Acclaimed American Jazz Singer Dianne Reeves is in town ahead of the Safaricom Jazz Festival which will be held tonight at Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens in Lang’ata.
Goodmorning Nairobi Kenya I am so excited to be here and looking forward to meeting you at my concert at Uhuru Gardens! ✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨ ❤️#SafaricomJazz
— Dianne Reeves (@DianneReeves1) October 17, 2018
Dianne Reeves arrived in the country on Tuesday evening ahead of what could be the Jazz event of the year.
The legendary 5 times Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves Music can't wait to see you all at Uhuru Gardens as we enjoy some great Jazz Music. #SafaricomJazz https://t.co/QwGu8hd9bz pic.twitter.com/kFpe8qmgXM
— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) October 17, 2018
This year, Safaricom has partnered with the Enashipai Resort in Naivasha to have the five-time Grammy winner perform at Hell’s Gate National Park at the Jazz in the Park on Mashujaa Day. According to the event organizers, the Naivasha show is now sold out even with the individual tickets selling at Ksh.10,000.
#SafaricomJazz in The Park at Hell’s Gate is SOLD OUT!
If you are in Nairobi, don’t worry, we got you! You can still catch 5 time Grammy Award winner @DianneReeves1, Italian Jazz band Double Cut and our very own guitarist extraordinaire @TheChangeKato at Uhuru Gardens tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/T1jOfsCwG8— Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) October 17, 2018
Dianne Reeves has received the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings – a Grammy first in any vocal category. Featured in George Clooney’s six-time Academy Award nominated “Good Night, and Good Luck,” she won the Best Jazz Vocal Grammy for the film’s soundtrack.
A message from Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore reads, “We are honoured to be yet again hosting one of the most influential jazz musicians in the world for the concerts in October. As we promised when we launched Safaricom Jazz in 2014, we will keep bringing world-class talent for Kenyan jazz fans.”
The stage is now set ahead of the event tonight. Dianne Reeves, who is the first woman to receive the Jazz Legends Award, yesterday held a Master Class where she shared her experiences with artists in Nairobi at the Michael Joseph Center.
In what will be Dianne’s first performance in Kenya, she will be backed by Kenya’s very own sensational jazz guitarist, Kato Change and Italy’s Double Cut band.
The Naivasha show will also feature the young and sensational Kenyan Jazz band, Ad Hoc.
Dianne received a Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2015 for her latest studio album, Beautiful Life.
Kenyans are undeniably excited to see what kind of performance Dianne Reeves will put up for them. Speaking on Wednesday, the Jazz Sensation said, “We will do new music, some music that we have recorded before and, perhaps, something that we’ll just make up on the spot that will be dedicated to your country.”