JAZZ is receiving a lot of time and space in both the print and electronic media in Uganda these days. This is a good thing only if the write ups are accurate. They are not; and contrary to the Entertainment Industry saying that all publicity is good publicity’’, I do not subscribe to that.
Jazz has been marketed so badly in Uganda, so much so that it is being described as music for the expatriates, ‘wannabes’, show- offs and the filthy rich. Nothing is so far from the truth! It only appears that way because ‘Jazz’ events that have happened so far are priced so highly, real Jazz fans cannot afford to attend. In the end, it is those that can afford to attend that do, and almost always they have no clue what is going on. Jazz has become a social event!
Jazz started in the ‘Jook joints’, shibeams and dark cheap bars where cheap and deadly booze like Moonshine was sold. The poor black people in America could not afford the expensive/posh high society places so out of The Blues; they created new music called Jazz, where improvisation and skill were paramount.
Isn’t it ironic that this poor man’s music is being marketed or wrongly tagged as the Elite’s music? Let us define Jazz. Ladies and Gentlemen: let us first put this out of the way; not every song that has no words/lyrics is Jaz (do not forget, there is such a thing as Vocal Jazz – Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Armstrong, Carmen McCrae etc).
In addition, for some reason, whenever an artist plays an instrument, most especially a horn, people call it Jazz. Kenny G is the most successful instrumentalist of all time (going by sales), but he is NOT a recording Jazz artist and has never claimed to be one. Isaiah Katumwa is in the same mould, and in all fairness, he mentions Kenny G as a mentor.
It is very impressive and commendable what Warid Telecom and others have done by starting or planting the seed for Jazz Festivals in Uganda. It would have been even better if what is being marketed as ‘The First Jazz Festival’ in Uganda had at least, 98% Jazz musicians on the bill.
The Kampala Warid Jazz Festival only has two bonafide Jazz musicians/group, out of a whopping 10 advertised artists!! That is only 2% of the entire festival. By bonafide, I mean those musicians who have both recorded and published Jazz music, or those who make a living playing Jazz.
Jazz has been marketed so badly in Uganda, so much so that it is being described as music for the expatriates, ‘wannabes’, show- offs and the filthy rich. Nothing is so far from the truth! It only appears that way because ‘Jazz’ events that have happened so far are priced so highly, real Jazz fans cannot afford to attend. In the end, it is those that can afford to attend that do, and almost always they have no clue what is going on. Jazz has become a social event!
Jazz started in the ‘Jook joints’, shibeams and dark cheap bars where cheap and deadly booze like Moonshine was sold. The poor black people in America could not afford the expensive/posh high society places so out of The Blues; they created new music called Jazz, where improvisation and skill were paramount.
Isn’t it ironic that this poor man’s music is being marketed or wrongly tagged as the Elite’s music? Let us define Jazz. Ladies and Gentlemen: let us first put this out of the way; not every song that has no words/lyrics is Jaz (do not forget, there is such a thing as Vocal Jazz – Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Armstrong, Carmen McCrae etc).
In addition, for some reason, whenever an artist plays an instrument, most especially a horn, people call it Jazz. Kenny G is the most successful instrumentalist of all time (going by sales), but he is NOT a recording Jazz artist and has never claimed to be one. Isaiah Katumwa is in the same mould, and in all fairness, he mentions Kenny G as a mentor.
It is very impressive and commendable what Warid Telecom and others have done by starting or planting the seed for Jazz Festivals in Uganda. It would have been even better if what is being marketed as ‘The First Jazz Festival’ in Uganda had at least, 98% Jazz musicians on the bill.
The Kampala Warid Jazz Festival only has two bonafide Jazz musicians/group, out of a whopping 10 advertised artists!! That is only 2% of the entire festival. By bonafide, I mean those musicians who have both recorded and published Jazz music, or those who make a living playing Jazz.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
