EARL KLUGH,LAGBAJA THRILL AT JAZZ FESTIVAL

Source: nigeriafilms.com

November 8, 2006; Lagos Nigeria: It was two days of fun, frills and thrills at the MUSON Centre Onikan Lagos for the Muson Jazz Festival sponsored by Celtel Nigeria limited and Ericsson.
For two days Friday November 3 and Saturday 4, 2006 it was the best of Nigeria, Lagbaja jamming with Earl Klugh, the world acclaimed guitar jazzist who was in Nigeria for the festival.

The two-day event was compeered by the numero uno stand up comedian Ali Baba who gave a good account of himself as he took control of proceeding dishing out rib cracking jokes. The first day was a VIP event complemented with a 3-course dinner while the second day was an open day with light refreshment.

Lagbaja opened the stage and as expected of him, he gave a good account of himself with his stage act and typical African heavy per this dexterity in the saxophone is never in doubt as he dished out tunes that have made him the household name both in Nigeria and internationally. The guests could not but move to the rhythm as he dished out his popular tunes such as African Calypso, You Never Far Away, Surulere, Toun Terin, Skentele Skontolo and others.
Earl Klugh, the multi talented Grammy award winner who has collaborated with legends such as George Benson, Bob James, Michael Jackson, Al jahrule, took the stage after Lagbaja with a six-member band and the performance was electrifying. The 53-year old jazzist who has had thirty years on stage and nominated for Grammy award eleven times relieved the old memory with his evergreen tracks. The audience could not help but applaud throughout his performance for the two days.
The climax of the event was the joint performance by the two bands; it was simply electrifying as the best of Nigeria jammed with the best of America. It was a synchronisation of the heavy African percussion of 'Bata' and talking drums as represented by Lagbaja and jazz wind and pipe instruments of Earl Klugh. The roof literally came crashing as the audience could not help gave a standing ovation to the joint performance as Earl Klugh gave account on the guitar and Lagbaja on the saxophone.

Speaking in the same vein after the event, the spokesperson for Celtel said that the company is not only ready to actualise its brand but promise of making life better in area of operation, but that its involvement with music, culture and arts will be to rejuvenate and rei. He promised that Nigerians would see Celtel doing more of this often.

Speaking after the performance, Earl Klugh also thanked Celtel for sponsoring the event, which brought him to Nigeria for the first time. He said he loved Nigeria, the people and their appreciation for his music. He promised to come back to the country in no distance future. Lagbaja in the same vain said it was total evidence jamming with a great icon like Klugh and expressed his gratitude to the organisers and sponsor, Celtel.

By: Alonge Michael (NFC)