The newly formed jazz group, the City of Roses Jazz Ensemble, is to provide their own wave of melodious sounds when performing on Friday (18/08) in the Odeion on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). This will be the quintet’s first show since their launch earlier in March this year.
The band will spur audiences and give them a real treat at this evening event, which is free for jazz lovers. Musically inclined music genres, as colleagues at the Odeion School of Music (OSM), they have teamed up to satisfy the need for jazz music.
“So, these jazz enthusiasts often listen to recordings. They will be performing hard bop, cool jazz, featuring songs by John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davids, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Victor Young as well as Bobby Timmons,” said Joseph Kunnuji, a band member who plays trumpet.
“We realised that there is no vibrant jazz scene in Bloemfontein and decided to create one. We believe there is a future for jazz in Bloemfontein as long as we can, with other musicians who play jazz here, create a jazz scene, hosting jazz jam sessions etc,” said Kunnuji.
Forming the band was not difficult as the strong relationship of two members, Claire Röntsch and Kunnuji, helped with bonding.
“Two of us performed with various jazz groups in Cape Town and upon being hired at the OSM, we wanted to continue performing. We realised that there is no vibrant jazz scene in Bloemfontein and decided to create one. There are several jazz lovers in the city but there is no jazz scene,” said Kunnuji.
The other three members are Marc Röntsch (bass) Nicol Viljoen (piano and keyboard), and John Smit (drums).
The show at which entrance is free for jazz lovers is set to start at 19:00.
