the Refrain By. The Lord Kempson Ari weYulu
@ZambiazHarshTag ● @KempsonAri
http://jesuislecritique.blogspot.com/
There is a myth that jazz is dated and it is music for the old folk , a notion that is far from the truth. Jazz as a genre in its essence may be one of the oldest forms of music, but as with all music it is timeless and appreciated by people from all walks of life of all ages. The Jazz Appreciation Society (JAS) is a group of Zambian jazz lovers and coinsurers that has come together to celebrate this prolific variety of sound that is jazz.
Cat Chiliz who is the events director of the group explained at length the mandate of this organization at TECLA lodge which is also known as the Jazz Shrine, where jazz aficionados meet every Saturday and Sunday late afternoon into the evening without fail *laughs* to appreciate and critic. The three main aims of the society are to promote jazz on a local and international platform, to nurture and unite Zambian musicians and also to identify upcoming talent and tomorrows greats he elucidated. The Zambian music scene is indeed on the move and growing, but it is some artists unfounded ego’s that are halting the process. As such he emphasized that it is only when artists start working together and collaborating that industry can really begin to grow.
Every con also has a pro retorted Cat Chiliz. The Zambian market is very small he further expounded, hence local artists should aim for international markets which are bigger. The con is the current quality of our product, but the pro is there is room for improvement and growth. Hence it is up to the musicians to do their best to work on perfecting their craft from sound to packaging so that their wares are viable and marketable. JAS will also not relent in its mission until such a time there will be flourishing cultural exchange of Zambian musicians going to the world stage at events such as the Cape Town Jazz Festival and international artists collaborating with Zambian artists. In line with this noble endeavor, local talent are given the stage at the shrine to perform, after which members share a light moment with the acts to encourage and advise them all in good cheer and love for the craft and music.
The vision must begin somewhere, and JAS are on the ground assisting and assisting local acts with every mite within them. Wisdom always grows people, and will even surpass the person that shared and instilled it. However the recipient of wisdom shall never forget where it came from. These were the closing remarks to our chat. Indeed even after this crop of old timers is long gone, the musicians will always remember JAS and how they helped cultivate careers and where home is at the shrine. Play on Jazz Appreciation Society, Play On.
Catch the countdown to the Stanbic Jazz Festival at http://jesuislecritique.blogspot.com/2015/09/moving-in-rhythm-to-stanbic-jazz.html
kalembaweyulu 