MASEKELA TO HEAT UP HARARE JAZZ FESTIVAL

South African jazz crooner Hugh Masekela is billed to perform at the Harare Jazz Festival scheduled for Harare Sports Club on April 17.
The Independence eve festival will see Masekela sharing the stage with Zimbabwean groups among them, the Cool Crooners Mbare Trio and Afro guru Oliver Mtukudzi.
Other heavyweights expected at the second edition of the Festival include the internationally acclaimed Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sibongile Khumalo and Themba Mkhize.
Bernie Bismark, who is the festival director, said this year's festival has grown bigger and better. She said Masekela was happy to come and perform in Zimbabwe.
"He is making a comeback to Zimbabwe after so many years and he is looking forward to visiting Zimbabwe. He wants to connect with his fans and local musicians as well," she said.
"We have noted that several jazz groups have not had a chance to perform with international artistes, and this show will present them with the opportunity.
"We, however, need to emphasise that we have limited tickets," she said.
After the concert, Masekela and the participating groups will visit Victoria Falls the following day before returning home.
At 71, Masekela has entered his seventh decade marked by a jam-packed international live touring schedule that underscored one simple fact: "that Bra Hugh (as he's fondly known in South Africa) was born to play."
Indeed, alongside dates in Europe (Including a sold-out December show at the London Barbican) and the USA, 2009 saw Masekela even making his mark in new territories.