Jazz lovers are up for a treat as Safaricom brings one of Africa’s most celebrated guitarist to town in a build up to next year’s Safaricom Jazz festival. Kunle Ayo, whose full name is Adekunle Ayodeji Odutayo, will entertain fans at the Carnivore restaurant on the 4th of September backed up by Kenya’s Kavutha and Jacob Asiyo. The inaugural Safaricom International Jazz Festival was headlined by one of Africa’s Jazz great, Cameroonian Jazz Bassist and musician Richard Bona in late February this year and the next one is set to be even bigger.
Kunle has been based in ‘South Africa for over 10 years and gained comparisons to giants of the contemporary school like George Benson, Earl Klugh and locally based Jimmy Dludlu. His sound does draw similarities to Richard Bona and Jimmy Dludlu whom he has shared a stage with in various Jazz Festivals.
He started out with the drums and thumb piano before graduating to the guitar at the tender age of 20. By age 28 Kunle was recording and playing with some of Nigeria’s internationally respected artists, including Chief Ebenezer Obey, Kayode Olajide and the enigmatic Lagbaja.
With 5 albums to his name and the 6th set for release later this year, there will be a lot of jazz on offer for fans who make their way to his show. He’s participated in several jazz festivals, such as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz International festival, the Cape Town International Jazz festival, Mapungubwe Jazz Festival in Limpopo, among many others.
He celebrated his 10 year anniversary on stage in South Africa on 4th May, 2012 and had Zimbabwean legend Oliver Mtukudzi performing as the guest artists. The same year he released his gospel project named Jazzin up His praise Volume 1 in the Gathering of Champions which took place at the Excel Centre in London and is due for release in South Africa later this year.
On Saturday the 29th of March 2014 he made London stand still for his live in London Concert and DVD recording. Who say he can’t bring the same to Kenya’s capital?