SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Zimbabwean guitarist Maxwell Vidima thrilled jazz lovers at the recently ended Zimbabwe Jazz Festival hosted at Alliance Francaise de Harare on September 23.
The guitarist, composer, arranger and vocalist has worked and recorded music with many local and international musicians such as Jimmy Dludlu, Goldfish, Wiston Mankunku, Silvia Mdunyelwa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Ezra Ncukana, Stompy Manana, Oliver Mtukudzi and Allou April, among others.
Among the attendees who graced the festival was Penny Yon, a musician, writer, and jazz supporter who expressed her appreciation of Vidima’s performance after hearing the artist playing for the first time. “He proved to be an excellent musician, skilled in the innovative art of jazz, and a consummate performer who delighted the crowd with his particular music style in his own afro jazz compositions, and old favourites,” Yon told Standard Style.
“It was also good to see him encouraging the young musicians he played with, giving them solos, and their chance to shine. With a degree in Jazz Studies and wide experience behind him, it was obvious they all culminated in a great performance at this festival, and wherever he goes,” she said.
Max has worked on several musical projects all over the world among them the Silvia Mdunyelwa exchange program in Bogota Colombia, the Lost in New York, and the Purbayan Chattegee project in Kolkata India to name a few.
Max has recorded three albums with Universal Africa: Sagiya, Friends and Strangers, and his latest Time and Changes. Sagiya was nominated for the Metro Awards in 2005.
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The jazz maestro is currently working as a touring musician as well as a music teacher in a programme called the Magnet in Johannesburg.
Artists who were part of the annual jazz fiesta include Victor Kunonga, Filbert Marova and Friends, The Cool Crooners of Bulawayo, Vera, Patrick Lupi, Nicholar Mutuwa, and The Travellers Band. The Bulawayo chapter of the festival took place on September 22 at Alliance Francaise de Bulawayo and featured Josh Meck, Ngoma iNgoma, George Phahlane and Mahlaba.
Established in 2016, the Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust is the brainchild of Marova and is steered by a committee that comprises both jazz artists and lovers of the genre who aim to revive, promote, and preserve the jazz culture in Zimbabwe, providing quality entertainment and education. The trustees include chairperson Robert Basvi, educator, jazz fan, and property consultant Kumbula Chiweza as well as saxophonist, music administrator, and entrepreneur Tinashe Mukarati.
The festival is sponsored by the French Embassy in Zimbabwe with support from Fastjet, Total, Seedco, CFAO motors, and Utande.
Kunzwana Trust who have been supporters of local jazz for the past two decades offers promotional assistance.