11 Aug 2014

The much anticipated Mascom Live Sessions featuring Andy Narell, Louis Mhlanga and Kearoma Rantao lived up to its early promise of being a tidy affair and not your usual fully packed to the rafters’ type of event.

One thing that has always been impressive about BotswanaCraft is their knack for time and by eight o’clock Kearoma Rantao was already on stage doing what she knows best.

Having been out of the country for the Afrim awards, she did not show any signs of fatigue as she gave everything she had in her performance and had the crowd off their feet dancing to her serenading jazz melodies.

One jazz lover, Norma Konche in an orange dress with black leggings and boots was dancing up a storm and it was obvious that the lady was having the time of her life and there were instances where she took to the dance floor all by herself much to the appreciation of the crowd.

Clad in an elegant evening dress, Kearoma exuded sophistication and at the same time simplicity was her biggest asset as she did not try too hard and she nailed it.
With her amazing vocal chords and voice range, Kearoma was in a class of her own and she can only get better with time.

Unlike other artists in other genres, jazz artists seem to get better as they age and one can only imagine what she can do in 10 years to come. Young and old, the crowd at Botswana Craft was mixed up as they all enjoyed a night of jazz music and all had a super cool time.

After Kearoma finished her set, it was time for steel pan player Andy Narell from New York and the legendary guitarist Louis Mhlanga from Zimbabwe to continue the fun filled night with their jazzy tunes.

The two musicians are heavyweights in their own right and having them under one roof, let alone on the same stage was always going to be one for the history books.

Both renowned to be greats in their respective careers, they had the crowd on their feet, had them standing right by the stage and dancing to their melodic collaborations.

Andy on the steel pan, Louis on guitar and the night was made for most jazz lovers as they could not contain their excitement. Talent is not something that one can learn, but rather you are born with it and hone it over the years, and the two gentlemen certainly were born with the gift of entertaining people and have worked hard to be at the level they are.

Botswana Craft and Mascom Live Sessions never disappoint when it comes to having top notch entertainment, and music lovers always get what is due to them having spent their hard earned cash.

Jazz lovers are already looking forward to another edition of Mascom Live Sessions that will feature Oliver Mtukudzi and Culture Spears slated for October 10 and one can only anticipate what Oliver and Culture Spears have in store for their fans. Ends