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Kenyan talent to curtain raise Safaricom Jazz Lounge


Edward Parseen & The Different Faces Band, and AfroSync, are expected to perform alongside internationally acclaimed artists at the Safaricom Jazz Lounge on 3rd and 5th December in Nairobi and Mombasa respectively.

The two bands were unveiled during the Safaricom Night of Kenyan Jazz at the Michael Joseph Centre to kick off a round of events that will take place before the main Safaricom International Jazz Festival set for February 2016.

Speaking during the event Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore was enthusiastic about the ability of the two groups to hold their own alongside the jazz greats, saying the Safaricom Jazz Lounge was created to celebrate local talent.

“Since we launched the Safaricom International Jazz Festival in 2014 we’ve seen an overwhelming desire for events that celebrate our own local jazz talent, and that give our entertainers a chance to perform alongside some of the great international music legends of our time,” said Mr Collymore.

Joining the two curtain raisers on stage will be Sahili Family, a Christian band that performs smooth Jazz and Blues, Fyuz’d Band, a quartet that specializes in Acid, Lounge and Contemporary Jazz, Shamsi Music and Scott the Violinist.

The bands were selected following auditions held at the Michael Joseph Centre earlier this year.

THE MAIN ACTS

Highly acclaimed Grammy Award winners Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown, multiple Grammy Award Nominee Gerald Albright, and fast rising jazz artist Shelea Frazier will be the main acts at the eagerly-awaited event.

The concert comes barely three months after music lovers were treated to a world class jazz and Afro-pop experience by African music legend Salif Keita, during the Safaricom Jazz Lounge held at the Bomas of Kenya, in August.

All proceeds from the Safaricom Jazz Lounge will go towards supporting Ghetto Classics, a music programme based in Korogocho Slums that seeks to provide an opportunity for children from underprivileged backgrounds to explore their musical talents.

Tickets for the event went on sale on Friday 20th November, and will be retailing at Sh 1, 500 for advance tickets, Sh 2, 000 at the gate and Sh 500 for students.

The tickets are available from selected Safaricom outlets (Sarit Centre, Thika Road Mall, Galleria Mall, Junction Mall, BuruBuru, Village Market, I&M and Nakumatt Mega in Nairobi, and Nyali and Rex Shop in Mombasa).