Strains of jazz blowing in the wind
Incognito starring London based Lankan singer Imaani
A light sea breeze sweeping over your face, as the soothing sounds of jazz and blues engulf you. If this sounds like a good way to relax and unwind then head down to the Colombo Jazz Festival (CJF) next weekend- February 18 and 19 at the Galle Face Hotel.
In its second year, CJF promises to not just be a music festival but a lifestyle event. Set in the gardens of the Galle Face Hotel, the festival will offer 20 hours of live jazz and blues music with other entertainment as well. The festival will be divided into several zones:Up in front there will be a casual picnic setting with picnic blankets on the lawn and gourmet picnic baskets on offer. There’s a pop up design market by PR featuring a range of upscale Sri Lankan designer brands including Pras & Danties, Maré by Touché, and Dodo Footwear and a pop up spa by Spa Ceylon, to browse through. For you foodies out there, the festival offers an amazing selection of seafood catered by the Galle Face Hotel and a wine bar operated by Wine World.
At a news conference held last week, founder and Chairman of the CJF, Gehan Fernando, together with representatives of the festival’s many corporate partners, announced the line up.
Chart topping British jazz ensemble, Incognito, which headlined at the Singapore International Jazz Festival in 2016 and 2015 will be the biggest attraction. The band, best known for its sophisticated funk and acid jazz sound, has performed in several international venues from Bulgaria to South Korea, to Argentina, including at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in 2005, the second largest annual Jazz Festival in the world.
Incognito will also feature Imaani, a London based singer of Sri Lankan origin.
Some 83 local and international artists from the United States, the U.K., Australia, Austria, India and South Africa, all of whom will be flown in courtesy of the festival partner Sri Lankan Airlines will also perform.
Brown Sugar, a local band known to anyone that frequents 41 Sugar, will kick off the two-day event. Other local artists include Jerome Speldewinde and Geoffrey Fernando of Purple Rain, who are set to perform on the first and second days, respectively.
For all those blues fans, the festival offers a special treat in the form of Mud Morganfield Jr., a Blues Music award winner and son of the famous American Blues artist, Muddy Waters.
| Who’s on when February 18: |
(Please see also TV Times)