WOMEN OF JAZZ TAKE TO THE FESTIVAL STAGE
18 OCT, 8PM, BOOK CAFE
Harare is buzzing, and the second day of the OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ
& WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL presents an exciting double-bill of two
popular women artists of Zimbabwe who embrace the jazz genre - PRUDENCE
KATOMENI and HOPE MASIKE at Book Café on Thursday 18 October, 8pm. The
two ladies welcome the opportunity to
introduce DOWN TIME QUINTET (“pure passion for jazz”), joining the
festival courtesy of the Embassy of Italy. Across the city at
Celebration Centre, presents a wonderful Dance Spectacular from 7pm

Darling of the jazz stage PRUDENCE KATOMENI, flitting in and out of the
jazz circuit over many years has been regarded by more than a few as
one of the greatest jazz singers Zimbabwe has produced in the current
era. She never fails to delight with her amazing vocal range,
extraordinary poise and power, and memorable performances. Long before
she graduated from the Zimbabwe College of Music Jazz Programme a few
years ago, Prudence was already well known in jazz circles, performing
with leading jazzists of Zimbabwe, including Jazz Invitation and many
more. Now with her own ensemble and her debut CD ‘Prudence’ selling hot
off the shelves, the gifted jazz-ista is leading the pack with a
fabulous performance to touch the hearts of everyone, and always ready
for the jazz arena.
Modern mbira princess HOPE MASIKE has
returned to Zimbabwe after travelling in the world and studying music in
Norway, and brings with her a fresh sound with influences from all
over, from which she creates exciting musical experiments, now with
mbira crossing over into jazz. Backed by KAKUWE, (the backing group
formed in their Zimbabwe College of Music days) she is popular and busy
on the Harare music scene, delighting fans and growing audiences in the
last few years.

She has been a participating artists in regional
collaborations such as UMOJA, and landed in Harare last year to perform
with new-found friends from Mozambique and Sweden in the group
MONOSWEZI. The ‘world’ group will perform again in Harare later this
year. Hope released her debut CD ‘Hope’ in 2010, and her second CD
‘Hope, Love and Chocolate’ in 2012, both of which have received good
airplay on national radio. She continues to deliver great performances
both at home and abroad, to much acclaim.