Tshaka Mayanja. PHOTO BY EDGAR R. BATTE
Tshaka Mayanja’s performance was amazing, melodically so for his finesse at conveying flexibility across genres, from something jazzy to reggae riddims in the title of Bob Marley’s Natural Mystic.
And as he got his fingers to achieve the range of pitches, sounds and frequencies, he coordinated his back-up set of musicians to achieve the precision.
Tshaka’s stage ensemble included Myko Ouma (Papa), one of the night’s surprise acts, who got drowned in his electric guitar as much as Michael Kitanda whose talent at blowing the saxophone was nothing short of startling, and excitingly so.
Fans could not have enough of the musical offering of the ‘Bosses of the Bass’ Qwela Junction, yesterday at Kampala Serena Hotel. The treat was captivating enough to get voices within the audience asking for more songs even as the headliners bowed and paid respect to fans who turned up at their showcase.
If they had it their way, they could have had the bass guitarists perform all night long. Sammy Kasule’s encore with Otuse ignited music lovers who were prior seated, to get on their feet and groove to the up-tempo music jam, its singer as much passionate as engaging.
Lost in the moment, Kasule concentrated on the string of his shiny coffe brown bass guitar after getting fans to clap in different patterns to follow and enjoy the tune.
He was complimented by fellow guitarists, Ernest Otim, Josh Mutebi and Martin Mutabingwa. The two musicians are equally soulful and animated musicians who afforded fans to some musical semantics as they frolicked and got lost in the moment of plucking the guitars and achieving delivery of beautiful sounds that got them encouraged through loud cheers.
Qwela Band, run by organiser of the Qwela Junction, Joe Kahirimbanyi, had its moments through back-up singers that came to the fore and utilised their time to shine thanks to their vocal prowess.
A winner in a raffle draw by Tusker Lite and Kampala Serena Hotel won a night for two at Lake Victoria Serena Spa and Resort. PHOTO BY EDGAR R. BATTE
Sandra Suubi and Masha David hit the high notes, so smoothly that were so smooth we could feel our skin pores opening up. JJ Bugoma (Julius Sengoba) was on the drums, Rodgers Tenywa on the first keyboard, Ronnie Wamuntu on second keyboard, Fidel Mambo on the lead guitar and Sam Dibya on the bass.
During Tshaka’s session Julious Nshaba took control of the drums, practically, in a rhythmical sense. And the production of the show was on point thanks to Fenon Events who pulled every trick in the book to see to it that the sound, lighting and visual effects were on point. In it all, Kahirimbanyi’s dream came alive, of bringing bring the bass guitar to the foreground of the show. Qwela Junction started in 2010 and has, over the years, provided a platform for musicians of different talent and musical genres to showcase their abilities to fans and music lovers.