CoronaVirus: Kenyan Artists in a time of a Global Pandemic
It is Friday the 13th and Gig Dynamics are currently holding their annual open day dubbed “Gig Dynamics Open House”, at the Ngong Race. It is a multifaceted event aimed…
Nairobi Horns Project after their electrifying performance at Safaricom Jazz Day
Credits: Mbarathi's Edge
Experience Nairobi Horns Project Debut Album – Black in Gold
Written by Joy Ruguru Unlike the owner of this blog, I’m not an ardent fan of jazz. Maybe as background music when I’m eating or reading. I blame it on…
Artists from the coast revolutionizing Nairobi’s Jazz scene
Kombo Chokwe. Credits: Quaint Photgraphy Juma Tutu prepares for his inaugural for his set at the local bar; Dagoz, a handful of people come in from their smoking breaks outside,…
Jazz in Kenya: A beginner’s guide to artists you need to hear
Interesting jazz artists in Kenya who have stretched and personalized modern jazz conventions, dictating new terms without discarding the old.
Chempkemboi Mang’ira: Let’s own our culture people!
I had the distinct honor of chatting with one of my close friends, Chepkemboi Mang'ira, popularly known as Miss Vavavum. She is the founder of Own Your Culture Africa; an…
Safaricom Jazz at 5 – A Motley of Baby Steps.
Safaricom Jazz at 5 – A Motley of Baby Steps. Mackinlay Mutsembi – Nairobi Horns Project When the first edition of SIJF I was not residing in Nairobi yet; I…
Rich sounds from Africa at the Safaricom International Jazz Day Celebrations 2018
If you know me personally, then you know that I absolutely love jazz. I am just from the 19th Cape Town Jazz Festival, and my whole inner being is still…
Importance of supporting Kenyan music
Let’s support our Kenyan Music scene Music is a powerful medium. It’s one of the few things in Kenya that everyone enjoys without reservation. As a music blogger, I listen…
Horns rule
Jazz; being free, Body and Soul by Mackinlay Mutsembi
April is jazz appreciation month, and April 30th is International Jazz Day. In the early 1940s, a small group of musicians would meet in two small clubs late at night…
Polyrhythmic vibes: Why African Jazz is original
I am writing this article with an assumption of basic music knowledge. Polyrhythms are often misunderstood. This is an attempt to clarify what polyrhythms are and how they have influenced African…