Have you ever had a night out on a date without having a date? Well, that’s what I experienced last Friday at this impeccable music show. Jazz music was the mood of the Friday chilly evening at Hotel Africana on 27th October 2023 as corporates from several walks of life with their families gathered. Legendary Afrigo Band lead singer arrived at the scene at 17:30 hours surprisingly earlier than most guests and I had the chance to shake hands with him. His firm grip could reveal to me that age hasn’t changed much about his love for jazz and live band.
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Why the Nederburg Jazz Concert?
We got in touch with another saxophone player called Ceasor Kajura to find out more about the jazz event. “Jazz appeals to a particular type of people. Radio stations keep saying that instrumental music can’t be understood by most people in Uganda,” he revealed. This was in response to a question about why jazz music does not hit music charts in Uganda.
The Nederburg Jazz Concert kickstarted with some slow soul music presented by an entire orchestra band with classic lighting. Carla Ndege, a daughter to Hilder Ssentamu (the event organizer) told us about her love for jazz music for its sophistication. The main theme was the value of family which according to the host is breaking down in the modern world. He added that this is happening with both women and men gaining the ability to sustain themselves single-handedly. Last year’s focus was the issue of mental health at workplaces. You could tell how mesmerized the guests from different races were during the entire event from the look on their faces and the standing ovation.
Lights, Camera, Jazz Music
The official performances started at 8:00 PM with live funky music that put everyone in the right mood to relax; the pianos, flutes, saxophones, and trumpets harmonized quite unbelievably. Other performers were Melissa Rosemary from Rainbow International School, Happy Kyazze, Ceasor Kajura, Carla Kenyana, and finally Moses Matovu of Afrigo Band.
How Happy Kyazze Stole The Show
Notably, though, the most eye-catching performance was that by Happy Kyazze who played the saxophone so romantically that he walked a single woman onto the stage. He convinced her he was going to tell her sweet words, but instead played his saxophone with such an unspeakable melody and the guests were so amazed. This was the most exhilarating performance at the Nederburg Jazz Concert. The other outstanding moment was when 14-year-old Carla sang Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You so perfectly to the point of getting a standing ovation.
Afrigo Band Vibes Offered By Moses Matovu
Moses Matovu offered such a heartwarming performance that everyone in the room rose to sing or dance along. The Afrigo band maestro didn’t disappoint when he sang his three popular classic songs, Twali Twagalana, Silina Anantwala, and Muziki. It was such a thrilling experience according to most revellers. Pavel Rappo, one of the guests from abroad told us, “This is so wonderful, I just want to jump out of my skin after drinking this wine and hearing such impeccable music.”
Who else attended the Nederburg Jazz Concert?
The Nederburg Jazz Concert wound up with more performances from the above-mentioned. Some notable guests included Wonder JR, staff from Rainbow International School, and Nederburg wine officials. With such awe in the building, the event went on to as late as midnight. The event attained the most sponsorship via Nederburg Wine, CBS FM, and Rainbow International School.
