The recent Jazz segment of the MUSON festival was a breath of fresh air as two days of indigenous artists offered more dynamism to the monotony of an annual fiesta, Adewole Ajala writes
The Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre was not filled to capacity. But that did not quell expectations of an audience that included Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, the Ibru sisters and other notable faces on a Friday Night that seemed perfect for jazz. Seated in my back row seat, I discover for the umpteenth time, that the music may not be not as popular as hip-hop but remains as enjoyable as the urbane genre; and is still very much loved by the mature folks who swayed to the sight and sounds of Jimmy Dludlu that came via projectors.
After all the publicity about the performers, the night was finally here-a development that was not lost on event comperes Dan Foster and Tosyn Bucknor who enlivened the atmosphere with jokes and interesting comments.
But the night is not just about the two popular radio presenters as the event catalogue reveals upcoming performances by the Streams, Biodun Batik, Beautiful Nubia and Jimmy Dludlu.
The Streams, a four man-ensemble emerged in black suits an gave an acappella rendition of Under the Bulwark and ain’t no Sunshine when She’s Gone.
Their sonorous voices were followed by those of lightweights Kafayat Quadri, Q and Tosyn Bucknor. Quadri is already becoming with her deviant attire and music that gives throwbacks to Tracy Chapman. For those who follow her performances at Theatre at Terra you would attest to her moving voice fitted over diverse themes and the notes from her guitar.
An end to the segment opens the floor for a solo by Q and JD. JD is privileged to perform on his birthday which also coincides with his becoming an uncle-a development that sees him strumming Old Man by the Tree and Lullaby for his first nephew.
Another round of error-filled sound checks usher in Beautiful Nubia whose music is far from jazz but still rousing to the spirits. This blend of instrumentation with African inspirations scores points with a somnolent audience. Ditto his energy in leaping and prancing while he croons popular tracks like Owuro Lojo, Oh what a Feeling and Ka Ma Ba Lo.
Pure and Simple were the next act. A duo comprising Iffiok Effanga and Nathan McDonald they offered stiff competition for the night’s star Jimmy Dludlu. Decked in black with their imposing guitars, their demeanour fools many until their skills with the guitar on songs like Just like That and Praise Him evoke a graveyard silence in the hall before it erupts into a standing ovation for the gifted duo. Iffiok is a member of the Diamonds band which won the 2008 edition of Starquest. His skills are put to the test when Dan Foster asks him to strum some notes from George Benson, Earl Klugh and Carlos Santana. He performs the task effortlessly, attracting another round of rapturous applause from the audience that had been woken up by the duo.
Last but not the least is Jimmy Dludlu whose run through nearly a dozen popular numbers convinced the audience that the organisers actually saved the best for last.
An end of one festival sets the stage for another and one can only hope for greater ingenuity from the MUSON.
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Kafayat Quadri, a jacket-and scarf-wearing-African-sister is not only a Lawyer, she is a Masters Degree holder in law itself – LLM. It amazes one when such an intellectual does not only love poetry but writes poetry. In fact, she owns, self publish and self funded the only stable Poetry Magazine in Nigeria and the entire Africa, stand to be corrected with factual evidence! The Magazine is called The Poetry Digest. Well, it shouldn’t be far-fetched if I say she also markets it herself. I mean, professional marketing, so that it is in all profound book stores across Nigeria for now! That’s her side of the commercial realm. She whole heartedly does all these herself. Trust me, I know how hectic it could be, I self published a book in Nigeria too. It is not only frustrating. It is discouraging. And she has kept to publishing and marketing the Poetry Magazine.
How more when I tell you she sings too. I mean she sings, like she has a very good voice that renders words into melody and rhythm. And she does not only sing, she plays the guitar too. She is one of those that can play the guitar for hours and will not stare at the guitar. She is really that good. Come to think of it, it just occurred to me now that addressing her as a Genius wouldn’t amount to flattery at all! It wouldn’t in a bit, because she is a master in every thing she does. At the end of this piece, you should agree with me.
Am sure most people when they see her perform at events never really thinks she reports to an office in the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. In fact, it was in such an event, a book reading at the Silverbird Galleria, that I first met her even though I had been reading her magazine a year before that. I am one of the very few that knows these ‘secrets’ about her. She played the guitar so well that day that I literally clunged to her and we spoke all night.
When she eventually blew my mind away was when I saw her perform at a concert organised by a National Group of Guitarists. It was awesome. And even though she was meant to perform a song. The crowd couldn’t help but request for more. You can ask her if I am lying about the fact that I sang her songs that night so much so that am sure her lyrics bored her. They were so captivating, I invited her to almost all my events. I will forgive her for not performing at my book launch because she had told me hitherto that she had a presentation to do in the office. Being a LLB holder too, I know how well and stressful the research must have been for her.
She has a style that as a whole won’t rest fully in a genre. It has a bit of almost all genres. When an intellectual, poet and lawyer sings; you should be sure of one thing, perfection. She has a way of stringing words whether in her local language – Yoruba or English in a manner that will make one feel bliss from within. She says she is not as good as she loves to be, but like most of her fans have said including me; we love the you that you are now, please launch an album!