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Jazz Symphonic

  • Home
  • About
  • Review
    • Review

      Jack Muguna: Journey of the Soul

      April 20, 2021

      Review

      Geco Café: Slithering with good vibes in Nairobi

      February 18, 2021

      Review

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Review

      The Love Zone Thrills fans on Valentine’s Day

      February 21, 2020

      Review

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

  • Events
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      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

      May 4, 2022

      Events

      Beneath the Baobabs Live: A Kenyan live music…

      April 5, 2022

      Events

      Down memory lane: An Evening Remembering Whitney Houston

      December 2, 2021

      Events

      Nairobi Orchestra Returns! at Kenya National Theatre

      July 2, 2021

      Events

      An Evening Celebrating Stevie Wonder in Nairobi

      June 10, 2021

  • Artist Spotlight
    • Artist Spotlight

      Ngewa: Kasiva Mutua rhythmical tales on percussion

      April 26, 2022

      Artist Spotlight

      Herbie Tsoaeli Spiritual Dialogues: At This Point in…

      December 10, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      Sage Chemutai: Love is all we need

      April 26, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      Jack Muguna: Journey of the Soul

      April 20, 2021

      Artist Spotlight

      WYNTON MARSALIS interactive session with Kenyan artists: Mythology…

      November 26, 2020

  • Classical Music
    • Classical Music

      Nairobi Music Society and Nairobi Orchestra Love; Liberty…

      May 4, 2022

      Classical Music

      Nairobi Orchestra Returns! at Kenya National Theatre

      July 2, 2021

      Classical Music

      A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

      November 17, 2020

      Classical Music

      Beethoven 250 Years on, A Spirited awakening in…

      September 25, 2020

      Classical Music

      David Ralak: A visionary pioneering figure with great…

      June 16, 2020

  • Jazz
    • All Jazz Opinions Jazz Spotlight My Afro Jazz
      Artist Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a…

      March 19, 2020

      Jazz Opinions

      Experience Nairobi Horns Project Debut Album – Black…

      July 18, 2019

      Jazz Opinions

      Artists from the coast revolutionizing Nairobi’s Jazz scene

      April 9, 2019

      Jazz Opinions

      Jazz in Kenya: A beginner’s guide to artists…

      February 26, 2019

      Jazz Spotlight

      Pilani Bubu: Jazz Breaks Me Open. Songs from…

      April 29, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      How to work with producers in Kenya by…

      February 26, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      Shamsi Music Sophmore Album: Afrosynthesis

      February 6, 2020

      Jazz Spotlight

      ALBUM REVIEW: MAIA AND THE BIG SKY

      September 26, 2019

      My Afro Jazz

      Dan Aceda, Juma Tutu to Grace Ricky na…

      November 17, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      Eric Wainaina Thrills fans at An Evening of…

      August 31, 2015

      My Afro Jazz

      You can’t Miss An Evening Of Afro Jazz…

      August 20, 2015

Events

Kenyans to pay tribute to Hugh Masekela

by Maureen Shelmith January 26, 2018
written by Maureen Shelmith January 26, 2018

Celebrating Hugh Masekela

written by Mackinlay Mutsembi.

Legacies fascinate me. Legends even more.
I did not grow up listening to Hugh Masekela, but I was exposed to his music in the era of the internet when I decided to settle on the trumpet much later in my musical forays. But, for many years in my brass band days, he was the only famous African guy I knew playing trumpet – thanks to a magazine photo of his trademark poise with his flugel horn. However, my growth as a musician and a person, has led me to question more the reasons behind the things I do, and and it is this rise of consciousness that led to my discovery of Hugh Masekela, beyond the flugelhornist, to the voice behind the horn. His strong ideals, his outspoken opinions and his attitude towards life has been.

For his last performance in Nairobi, our crew The Nairobi Horns Project was on the tab for the night setting up the night for Hugh, and we had an hour’s interaction as a master class where he spoke, not one word about music, but rather about being African, and what that means to him. It is a message he articulated very clearly, and even through the stories and his music, his message for future generations on the place of Africa in the world – it was clear to see the warrior in Hugh. It was a real pleasure meeting him and chatting him backstage, and sharing just a but about trumpet embouchures and mouthpieces (he had like 5 minutes to get on set but he still had a little time for what he called a :”Trumpeters’ Greeting”).

Hugh Masekela and members of Nairobi Horns Project

Hugh Masekela and Members of Nairobi Horns Project Credits : courtesy

As a musician, Hugh played the horn with great economy; he spoke his musical messages in very few well thought out phrases, his lyricism and melody has come to define his sound and music, which has been easy for the world to relate to all over. He is a real stylist of what has now loosely become known as AfroJazz. His prolific recording career and work ethic (over 40 albums in 50 years means an album almost every year) is testament to his conviction to his work. Beyond all this, Hugh was a funny guy; keeping in the hip spirit of other great trumpeters, foremost on my mind is Dizzy Gillespie. Everyone has a funny story about Hugh.

Hugh Masekela Tribute event

We will be sharing his music and memories this coming Tuesday, 30th Jan at Nyama Mama with friends for this Jam session that you’re all welcome to pop by, sharing a stage with some of Nairobi’s musicians and friends.

Hugh Masekela Tribute event poster

Celebrating Hugh Masekela Credits: courtesy

The world is definitely quieter with Hugh Masekela departed. Rest in Power.

Mackinlay Mutsembi Playing his music next to a Hugh Masekela painting

Mackinlay Mutsembi Playing his music next to a Hugh Masekela painting

 

 

capital fm KenyaChris BittokDavid MuriithiHugh MasekelaJacob AsiyoMackinlay MutsembiNairobi Horns ProjectNyama MamaShamsi Musicsuzanna owiyoTim Riungu
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Maureen Shelmith

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2 comments

Israel January 27, 2018 - 8:43 AM

Love it 👍🏿👍🏿

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Maureen Shelmith January 27, 2018 - 8:48 AM

😊😊😊😊

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About Me

About Me

Maureen Shelmith

My mission here is to take you on a Kenyan musical journey that is exceptional.

Featured Posts

  • Herbie Tsoaeli Spiritual Dialogues: At This Point in Time

    December 10, 2021
  • Sage Chemutai: Love is all we need

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  • Geco Café: Slithering with good vibes in Nairobi

    February 18, 2021
  • WYNTON MARSALIS interactive session with Kenyan artists: Mythology of Jazz, improvisation and creativity

    November 26, 2020
  • A Kenyan Opera: Nyanga The Runaway Grandmother

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