All that jazz…and more

These are the October International Jazz and World Music Festival, already in full swing and the  Jazz on the Rooftop taking place next weekend at On the Roof – a joint  at the Fife Avenue shopping centre – once popularised by the late veteran DJ, Hilton Mambo.
Jazz on the Rooftop will feature an all-local cast and takes place on Friday and Saturday. The two events come hot on the heels of the Spring Jazz Festival held in Bulawayo recently where songbird, Dudu Manhenga, ruled the roost.
The October International Jazz and World Music Festival has been made possible by a partnership of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Embassy of Italy and Pamberi Trust. Several venues have been lined up and these include the Book Café, Celebration Centre and the Italian Club, with appearances by some of the Italian groups at the Sanganayi Travel Expo, Pamberi Trust publicist Penny Yon says.
The four-day showcase kicked off at the Book Cafe last night with a free screening of the film The Miles Davis Story, a documentary of the legendary trumpeter, considered one of the greatest musicians of his era. The late Davis won 9 Grammy awards and has performed with many great musicians among them, Charlie “Bird” Parker and John Coltrane.
The film screening was followed by a live performance by the delightful Kwela Kings from Bulawayo who play penny whistles to township jazz from yesteryear. This was followed by visiting South African maskanda guitarist Bheki Khoza who shared the stage with local guitarist Victor Kunonga. Maskanda is a Zulu type of guitar music that combines fast-paced guitar beats with folklore. Kunonga is known for his deep-rooted guitar beat, accentuated with jazz chords and a fine voice.
Tonight, more local and international artists will join the swing. Among the artists expected to perform are Italian groups Down Time Quintet and the Giovanni Falzone Quintet who jet into town in time to close the festival on Saturday.  Down Time Quintet will perform with Dudu Manhenga, Rute Mbangwa, John Pfumojena and Hope Masike.
Italian dance company Artemis Danza will stage a dance spectacular with Zimbabwe’s own Tumbuka Dance Company, while the Drum Ensemble will add to the world music component to the festival.
Also coming to perform are South African artists Tumi & the Volume and Ntando Bangani who are expected to share the stage with local artists, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Alexio Kawara, BlaQBerry, Mega 2, Chiwoniso Maraire, Netsayi Chigwendere and a number of others.
Tomorrow, the show features Chiwoniso Maraire and Tumi & The Volume, while Saturday will have a whole day’s gig that incorporates a variety of established and new jazz artists under the banner “Jazz Showcase”.
Later in the evening, Ntando Bangani shares the stage with Alexio Kawara in a show that has been much anticipated. The show will be a Zimbabwean debut for the immense South African singer/songwriter and recording artist who created an international storm with his smash hit “Dali Wami”. Ntando has also performed at the Cape Town Jazz Festival.
While there will be simultaneous jazz and world music events at other venues during the four-day extravaganza, it is hoped that this year’s offering will be bigger and better than last year’s.
Over the past few years, jazz has assumed a new dimension in Zimbabwe with a number of new and rising groups and musicians. Ever since the dearth of the Zimbabwe International Jazz Festival in the 1990s there has never been a true jazz festival in the country. The International Jazz and World Music Festival brings in a refreshing memory of what a true jazz festival should be.
I am not saying the recently held Winter Jazz Festival was nowhere near what can be termed a “true jazz” festival, I am just saying orgnisers of such events should look into what constitutes jazz music in general and Zimbabwean jazz in particular.
There was a time when big companies such as BAT used to support the jazz festival through their Barclays Extra-Mild cigarette brand, and we used to have big artists such as Jimmy Dludlu, Hugh Masekela, Steve Dyer, our very own Louis Mhlanga and many others. 
If only the corporate world and other sponsors could realise Zimbabwe’s potential in hosting events similar to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, then we could go very far.