- Oti Bazunu, founder Lagos Jazz Series
Lagos is a wonderful city, full of life and energy. But it can get a bit franctic. So we conceived of The Lagos Jazz Series to cool things down. The first ever Lagos jazz series will hold from November 5-7, 2010 across three primary stages in Africa's most populous city. We're
inviting some of our favourite Jazz musicians from all over the world to come and play for us in intimate and exciting venues. Since they're coming, we might as well put on a bit of a show and invite all of you, our favourite people, to attend.
The Lagos State government has kindly offered us the beautiful Muri Okunola Park. Our friends at the Sofitel Moorehouse are hosting the musicians and the opening event. The Federal Palace Hotel has opened their lush waterside grounds to us and the German Consulate is hosting a jazz breakfast. Noble Hill is providing great wines and Lufthansa is flying in the artists. The show is coming together and it's going to be wonderful.
The Lagos Jazz Series is kindly sponsored by MTN Enterprise, Constant Capital and Petrolex. Partners include Noble Hill Wines, Mercedes Benz, Bang&Olufsen, ZK Advertising, Classic FM, NEXT
and Bella Naija.
Some of the artists we're excited about seeing perform include:
Morrie Louden, a California native, lit up radio, hogged the jazz charts and attracted high praise from jazz legends with the release of his album Time Piece. Louden stunned listeners with his technical virtuosity, melodic improvisations, and composition skills, with tunes encompassing burning post-bop, sensitive ballads, and bossa novas.
Somi: Born in America, the Rwandan-Ugandan singer Somi has been described as glistening with the sheen of an almost impossibly perfect cosmopolitanism." Singing in English and three East African languages, Somi’s vocal delivery is subtle yet the power she exerts is enormous. Often compared to the likes of Miriam Makeba, Sarah Vaughn and Cassandra Wilson, Somi is a performer to behold.
Mike Aremu is one of Nigeria’s biggest saxophonists, who has been able to create a sound that represents both his creative passion and the deep elements of his culture. He has made a fan out of everyone who has seen him perform, living up to his billing as a world class performer.
Jimmy Dludlu has earned his popularity as a guitarist within the music industry. His albums compelled his audiences to call him a “guitar maestro” – naming him amongst the best guitarists in the world. His albums have earned him some of South Africa’s most prestigious awards. In 2006 Jimmy won two of the highest accolades in South African music - the SAMA awards for Best Male Artist of the Year and Best Jazz Album of the Year for his album Corners of My Soul.
Ayetoro is an internationally acclaimed 12-piece Jazz band led by one of Nigeria’s most talented composers and pianists Funsho Ogundipe. The collective’s members are all established musicians in Lagos, Accra and London, with a rhythmic fluidity that bridges the gap between Afrobeat and Jazz with reflections on the past and present of both genres.
Bez makes alternative soul, an understated and unusual hybrid of Jazz, Soul and R&B music that sets him well apart from the mainstream Afro hip-hop movement. His songs of love and heartbreak are modern acoustic gems that fit right beside the music of singers like Michael Buble, Amy Winehouse and John Mayer. A natural performer with a charismatic and playful stage presence, Bez is a performer to behold.
Karen Patterson's performances have entertained and inspired audiences throughout the world. Her repertoire is varied and unique. She has been a featured performer in vastly dynamic venues. She has performed at the GLOBAL FORUM in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. Also, she has performed with the Dayton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra bringing Jazz, Classical repertoire and a commissioned 21st Century Classical Cello Concerto, “The Invisible Bridge” by the esteemed Egyptian Composer, Dr. Halim El-Dabh, conducted by Neal Gittleman. Karen Patterson’s music celebrates cultural diversity, the dynamic beauty of artistic expression and the strength of community.
Chinaza is of Nigerian heritage but based out of Germany. Before launching a solo career, she sang background for hot international acts like Joy Denalane, Hattler, Della Miles and Cunnie Williams. In 2004 she produced her first solo album together with pianist Sebastian Weiss.
LAGOS JAZZ SERIES LINEUP
Nov. 5th - Sofitel Moorhouse Hotel - 7:00 PM
Karen Patterson
Chinaza
Morrie Louden
Tickets - N12,000 per person (N65,000 for a table of 5)
Tables come with wines courtesty of Noble Hill
Nov. 6th - Federal Palace Hotel - 7:00 PM
Mike Aremu
Morrie Louden
Somi
N12,000 per person (N90,000 for a table of 7)
Tables come with wines courtesty of Noble Hill
Nov. 7th - German Consulate (Sunday jazz breakfast) - 11:00 AM
Karen Patterson
Chinaza
Bez
By invitation only
Nov. 7th - Muri Okunola Park - 5:00 PM
Bez
Ayetoro
Somi
Jimmy Dludlu
N5,000 per person
TICKETS
Sofitel Moorhouse - N12,000 per person (N65,000 for a table of 5)
Federal Palace Hotel - N12,000 per person (N90,000 for a table of 8)
Muri Okunola Park - N5,000 per person
Tickets can be purchased online at lagosjazzseries.com or at the following locations:
The Hub Media Store at the Palms, Lekki
The Jazz Hole (168 Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos. Tel. 07025595697)
Bang & Olufen (Plot 1626B, Saka Jojo Street, VIctoria Island. Tel. 23412707244)
The Wine Cellar (61 Abimbola Awoniyi Close, off Kasimu Ekemode Street, off Bishop Oluwole street, VI, Lagos.)
(For corporate bookings and tables, please call 08056237969)
The Lagos Jazz Series is kindly sponsored by MTN Enterprise, Constant Capital and Petrolex. Partners include Noble Hill Wines, Mercedes Benz, Bang&Olufsen, ZK Advertising, Classic FM, NEXT
and Bella Naija.
For more details about performers, tickets and locations, please visit lagosjazzseries.com.
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