In commemoration of jazz month — my top ten jazz songs

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WHAT'S UP!

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, culminating with the International Jazz Day on April 30. Jazz has not had much success among Ugandans, as has been chronicled over the years. But still, there is a significant number of Ugandans who find a warm place in the complexity, innovation and creativity of jazz.

I’ve asked several friends and jazz lovers to compile a list of their favourite jazz songs and why. I’ll put them together and we’ll publish them on April 30, to commemorate International Jazz Day. Meanwhile, to start things off, here is my list, in no particular order:

Fly me to the moon — Nat King Cole (1962)

Written by Bart Howard in 1954 and first recorded by Kaye Ballard, it has become one of the most covered jazz songs ever. Frank Sinatra’s version (with Count Basie and arranged by Quincy Jones) became the first song to be played on the moon by Apollo II astronauts; others include Johnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson and Smokey Robinson. It won Joe Harnell a Grammy Award in 1963. But none of them really compares to Nat King Cole’s cover, and if his skin were much lighter, no one would be talking about Sinatra.

At last — Etta James (1960)

This jazz standard song was James’ breakout song and became her signature song. The song’s harmonies, melody and instrumental arrangement are typically jazz, although some critics insist it is more akin to blues and soul. Many great jazz vocalists had tragic lives, but I can just see Etta soaring above it all and declaring how she has succeeded, at last!

Summertime — Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1959)

Another ‘jazz standard’, which has been recorded more than 1,000 times! I had to include Louis ‘Stachmo’ Armstrong, and people who know me are probably surprised that I did not choose What A Wonderful World. But I always felt there was something incomplete about that song, it doesn’t take you where you expect it to. So instead, I picked this, one of the greatest jazz duets of all time, performed by jazz royalty.

Do You Feel Me – Kirk Whalum

The ultimate ‘lift me up’ song, Whalum takes no prisoners with this one. He grabs you by the scruff of the neck and forcibly lifts you with the sheer strength of his saxophone play. While the majority probably know him for that iconic sax solo in Whitney Houston’s I’ll Always Love You, this one hits you right in the gut and makes you jump up and say, “yeah, I feel you!”

Amazing Grace — Omega Okello

I remember the shock on a friend’s face when I first played this song for them, when, halfway through the song and without missing a beat, Omega started singing in Luganda. I also remember another friend saying, ‘… shoot, that child can sing’. Omega is not a child, of course, but a full-grown woman. But she sings with that childlike freedom that resonates well with jazz.

African Sketches — Pops Mohammed (1997)

It is somewhat a wonder that South African jazz does not get much attention in these streets, but during my many trips to that country, I always made sure I picked up a CD or two (yeah, those years of CDs). One of the collections had this exquisite song by South African multi-instrumentalist Pops Mohamed. Off the album A New Hope, listening to it evokes images of the African savannah and the joy of a life free and full.

Bo Molelekwa — Moses Molelekwa (1994)

One night in Johannesburg, our hosts took us to a jazz club, Jazz at the Bass Line. I’m not sure if Moses Molelekwa was there that night, but I remember an outstanding pianist mesmerising the crowd. I bought a CD on my way out, and it had this song by Molelekwa. I just could not get enough of it. I’ve always had a soft spot for the piano, and here was this young guy finding new ways to make the piano interpret music, away from the traditional European standards. He was undoubtedly a genius, but unfortunately, he tragically died young, as many geniuses are wont to do. And sadly, the club also closed.

Stimela – Hugh Masekela

This was a hard one to choose from the late Masekela’s extensive discography. But the memory is still very clear in my mind when I watched him perform this song at the Serena. Of course, I was taking pictures, but stopped, spellbound by the sheer mastery on show. I’ve seen many international artists just go through the motions when they perform in Kampala, but Masekela was determined to capture the fickle Kampala crowd, who usually just go to be seen. And that he did. If there were to be an African anthem, this song should be it. It talks of the exploitation, social injustice, but also of the Africans’ struggle and resilience.

Smooth Jazz Is Bumpin’ — Paul Hardcastle

Some jazz purists insist that smooth jazz is not real jazz, and it also took me a while to warm up to it. It was even a greater shock when my friend Daniel Wilson introduced me to Paul Hardcastle as a jazz artiste. Hardcastle playing jazz? No kidding? But he grew on me, and yeah, smooth jazz is bumping in my life.

Malaika (Live Version) — Isaiah Katumwa

One of the beauties of jazz is the freedom to do whatever the hell you want, and I’ll forever be grateful to Isaiah for taking this traditional Tanzanian song and ‘jazzifying’ it. We are incredibly lucky that this concert was recorded live at the Serena, and y’all can check out snippets on YouTube. The arrangements of this song are exquisite, and the freedom of the vocalists captivated the audience, and you can clearly see tears in their eyes, especially after Rachel Namubiru’s incredible last verse. This is my go-to song when I’m feeling low.

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