Jazz lovers are in for a treat following confirmation that globally acclaimed American Jazz Performers Dianne Reeves and Marcus Miller will be on the 2018 / 2019 Season of Safaricom Jazz.
Diane Reeves will grace the stage at the Safaricom Jazz Lounge scheduled for 18th to 20th October 2018.
This will be the five-time Grammy winner’s first visit to Kenya to perform at the Safaricom Jazz Lounge, which is one of a series of events that lead up to the annual Safaricom International Jazz Festival that takes place in February.
Reeves, the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world, received the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings – a Grammy first in any vocal category. Featured in George Clooney’s six-time Academy Award nominated “Good Night, and Good Luck,” she won the Best Jazz Vocal Grammy for the film’s soundtrack.
“We are honored to be yet again hosting one of the most influential jazz musicians in the world for the concert in October. As we promised when we launched Safaricom Jazz in 2014, we will keep bringing world-class talent for Kenyan jazz fans,” said Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom.
After the Lounge, two-time Grammy award winner Marcus Miller will headline the Safaricom International Jazz Festival scheduled for 11th – 17th February 2019. At the top of his game for over 30 years, Miller is the winner of the 2013 Edison Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz (Holland), winner of the 2010 Victoire du Jazz (France) and in 2013, was appointed a UNESCO Artist For Peace.
His characteristic bass sound can be heard on a limitless catalog of musical hits from Bill Wither’s “Just the Two of Us”, to Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much”, to songs from Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Elton John and Bryan Ferry.
With his distinctive style – a unique combination of funk, groove, soul and pure technical skills – Miller has been referred to as one of the most significant bass players in jazz, R &B, fusion and soul.
In addition to these career highlights, Miller has a rich and very deep resume of outstanding collaborations, including a 15-year song-writing and production partnership with Luther Vandross, capped by the hit single “Power of Love/Love Power”.
Proceeds from all ticket sales will be donated to the Ghetto classics music programme, which has been the Safaricom Jazz beneficiary since 2014 and has so far received an estimated KES 60 million, funds that have benefitted over 1,400 children from Nairobi and Mombasa. Proceeds from the 2018/2019 Edition will see the Ghetto Classics Schools programme extend to Kisumu.
The first edition of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival was held in February 2014 and was headlined by New-York based Cameroonian artist Richard Bona.
