These artistes, selected by a panel of international jazz industry experts, will be the first African performers at the renowned annual jazz trade fair.
By Emmanuel Okoro
Nigeria’s Afro4Band, Kenyan trumpeter, Christine Kamau, and Senegalese bass player, Alune Wade, are set to grace the stage at the prestigious jazzahead! Festival in Bremen, Germany, from April 11th to 13th, 2024.
These artistes, selected by a panel of international jazz industry experts, will be the first African performers at the renowned annual jazz trade fair. They will be performing at jazzahead’s “Jazz from Africa” showcase.
Gotz Buhler, Artistic Advisor at jazzahead!, expressed enthusiasm for the festival’s newfound focus on African jazz, stating, “This year, a special place will be given to African Jazz, a topic which we believe deserves much more attention.”
Kamau expressed her excitement at the opportunity, saying, “I am thrilled to have been selected to perform at jazzahead! with my band from Kenya. Our European debut will be at this significant jazz industry event, and I truly can’t wait to share my music with the jazz world gathered in Bremen.” Kamau, known for her wide-eared approach to jazz, has performed across various African countries and is the founder of the ‘Women In Music Concert’ series, promoting Kenyan female musicians.
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Nigeria’s Afro4Band, a quartet jazz-influenced African groove music group founded by Afrodyssey Music Limited in 2022, brings a fresh perspective to the jazzahead! stage. Hailing from Lagos, Afro4Band promises to infuse the festival with the vibrant energy of contemporary African jazz. Wade, a bass expert, composer, and vocalist from Senegal, is celebrated as a leading talent in the global jazz and Afrobeat scene, captivating audiences with his cosmopolitan sound.
You can check out the complete list of performers at the festival here.