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Picky Kasamba returns to stage

Life & Style
After almost three years away from active showbiz, Picky Kasamba returns to the stage during the Winter Jazz Festival running from July 21 to 24. Kasamba was an outstanding figure in Oliver Mtukudzi’s Black Spirits band for more than 20 years until he quit in 2008 to venture into personal business. Many will recall the […]

After almost three years away from active showbiz, Picky Kasamba returns to the stage during the Winter Jazz Festival running from July 21 to 24.

Kasamba was an outstanding figure in Oliver Mtukudzi’s Black Spirits band for more than 20 years until he quit in 2008 to venture into personal business.

Many will recall the popular synchronised dance moves that Kasamba did with Mtukudzi in addition to providing backing vocals.

He now runs Club 1160, a nightclub in Bindura, and has not been actively participating in music for about three years.

Kasamba comes to the Winter Jazz Festival courtesy of an arrangement put in place by festival director Josh Hozheri, which will see the vocalist and percussionist performing with youthful jazz outfit Too Open.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, Kasamba said he was elated to have a chance to show his expertise on stage.

“I am very happy with such an arrangement. I did a brief performance with Too Open early this year, but this time it will be a well-crafted combination,” said Kasamba.

“My business schedule does not allow me to be on stage so often and this will be one of those rare occasions for me to perform.

“We are starting rehearsals tomorrow (Tuesday) and everything will be well-choreographed and arranged when we take to the stage.”

Kasamba will lead the group in a few of his compositions, but the better part of the performance will be copyright songs.

Hozheri said he was looking forward to a festival with a difference considering that there were no foreign artists in this year’s edition.

“It promises to be a great festival where local artists will share different stages around the capital,” said Hozheri.

Cool Crooners, Oliver Mtukudzi, Mbare Trio, Sulumani Chimbetu, Dino Mudondo, Victor Kunonga, Jeys Marabini and many others will take turns to entertain music lovers for five days.

Kasamba will perform at Jazz 105 on July 23. His journey in music began in the 70s in Mbare where he worked with Orange Juice, which later changed its name to New Image.

He joined Mtukudzi in 1981, but temporarily left to work with the late Safirio “Mukadota” Madzikatire.

Kasamba also recorded an album titled Vakafa Vatambura in 1991 with Mazana Black Spirits, but most of his career was spent as a backing vocalist and dancer for Mtukudzi.