Jazz banquet comes to commercial city
By Sam Banda Jnr:
Renowned jazz musician Erik Paliani, who has rubbed shoulders with high-profile acts including South African great jazz artist Hugh Masekela, comes down to Blantyre this weekend alongside veteran star Owen Mbilizi to share jazz music in a pre-Lilongwe Jazz Festival event at Blantyre Sports Club.
It has been sometime since Erik performed in Blantyre. This is also the case with Mbilizi, who has been vibrant in Lilongwe, where he offers jazz concerts.
Paliani said he was excited to perform in Blantyre.
“We speak jazz, we talk jazz and we enjoy jazz; so, fasten your seat belts and let’s do jazz, for jazz is the in-thing in music,” Paliani said.
The artist, who this year performed in Israel, has established a studio in Mchinji District, where he records artists and teaches jazz music.
Having inaugurated the Lilongwe Jazz Festival at Lilongwe Golf Club last year, the festival is back this year and will take place at the same venue on August 30 to 31.
But, before the main event, organisers decided to hold warm-up shows, starting with Blantyre before moving to other places.
“We just want to call upon jazz lovers and all those who love good music to come and enjoy this show. We are ready,” Mbilizi said Thursday.
With Paliani and Mbilizi representing Lilongwe, Blantyre will be represented by TJ and Spare Fingers and Gresham Mokwena and trio.
“We have never experienced such a jazz gathering in Blantyre. There are performances but this is a warm-up for the Lilongwe Jazz Festival. One cannot afford to miss it,” Francis Mijiga, who stars for Spare Fingers, said.
The show will see people paying K4,000 for the performance. Those going for a three-course dinner and jazz show will part ways with K14,000.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
