Expect fireworks at jazz festival—artists

Jazz enthusiasts at this weekend’s jazz festival should expect nothing but fireworks, organisers have said.

One of the organisers, renowned jazz maestro Owen Mbilizi said everything is set for of this year’s Lilongwe Jazz Festival scheduled for August 30 to 31 at Lilongwe Golf Club in the capital city.

He said his band has been rehearsing for the past two weeks ahead of the concert. Mbilizi said his new album titled Take It Back will be launched during the festival.

“The album has 12 songs on it. It is a blend of soulful grooves mixed with jazz, blues, ska and African rhythms,” he said.

Another artist scheduled to perform at the festival Rick Deja said he looks forward to the event.

“I have been looking forward to this since it started last year but I failed to make it. I am looking forward to playing with and hearing all the great acts from within Malawi and some other artists from neighbouring countries,” he said.

Commenting on the development of jazz music in Malawi, Deja said the genre has been growing in the past 10 years.

Another group that will perform at the festival is the Kasungu-based Kamuzu Academy Orchestra.

The 50-member orchestra is one of the headliners at the festival.

The group’s director of music Donald Kaluwile said in an interview yesterday all is set for the jazz jamboree as his youthful charges have been rehearsing in preparation for the concert.

He said: “Our audience should expect nothing but fireworks. 

“We are all set to add interesting musical colours to this jazz festival which I’m sure, will be memorable.”

Kaluwile said he was certain that the audience will fall in love with the beautiful melodies by the youthful orchestra.

Other artists to perform at the event are Erik Paliani, Spare Fingers, Lulu and Find Cond and 20 other local and international acts.