The beats, sounds of Lagos jazz festival

Lagos, Nigeria came alive for four unforgettable days as jazz music took centre stage during the Satchmo’s Jazz and Culture Festival 2016 (SJL ‘16).  SJL ’16 embodied the unifying and uplifting spirit of jazz and saw breathtaking performances from prominent international jazz artistes. The fifth held in the commercial and entertainment capital of Nigeria, the […]

Lagos, Nigeria came alive for four unforgettable days as jazz music took centre stage during the Satchmo’s Jazz and Culture Festival 2016 (SJL ‘16).

 SJL ’16 embodied the unifying and uplifting spirit of jazz and saw breathtaking performances from prominent international jazz artistes.
The fifth held in the commercial and entertainment capital of Nigeria, the 2016 edition of the jazz festival, perhaps more than any other before it, commanded wide hype, sparks and thrills both on and off the social media circuit. And to a certain extent, it was a festival many enthusiasts – both the elites and those in the lower cadre – claimed met their aspirations.
The festival, which featured sensational musical events, kicked off on Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, with the Industry Nite where the festival’s first International Jazz Day (IJD) pre-countdown saw London-based Afro-soul musician Jon Scott and saxophonist Sax Tee perform together.
The following day, the second IJD pre-countdown event was held at The Blowfish Hotel with some more live music by saxophonist and quasi-vocalist, Phebean, Jon Scott and Sax Tee.
The International Jazz Day itself was electrifying. From Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja to Lekki beaches; from Afrika Shrine to Muson Centre, Onikan and to the neighbouring Freedom Park, it was an atmosphere of festivities as entertainers, party crawlers and fun seekers trooped out to attend different concerts organized in the Lagos metropolis to mark the day.
“Lagos is gradually emerging as the true capital of arts and entertainment in Africa,” an obviously elated governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode, dizzied by a number of good jazz tunes, said as he took the microphone to address the gathering of the society’s crème de la crème who had gathered to witness the first concert of the IJD to be held at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Dignitaries at the Lagos House event included former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I; Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Femi Adeniyi Williams and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade.
A number of artistes, including former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke; award-winning Afrobeat musician, Lagbaja; veteran jazz diva, Yinka Davies; two-time Grammy award winner, Lekan Babalola; another Grammy award winner, Kirk Whalum; Jimi Solanke, Dare Art-Alade and other local and foreign jazz artistes mounted the stage at different times to thrill the gathering.
At Freedom Park, jazz enthusiasts flocked in and out of the venue to enjoy live performances at the two gigantic stages erected by Inspiro Production, the organizer of the event. On stage were music acts such as JAYA, Jazzmarazy, Wole Sentimental, Tayo Konga and Sola Alobami.
At the different stage performances the Daily Trust correspondent visited, the beats and sounds were deafening. While the lead singers thrilled with popular old and new lines from the high life, juju and Afrobeat genres of music, the drummers complemented, hitting vigorously on their drum sets, with the local accompaniments of gangan, sakara, agidigbo and bata beats rhyming along.
The flutists, saxophonists and pianists were also not left out. The combination of these tunes was all jazz enthusiasts desired to hit the dance floors, savour the melody and swing to the beats and rhythms.
For the night, Grammy winner and smooth jazz guitarist and singer, Norman Brown, delivered a truly memorable performance, alongside smooth jazz trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist, Rick Braun. Award-winning Afro jazz guitarist, Femi Leye, delivered his own unique brand of jazz on a cool night that also saw renowned jazz saxophonist, Imoleayo Balogun, Phebean and Carlo Rossi and The Organic Jam bring the house down.
That exhilarating night was followed by a party at the Banana Island Park, in partnership with The Pattiserie, as the IJD celebrations approached a climax. The festival came to an end in grand fashion, with the IJD closing celebration and after-party at the Vellvett Grill Lounge & Bar.
“I think this is something great,” Oluwafemi Ayodele, also known as JAYA, who was a performer at the event, said, “This is the only jazz festival I know of. And I hope the tempo can be sustained. We must not forget the fact that jazz actually started from Africa.”
Mandy Sowobi, the event’s co-producer, said her organization has been collaborating in organising the live concert in the last five years because it believes there are lots of jazz potentials in Nigeria who deserve to be showcased to the world.
“This is a foremost jazz community in Africa and in Nigeria. As you know, the jazz community is multi-faceted, with lots of potentials and talents out there.  Nigeria is a fertile ground for jazz because we have drums and music of all sorts. We have it in highlife, juju, Afrobeat and a whole lot of others that are well fused into jazz. So basically, by organizing this on an annual basis, we are simply promoting it to the world that this is what we are and who we are,” Sowobi said.
On the argument that jazz as a genre of music is fading and control fewer followers in Nigeria, a jazz enthusiast, Ian Jonathan, disagreed.
“For someone like me who has been around for a very long time as a follower of jazz, I can say things are improving. About 15 years ago, the only jazz festival we have was at the Muson Centre and it appeared to be more elitist. But here we are. You buy a ticket for N500, which is about $2 if we use the current exchange rate and you come in to enjoy a top class and qualitative music like this.
“I have been to the Europe Jazz Festival and I can tell you that there is nowhere in the world you are going to pay as cheap as this as entrance fee and still enjoy a qualitative performance like this. I really give it to the Inspiro Production, the organizer of the stage performances. I am really delighted with the turn of event,” Ian said.