logo

This year’s Safaricom International Jazz Festival started with a bang with three time Grammy Award winning Branford Marsalis gracing our stage on the 21st of February 2016. He wasn’t the only act, with additional performances from Jef Neve, Giampaolo Nuti & Francesco D’Orazio, Maya Beltsitzman & Matan Ephrat, Sons of Kemmet & Siya Makuzeni. We were also proud to bring back Kunle Ayo, AfroSync & Edward Parseen and the Different Faces Band.

Main act

Branford Marsalis

Branford MarsalisFrom his early acclaim as a saxophonist bringing new energy and new audiences to the jazz art, he has refined and expanded his talents and his horizons as a musician, composer, bandleader and educator – a 21st Century mainstay of artistic excellence.He was initially a member o...

supporting acts

Afro Sync Band

Afro Sync Band AfroSync was formed in 2014 with membership consisting of Zach Amunga, Tim Riungu, Uledi Dzidze, George Mutinda and MacKinley Mutsembi.Their style of music can be termed as being a mixture of Afro Jazz and Latin. They have had the opportunity of performing at various events such...

supporting acts

Kunle Ayo

Kunle AyoThis dazzling live performer always leaves his fans inspired and full of positive energy. As one of the most sought after performers, Kunle Ayo has participated in a number of festivals around the world.He graced us with his presence in September last year at the Carnivore where he be...

supporting acts

Giampaolo Nuti & Francesco D’Orazio

Giampaolo Nuti & Francesco D’Orazio This Italian Duo promises to charm the crowd with their unique performance style.

supporting acts

Edward Parseen & the Different Faces Band

Edward Parseen & the Different Faces BandEdward Parseen & the Different Faces Band will once again grace the Safaricom Jazz Festival stage with their presence this year!The band consists of Music Performance Graduate from Kenyatta University Edward Parseen; on the Tenor Saxophone, trumpet and ...

supporting acts

Maya Belsitzman & Matan Ephrat

Maya Belsitzman & Matan EphratBelsitzman and Ephrat have been supported by the encouragement of their fans and the many warm superlatives they received from Israeli music critics.Belsitzman made an astounding transition, morphing from a talented musician that played alongside leading Israeli a...

supporting acts

Jef Neve

Jef Neve Pianist/composer Jef Neve (1977) has become a prominent figure in his homeland Belgium and his reputation is rapidly spreading to the rest of the world.He studied at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven and graduated in 2000 as Master of Music in Jazz and classical piano, both with great di...

supporting acts

Sons of Kemet

Sons of Kemet MOBO award-winners Sons of Kemet - kinetic, earth-shaking and with an electrifying live performance, the band features four of the UK jazz scene’s brightest stars, culminating in a revolutionary mix of music that spans jazz, rock, dub and Caribbean folk.Led by saxophonist, clarin...

supporting acts

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Branford Marsalis QuartetNEA Jazz Master, renowned Grammy Award®‐winning saxophonist and Tony Award® nominee Branford Marsalis is one of the most revered instrumentalists of his time.Leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, and a frequent soloist with classical ensembles, Marsalis’ most curren...

supporting acts

Siya Makuzeni

Siya MakuzeniSiya Makuzeni is a professional South African trombone player, vocalist, lyricist and songwriter. A session musician and voice-over artist when not performing live, Makuzeni has lent her songwriting skills to a few albums by various artists, including Language 12 albums.After univ...

past events