For the Jazz enthusiasts, I have some good news for you. The Safaricom Jazz Lounge is back and will be going down on 5th of November at Uhuru Gardens. This time around, the leading acts will be Roberto Fonseca an admired Cuban pianist and Fatoumata Diawara from Mali.
Fonseca started off his career at a very young age making his debut at the Havana International Jazz Festival at only 15 years back in 1990. Fonseca is an ingenious composer and draws from a wide range musical traditions and genres. Some of the projects that he has released include ‘Zamazu and ‘Akokan’ and in 2015 he collaborated with Diawara to release their album “At Home (Live in Marciac) to rave reviews. Shamsi Music, the prolific Kenyan afro-jazz band will be at hand to open the show and they promise to thoroughly entertain fans with a lively performance.
When the Fonseca and Fatoumata arrive in the country, they will take some time to the Ghetto Classics music programme at their base in Korogocho. Ghetto Classics is funded by proceeds from Safaricom Jazz, and has since its launch in 2008 benefited close to 1000 youth from underprivileged backgrounds, with over 650 pre-teens and teens currently receiving music lessons each week.
Tickets to the event are available at select Safaricom shops, the Michael Joseph Centre and via M-Ticketing by dialling 1511.