zimbabwe, was at her best as she performed at a private function in Chisipite, Harare. She is planning a Kenyan tour where she is expected to make presentations of her latest jazz compositions, including known hits such as Baba vaBoy, Stronger, Anenge, Dzidza, Joy and Emancipation.
Fusion 5 Mangwiro samples the Jazzy Marunje beginning this April
Afro-fusion band Fusion 5 Mangwiro will soon be releasing its second music album titled Marunje in phases, with one single track at a time, ahead of the grand finale album launch sometime in September. Band spokesperson and vocalist Brian Maguta said the album Marunje has songs like Zuva, Mvura, Amai, Sesedzo, Marunje, Harare and Nguruve Yemusango, which is a blend of prominent music forms and traditions from Zimbabwe, Africa and China. Fusion 5 Mangwiro, which is made up of Brian Maguta, Aaron Manyati and Gilbert Gwatidzo, sings in English, Shona, Mandarin and is at times backed by the Those Boys Vacho Band, especially when they are performing to a bigger audience.
During the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama), Fusion Five 5 Mangwiro was the pacesetter for providing a well-arranged performance that became a strong gossip for some time.
For yet another amazing opportunity, Fusion 5 Mangwiro and its backing partner, Those Boys Vacho Band, performed a brilliant five-hour act which had songs from their two albums, Mixed Feelings and Marunje at Gava’s Restaurant in Harare.
The show took off with testers of slow and soft Afro-fusion instrumentals and as the audience got absorbed while all the performers came to the stage one by one to build a much stronger and tighter music that took the audience to a sundown.
Aggabu Nyabinde and 2 Nice Band
Aggabu Nyabinde is one of the most consistent jazz entertainers in April, and he performs his originals and cover versions of his father, Bob and his idol, the late Oliver Mtukudzi.
Phillip Svosve Lifetime Achievement (Jabavu Drive)
Phillip Svosve has one of the longest histories in jazz cycles. The most consistent entertainer, who walks his talk, when it comes to entertainment. Svosve was named the Long Time Achievement winner at the 23rd edition of Nama.
