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23rd February 2018,

For the last five years we’ve brought you the very best of local and international jazz music, delivering electric performances and getting you moving to everything from the legendary Hugh Masekela’s signature sounds to the funky beat of the Nairobi Horns Project.

This year you can expect nothing less. Come join us on Sunday 25th February 2018 at the Kasarani Training Grounds in Nairobi, as we celebrate the 5th edition of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival with yet another line-up of brilliant performers from USA, Israel, Belgium, Germany, South Africa and Kenya.

Headlining the show will be the highly acclaimed American jazz trio BWB, made up of Grammy Award winners Norman Brown (guitar) and Kirk Whalum (saxophone), and trumpeter Rick Braun. If you love Michael Jackson you’ll be sure to enjoy hits from their 2013 Human Nature tribute album, with tracks such as Billie Jean, Beat It, The Way You Make Me Feel and of course, Human Nature.

Love live jazz music? Then come groove with Kenyan favourites Mambo Tribe and Limericks, as well as The Betty Bears (Israel), Leán  (Belgium), Joja Wendt (Germany), Gloria Bosman (South Africa), Jimek (Poland) and Ghetto Classics, who will be joining BWB on stage.

All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting Ghetto Classics, a non-profit programme that teaches music skills to youth from underprivileged backgrounds in Nairobi and Mombasa. Since launch the Safaricom International Jazz Festival has raised over KES 37 million from proceeds of the event, funds that are being used to transform the lives of over 1400 young boy and girls through music, education and much more.

Main act

BWB

Braun – Whalum – Brown commonly known as BWB comprises of Norman Brown on guitar and vocals, Kirk Whalum on the saxophone and trumpeter Rick Braun.Their sound can be described as new contemporary jazz with a blend of R&B, soul and funk music. They released their first album in 2002 which was a ...

supporting acts

Femme Fusion

This Femme - Fusion collaborative performance is put together by the British Council East African Arts programme. East Africa Arts is the British council’s framework for working between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and the UK. Through three strategic programmes (Creative Hustles, new A...

supporting acts

The Limericks Band

The making of the band Limericks has been an interesting journey that took off a decade ago in October of 2007. Ken met up with fresh-from-Madagascar Fafa and over the coming years, they went on to perfect their sound with the inclusion of Danz on bass, Richie the drummer and finally with Brian com...

supporting acts

Jimek

Radzimir Debski, popularly known as Jimek is a Polish composer and producer born in Warsaw. He holds a degree in Composition from the Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw and he has gone on to study Film Scoring and Orchestration at UCLA. He has made scores for television programmes, film and theatre....

supporting acts

Mambo Tribe

The Mambo Tribe is a band made up of multi-cultural musicians hailing from different parts of Kenya on the local scene and musicians of different nationalities on the international scene. The band can be described more as a cultural safari ensemble due to the nature it takes based on location...

supporting acts

Joja Wendt

Joja Wendt is a world renowned pianist hailing from Hamburg, Germany. He started playing piano at the age of four and is a graduate of the conservatory of Hilversum, Netherlands and the Manhattan School of Music in New York. He was discovered by Joe Cocker during a jam session in a music club i...

supporting acts

Gloria Bosman

Multiple South African Music Awards winner Gloria Bosman is a Jazz, African, Rock and Gospel Vocalist, Producer, Composer, Vocal Coach and Presenter.Gloria has shared the stage with various artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo, Moses Molelekwa, Concord Nkabinde, Sip...

supporting acts

Leán

Leán is a trio formed by Silke Clarysse, Otto Kint and Gielis Cautaers. They successfully combine guitar compositions from African, Latin-American and Mediterranean origin with a jazzy double bass and subtle hand percussion. Leán released their first album called Pangea in September 2016. They ...

supporting acts

The Betty Bears

The Betty Bears comprises of 8 talented musicians (7 Bears and 1 Black Betty) from Israel. They revive the spirits of Blues, Swing & Dixieland with refreshing arrangements. The Band Recorded an E.P in 2013 and released it independently in October 2016.The band is comprised of Ella Daniel (Lea...

event details

VIP Show

Date: Friday 23rd February 2018

Venue: Kasarani Training Grounds

Entry Charges: KES 10,000 for per person and KES 150,000 for Corporate Tables

Tickets: Available from Friday 2nd February at Michael Joseph Centre and via m-Ticketing by dialing 1511.

Gates open at 6PM, show starts at 8PM

 

Main Festival

Date: Sunday 25th February 2018.

Venue: Kasarani Training Grounds

Entry Charges: Ksh. 2,000 for adults and Ksh. 500 for students (proof of ID must be provided)

Tickets: Available from Friday 2nd February at select Safaricom shops, Michael Joseph Centre and via m-Ticketing by dialing 1511.

Gates open at 10AM show starts at 12PM

past events