Hamptons Live Jazz Summer fest to premiere styles of jazz

Jazz enthusiasts, clubs and groups will on the 1st March be treated to the first ever jazz summer festival dubbed ‘Hamptons Live Jazz Summer fest,’ which will take place at the Duma FM grounds.  According to the organizers, Hamptons Promoters , the festival will feature different styles of Jazz that include  Afro, Classic, bebop, Ragtime, hot, cool, swing, Vocalese and mainstream classics in a serene outdoor open air setting.

 
“The first Hamptons Jazz Summer-Fest of its kind in Gaborone will captivate mature audience and musicians alike and is a highly anticipated ‘happening ‘in Botswana and neighboring countries. It will be a daylong celebration of local and international world class music that celebrates jazz in style. The festival will be steeped in the relaxing ambiance of good music, great company, good wine, champagne, cocktails and other beverages. The envisioned friendly festival will feature a day to evening concert in a spectacular open-air location featuring world-renowned musicians and djs’. We envisage an event of celebration and fireworks,” explained one of the show’s promoters Debbie Smith.

 
Smith stated that through the festival, they aim to promote local artists to a global audience and also to align them with international artists. “We aim to create opportunities for local artists to further their development by promoting events where they can participate and collaborate with renowned international artists, both locally and abroad and contribute towards establishing Botswana as a significant destination for eminent musicians, artists and audience,”she explained.

 
Furthermore, Smith said their plan is to make the festival an annual celebration of jazz music that will become Botswana’s anticipated festival of the year and also to extend it to two days.
The Hamptons live Jazz summer fest has a lineup of jazz maestros  such as South Africa’s Hugh Masekela, Tshepo Tshola, Freshly Ground and Sharp Jazz 9 from  the UK while the local lineup consists of Nnunu Ramogotsi, Shanti Lo, Ndingo Johwa and  artists of other genres like Vee Mampeezy, Shumba Ratshega and Kabo Matlho.

 
“We are yet to confirm another UK jazz artist and Samantha Mogwe. We added other musical genres to create an exciting mix as well as to cater for other people in the audience,” Smith said.
Commenting on the organization of the event, she said the audience will experience that which they have never seen before. “What I have observed in most shows is that the main act usually performs very late but with this show that will not be the case. Therefore people should not miss out on any performance and should come on time. The safety of our audience is also our priority; our security systems will be on the lookout both inside and outside the event. The Hamptons Promoters also want to see more Batswana jazz fanatics travel internationally, so part of our prize-draw promotions entail free tickets to London to one of our festivals .The detailed package has quite a ‘wow’ factor for the lucky 2-3 Batswana couples that will win,” she said.
The show’s tickets can be purchased at the Grand Palm Hotel with the silver ticket selling at P350, Gold P1000, and Platinum P1500.