Alliance Française Accra launches the first edition of Live in Accra
Festival from 25th April to 3rd May
LiveinAccraIn Accra, from Friday 25th April to Saturday 3rd May 2014,
Alliance Française Accra will launch the first and highly expected edition
of Jazz and Fusion Festival: Live in Accra! A ten day festival with live
music and workshops, master classes, visual art exhibitions, movie screening
and literary events taking place in different venues in Accra. A
closely-knitted collaboration among embassies, as well as foreign and
Ghanaian artists has been developed to make this event an international one.
Guests such as Nicolas Genest, a famous French trumpeter who collaborated
with Femi Kuti, Alpha Blondy, Jacques Higelin, the award winning Ghanaian
poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes, the talented flutist Dela Botri, the
Franco-Congolese quintet Franco Na Bisso and many other artists will be part
of this festival to spread the good vibes of Jazz in Accra.
In the 60?s, Ghana was bustling with live music and Jazz tunes all over the
city almost every night. The idea of this jazz festival was born with the
wish to rekindle a small part of this and bring Jazz back to Accra!
Full programme:
On Friday 25th April, the festival will showcase Nicolas Genest for the
opening concert. He will be accompanied by the Sobedo Project from the young
jazz generation in Cotonou, the talented Ghanaian pianist Victor Dey and the
children from the Wonderful Street Academy, Anani School, Lincoln Community
School and Ecole Jacques Prevert. Indeed, a lot of trumpet and Jazz music
is expected this day! (10GHC, 5GHC for AF students and members, free for
children below 12 years).
The concert will be preceded by the launch of an exhibition by renowned
Ghanaian painter Larry Otoo and his artwork relating to jazz music (cocktail
from 6pm).
On Saturday 26th April, the Ghanaian author and poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes will
perform art poetry and Jazz at the New Morning Arts Café Theatre and
Creative Centre in Tesano. He is the winner of the 2014 Mahogany prize and
was recently awarded the - Commonwealth short story prize for his short
story, Blue bird. (Free)
On Sunday 27th April at 6pm, an Apero Jazz will be held at the Republic bar,
featuring Kyekyeku and Tommi Quinci. They will explore jazz with the
Balkan-Gypsy flavoured Clarinet as well as both the Afro and Spanish tinge
guitars. Don?t miss this exciting evening. (Free)
On Wednesday 30th April, our traditional Paillote Takpekpe will take place
at 7:30 pm with Ehalakasa and its project, CADENCE, will be a mix of poetry,
jazz and spoken word lyricism with live band instrumentation. (2GHC, 1GHC
for AF students and members, free for children below 12 years).
Later on the same night at 9pm, the +233 Bar & Grill will celebrate
International Jazz Day with ?Great Women of Jazz? in honour of Ella
Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson and Nina Simone,
presented by four amazing vocalists, Ofie Kodjoe, Brenda Joyce, Sandra
Hudson and Michelle McKinney-Hammond, featuring the amazing Sound Factree
(20 GHC).
On Thursday 1St May at 8pm, +233 Bar & Grill will host 252 Jazz Band, Dela
Botri & Hewale Sounds, Sound Factree and guests (Rate: 20 GHC) and on the
next day, live Djs and live bands will perform during a Jazz Fusion night
for the concert Jazz 2 Soul from 9pm (Rate: 40 GHC).
The closing concert will take place at the Alliance Française Accra’s main
stage on Saturday 3rd May, with Franco Na Bisso! This Franco-Congolese
quintet pays tribute to Franco Luambo, the Father of Congolese Rumba and
combines the best musical traditions of Zaire with contemporary European
jazz music. They will recreate Franco Luambo?s musical atmosphere for a
great evening of music. ! (10GHC, 5GHC for AF students and members).
Aside these multiple exciting concerts, the festival offers the curious
ones, jazz lovers and musicians different master classes and workshops
related to Jazz music and production techniques such as the brass master
class with Nicolas Genest, sound & light workshop for live events, poetry &
jazz with Nii Ayikwei Parkes, sound recording with Colter Harper, a whole
day of jazz with Dr. Royal Hartigan and the jazz ensemble, Tune up your
performance by jazz tone productions and a lecture on Ghanaian music & jazz
with Colter Harper.
