The Worldwide Jazz Day Live performance held at Accra’s +233 Jazz Bar & Grill on April 30, 2026 turned out to be a musical marathon of kinds, however for probably the most half, the Ghana Jazz Orchestra’s first public look on the occasion turned out to be an enchanting expertise.
Celebrations had been held all over the world on this present day, and +233 centered on homegrown expertise, bringing out some critical younger musicians who symbolize the way forward for jazz in our nation.
Maybe what many within the viewers had been wanting ahead to was the Ghana Jazz Orchestra. The orchestra, consisting of 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, two tenor saxophones, two alto saxophones, and a rhythm part of bass, drums, piano, and percussion, was performed by pianist Victor Day Jr.
They’d sufficient time to carry out a five-song set by Pat Metheny (Track of Bilbao), Marcus Wyatt (Prayer to Nkosi), Bernard Isa (Kuku’s Theme), Lee Morgan (The Sidewinders) and Climate Report (Birdland).
If among the younger gamers had been nervous about their history-making look, they shortly dispelled their nerves and customarily gave an excellent account of themselves. The orchestra’s interpretation of saxophonist Aisa’s music was a shiny spot. It started with an evocative Ewe chant by trombonist Eli Amewood, joined by an association of handclaps from different members.
Isa is the orchestra coordinator. He stated it could formally launch on a date to be introduced within the close to future. He stated the thought was to create an African showpiece with 30 members.
The Jazz Brothers Quintet, consisting of drums, bass, piano, trombone, and trumpet, opened the night time with a gently swinging piece that served as a springboard for all 5 gamers to shine in their very own proper. Nothing flashy. It was purely half-hour of straight ahead motion and strong potential.
GHJazz Collective integrated a number of younger gamers into their set. This was a useful indicator of how, along with the veterans, a blossoming technology of jazz musicians was rising.
Gedou Bray Ambory, 79, was a part of the Secondi Band, offering highlife-style jazz tracks, together with variations of songs by Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. Simigwa Man did not convey his treasured tenor saxophone and was a bit subdued that night time, however he nonetheless managed to heat up the viewers.
Keyboardist Carl Amoah’s 10-piece West Coast Ebusua Band closed out one other profitable occasion.
Have fun Worldwide Jazz Day right here with a mature, multi-layered sound.
