This was during the ‘Jazz Sunday' held at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre over the weekend. Performers were (in their order of appearance on stage) Freestyle Avenue, Step By Step, Shanik, Itallo Dlamini, Themba Mkhize and Stimela.

Though the crowd was a bit disappointing, all the groups excelled in their performances. The crowd mostly businessmen and their families and those who are from the sophisticated class were receptive to all the music delivered.

This was the fist event of its kind in the history of the Trade Fair. The event was competing with the soccer match between the local national team and Angola. Everyone blamed the match for the disappointing crowd.

Trade Fair Organising Committee member, Sibusiso Msibi, said the event was an eye-opener to him in that he was able to see how much talent the country has.

The four local groups were impressive such that Themba Mkhize, one of the most proficient pianist ever to come out of South Africa had to pause and listen. Later he commented on the music which he said was exceptionally rendered.

Mkhize who was accompanied by an equally exceptional eight-piece band made sure he fed jazz lovers with the best of jazz. He performed tunes picked from his three award winning albums. Mkhize's command of the piano was beyond question. His chord work and solos coupled with arrangements and vocal harmonies make his music irresistibly appealing to all who love clean music. The music was punctuated by vocal parts and sporadic brass interventions here and there. When the band was performing, revellers were doing nothing, except drinking from the flowing river of shear creativity and class. Mkhize's band members were Sphiwe Kubheka (drums), Michael Phillips (bass), Philpot Nqilkela (guitar), Adam Howard (trumpet) and Siya Makxuzeni Trombone. Backing vocals were Gugu Cebekhulu, Nathi Gcabashe and Mbuso Khoza.

The last group of the day was non other than the Ray Phiri led Stimela. The band was in its element. The music was delivered in unmatched quality. Phiri and Nana ‘Coyote' Motijoane exchanged the role of lead vocalist as they performed some of Stimela's most popular tunes, which included ‘Zwakala, Whispers in the Deep', ‘See the World Through the Eyes of a Child', ‘I hate telling a lie', ‘Shadows Fear and Pain' and Who's Fooling Who'. Phiri urged revellers to listen carefully as he asked them to imagine seeing the world through the eyes of a child, which is the tittle track of the next song. Stimela also rendered a brand new composition ‘No condom No sex, One Condom One Round', which Phiri said is an awareness against HIV and AIDS. Stimela are Phiri (leader, guitar, vocals), Motijoane (vocals), Jabu Sibumbe (bass), Thapelo Khoma (keyboard), Isaac Mnca mtshali (drums), Lloyd Lelosa (keyboards) Ntokozo Zungu ( lead guitar).

Backing vocals were Silindile Mtini, Noxolo Radebe and Tom Mohlapi. Jephthah Nomvete was on saxophone and Siphamandla Bhembe was on trumpet. Bhembe is Swazi and former pupil of Salesian. Itallo Dlamini is his mentor.

Commenting about the crowd, Stimela's bassist, Jabu Sibumbe said the organisers need not worry, He then made reference to the yearly jazz show held at Maretele Part at Tshwane (Pretoria) which he said started with about 300 people, but had over 41000 jazz lovers two Saturdays ago. Stimela was part of the 16 groups that performed at the festival.

Further, Sibumbe believes that the country has a lot to gain if it constantly brings shows to the venue. However, he advised that the Trade Fair's ‘Jazz Sunday' concept should be maintained promising it would snowball into a big event in the county's calendar by 2010. “The event should remain a family affair and be marketed as such,” he advised.

Sibumbe was also very impressed with the local talent and promised to assist where necessary. He had particular interest in Shanik whom he described as a star in waiting. “She is still inexperienced and once she gains confidence she will be big in the region,” he observed. “She will be another Nency Sedibe,” he said.

He said he was ready to help connect Shanik with institutions that could help promote her music. “Already, I have arranged an appointment for her with one of SABC's programmes,” he said.

He also noted that local artists need to identify with their culture and language in order to make a name for themselves. “The world out there wants to buy an original idea, not what has been tried several times before,” he said.

Asked on a new album by Stimela, Sibumbe said there won't be any anytime soon. “We would have to release a live DVD of our songs first before we go to the studio,” he said, adding that the DVD project will be done in Swaziland. probably at the same venue (Mavuso) later this year. Shanik's manager, Bosco Ginindza has been mandated to co-ordinate the project. Sibumbe said the DVD recording would also include Shanik. “We want to work on that girl's music and get it on an international stage,” he said, adding that they would have to design the sets for Shanik's DVD such that they truly represent Swaziland in every aspect.

On a sad note Sibumbe revealed that Stimela's leader, Ray Phiri, had to rush back home (Nelspruit) after receiving a call with the news involving one of his children. He was still in the dark as to what could have happened.

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