Jazz took center stage in Lagos, southwestern Nigeria, as the Lagos International Jazz Festival returned with a residency session tagged the Uncommon Jazz Experience. Performers and organisers used the occasion to put a spotlight on a genre they say has only a limited presence in mainstream music conversation in the country.
The session came alive with a blend of instrumental and vocal performances. Musicians and singers took the audience on a journey through the many shades of jazz, in a sound described as smooth, soulful and steeped in musical craftsmanship.
Beyond the music itself, organisers said their long-term goal is to expand the reach of Nigerian jazz by taking local talent to major festivals around the world. They pointed to numerous festivals in Europe and America where they are working to place Nigerian jazz and jazz-related musicians.
The wider aim, according to the organisers, is to promote African music, African nightlife and African artists. One of them likened jazz to having a fleet of cars, calling the genre the kind of vehicle a person brings out once in a while, and describing it as music for the mature mind that not everyone is a fan of.
As part of that push, the organisers announced a partnership to make the venue the resident home of the jazz festival. Under the plan, the session is to be held there every month, on the last Saturday of each month, giving the genre a regular platform in the city.
For the artists, the event was also an opportunity to spotlight a form they believe remains underrepresented in Nigeria's mainstream. They argued that jazz has evolved from something once seen as boring into music that audiences can relate to and enjoy, and said they were proud to help push it further toward the mainstream as a form of entertainment.