By Staff Writer
It was a jazzy mood last evening at Serena Hotel as saxophone maestros put up quite a good show. The turn up was impressive. Mind, this was a Sunday evening with most of them having to work on Monday.
The highly-publicized show kicked off at about 7:30pm with Qwela Band’s new entrant, Ken Mugabi (formerly of Coca-Cola Rated Next). A crooner that he is, the talented lad serenaded the audience with his bewitching melodic voices. Thereafter, K!mera entertained the fully-packed Victoria Hall with his rich vocals. The emcee of the evening was Urban TV’s Denzel Mwiyeretsi and he did well while at it.
By the time the clock hit 9:00pm, everyone was nodding to the sounds of the saxophones that were being blown on stage. Ian Businge pulled the strings on the guitar. The backup vocalists were magical. Maureen Rutabingwa (Mo Roots) was at her usual best; she blew the sax as she sang. And she multi-tasked quite well. Never a time did she get off the stage. The Kitanda brothers (Michael and Happy), for umpteenth time, reminded us that jazz flows in the family lineage. Qwela Band’s Joe Kahirimbanyi was present as well, offering backup vocals.
But Joseph Kizito took the biscuit. He was a beast on the sax. He blew, literally, everyone’s mind when he performed the late Katumba Wamala’s Viola. And then Brian Mugenyi joined them on stage. Climbing up the stage in his dazzling white attire, he announced himself like a superstar (which he is, by the way). The ladies love him. And it was evident; shouting his name loudly.
Revelers lifted off their seats and danced along to every song he performed. He later called up on stage his mentor, a legend in his own right, Isaiah Katumwa. The night took a twist. It was quite a sight, seeing six saxophones on one stage (Isaiah, Joseph, Brian, Mo Roots, Happy and Michael); all doing turns in blowing saxophones and performing Isaiah’s Nakupenda Sana. It wasn’t long before Isaiah stood forward and called up Moses Matovu, the highlight act of the night, on stage.
The legendary Afrigo Band man, dubbed Papa Moise, climbed up the stage to a heroic, loud, but delightful chanting from the people who were, by now, on their feet. He never wasted a minute, he quickly slipped into his usual, gentle, but magical self and rolled back the years.
He started off with Sirina, off Afrigo Band’s 1995 Mpeddembe album. Both the young and the old grooved to it. His performance was, undoubtedly, the best on the night. Like they say, he stole the night.
