New jazz festival on cards

The Lira show, which is being held under the theme Jazz under the Stars, is seen as setting the tone for what is to come in the future.
According to the spokesperson for the organisers, Freedom Maziriri, the Jazz under the Stars festival is aimed at promoting love, hence, the theme, Jazz under the Stars. He added that it was also an opportunity to uplift our arts and tourism as they are big business.
Maziriri said the direction and tone the next musical event will take will be influenced by the outcome of this event intimating that they will always invite a foreign artiste as the drawcard of future shows.
“We will continue inviting foreign artistes so we can give room for positive competition .?.?. this will give local artiste the opportunity to weigh their acts against those of foreign artistes.
“If you share the stage with an internationally recognised musician and put up a good performance, then you can be able to rate yourself and help improve your act,” he said adding also that this is an event for the people of Zimbabwe to go to and listen to the vast local talent as well as give local musicians the platform to exhibit their talent.
A star-studded line-up of local artistes who will perform on the night include Selmor Mtukudzi and hubby, Tendai Manatsa, Jazz Invitation, Cool Crooners, Dudu Manhenga and Victor Kunonga.
Lira is a successful and high-profile young female solo musician with just a handful of albums into her career. Her tentative steps into the world of jazz started in 2003 with an album entitled All My Love. She then recorded Feel Good in 2006 and in 2008, Soul in Mind. She wrote her first song when she was just 16 and has pursued her career up to the top.
Her album, Soul in Mind, won the Album of the Year award in 2009 and was voted the Best Female Artiste for the same year in the South African Music Awards. She was also named Best Female Artiste last year for the live recording, Live in Concert: A Celebration.
She will this year release her fourth offering — Return to Love — which is expected to break into the global market.
Lira is expected on Saturday morning.
Advance tickets — US$50 VIP and US$30 ordinary — are already on sale in selected outlets. However, the charge remains the same at the gates. Gates are expected to open at 5pm.