The House of Jazz sneak peek

It was not a launch, Christine Mawadri said. This was now their home, and usually what many homeowners do when they get a new home is invite their friends and have a housewarming.

So, what took place on Saturday night at the spanking new home of the House of Jazz was a housewarming. Even if a stage was put up, and several performers were on hand for the night.

“I know, we’ve come from far,” said Mawadri. “But I’ve always told you that we were serious about establishing an entertainment centre where Ugandan talent can be on show. House of Jazz is not only about holding concerts. So, this is it. Our new home.”

House of Jazz first came to our attention in 2023, when they hosted the Kampala Jazz Orchestra and Kenyan musician Bien-Aime Baraza, formerly of the group Sauti Sol, at the Latitude 0 hotel in Makindye.

A year later, they paired the orchestra with singer Maurice Kirya in the Orchestra in the City at the Uganda Golf Club green. In both cases, it was a combination of fine dining and music, especially jazz.

Then they went quiet. That was because they were cooking, said Jackie Karuletwa Kakiza, one of the directors. And what they cooked was served on Saturday at their home on Nviri Lane, Kololo.

And it was their friends on the guest list. Notably missing were the usual Kampala celebrities that seem to be at every function, and the only musicians I saw were Solome Basuuta (who is set to perform at the official opening at the end of the month) and Isaiah Katumwa. Even the media was missing.

What was not missing was the music, obviously. And good food. Herbert Ssesamba on acoustic guitar and David Olara on saxophone welcomed the guests, before Essie Ariho took over the main performing duties.

After a couple of jazz songs (including Ella Fitzgerald’s evergreen Summertime), which she did reasonably well, it was on to pop. K!mera did his thing and got everyone dancing, and Valentino wound up the night with creative dancing.

The three women behind the House of Jazz (Mawadri, Candy Wekesa Okoboi and Karuletwa) promised to make it a centre of discovering Ugandan talent.

What was loudly missing was actual jazz, but the three ladies promised that jazz in Uganda had finally found a home, and for us to watch this space. And we shall do so with bated breath.