WINDHOEK– The City seems to be infected by a jazz fever as festival goers and Jazz lovers gears up for the most anticipated event of the year on the Namibian entertainment calendar, the Windhoek Jazz Festival, tomorrow.
The Jazz bug does not seem to be affecting local jazz lovers only but local musicians who will be performing at the festival are equally excited and cannot wait for tomorrow to come. “We look forward to the festival because this show will feature some of the great jazz artists. Such events only happen ones in Windhoek and I will not miss it for anything,” says Sheya Conrad, a Jazz fan. Carlos Bruin, says she can’t wait for to see what this year’s artists will offer. “I want to see if they will deliver. This is just not ordinary musicians, these are artists who know and enjoy what they do, so that is more than enough reason for me to attend this,” Bruin excites.
“This event is just better than any other event in Windhoek because it has more local artist than international artists and that’s why it interest me. Hope there will be no disappointments and I hope it turn out to be better than previous ones,” another Jazz lover, Jesaja Nikanor, anticipates. “The Windhoek Jazz Festival puts Windhoek on the map of international calendar events and my name this year goes with it. That makes me happy. The festival draws a very different crowd that is serious and knows their music and I would like to share my music with such a crowd because these are music lovers that know how to value music. I am inviting all my fans and all music lovers to follow me to the Windhoek Jazz Festival, one more time,” invites local musician Ben Kandukira aka Big Ben. Local artist, Shishani Vranckx, shares her eagerness to be on stage with her half-brother, Ernst Vranckx, for the first time, saying she is looking forward to what other artists will deliver. “I’ll be performing with my half-brother who is a renowned jazz pianist/composer from Belgium. It’s the first time we will be performing together in Namibia, since his last visited Namibia 23 years ago. I’m eager to present my songs, which are mainly Soul-oriented, with a jazz approach. It’s gonna be a pure acoustic and minimal set-up. Of course I’m also very keen to see all the lovely performers at the festival and taste the spirit of it all,” says Shishani.
International and local artists will be entertaining the Jazz fans, tomorrow evening at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
The international artists to grace the stage this year, amongst others, is South African Freshly Ground among other roomed for co-performing the official 2010 World Cup song, Waka Waka- This Time For Africa. Mali’s celebrated Afro-Pop singer and songwriter, Salif Keita, is also among international artists headlining the Jazz festival. Other local artists are Erna Chimu, well-known for her fusion of afro-jazz filled with deep, mellow tones and a surprising burst of energy; Mr. Bones known for his first album in 2007 titled Tula Tula.
Local upcoming act, Essence, is also in the Jazzy fray. Uncle who started making full time music in 2004, and worked with various local artists in the music industry is also in the musical jamboree.
Gates of the Dr Hage Stadium open from 16h00. Tickets to the festival are available at Computicket outlets countrywide for N$250 in advance and no tickets will be sold at the gates.
By Selma Neshiko