Mehluli Moyo is bringing back the Kings Kraal Jazz Festival in Bulawayo after last year's packed debut showed the genre is still pulling crowds. The second edition features Victor Kunonga returning home along with Jeys Marabini, The Outfit Band with Mimmie Tarukwana, Selmor Mtukudzi, and Charles Mahlaba.
Moyo sees the festival as a shop window where performers can land corporate gigs by impressing business types who book jazz acts for their events. He said the cross-regional lineup from different parts of Zimbabwe proved audiences support quality music regardless of where artists come from, and the corporate backing keeps rolling in because companies want this sound at their functions.
The whole concept banks on jazz staying relevant in the business world, which means performers who kill it onstage get moved to the front of the booking queue when companies need entertainment later.
Moyo sees the festival as a shop window where performers can land corporate gigs by impressing business types who book jazz acts for their events. He said the cross-regional lineup from different parts of Zimbabwe proved audiences support quality music regardless of where artists come from, and the corporate backing keeps rolling in because companies want this sound at their functions.
The whole concept banks on jazz staying relevant in the business world, which means performers who kill it onstage get moved to the front of the booking queue when companies need entertainment later.
