KEY POINTS
- Jazz residency spans Zimbabwe and Zambia this September.
- Concerts headline Zimbabwe Jazz Festival in Harare and Bulawayo.
- Project offers mentorship and also workshops for young musicians.
A multinational group of jazz musicians will take their sound across Zimbabwe and Zambia this September as part of a cultural residency designed to build bridges through music.
The project, Frank Salis Experience, The Zambezi Sessions, brings together artists from Switzerland, the United States, Italy, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over two weeks, the ensemble will stage concerts, run workshops, and also engage with communities, with stops timed to coincide with the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival.
Jazz residency fosters cultural dialogue
Swiss Hammond organist Frank Salis leads the quintet, joined by trombonist Alex Wasily from the US, Italian drummer Max Covini now based in Zimbabwe Zambian guitarist Mr. Chanx, and also Zimbabwean vocalist Theresa Muteta. Organisers say the residency is designed to inspire exchange between musicians while giving young local talent exposure to global mentorship.
Jazz residency highlights Zimbabwe Jazz Festival
Concerts in Harare and Bulawayo will headline the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival, further marking the residency as a fixture in the country’s expanding jazz circuit. Workshops at schools and cultural centres in both Zimbabwe and Zambia will extend the project’s reach beyond the stage.
International partners support jazz residency
Fanny Gauthier, Director of Alliance Française Harare, said the Zambezi Sessions underline how jazz can bring people together. “This project is more than just a musical tour; it is an opportunity to create a shared experience, celebrate our differences, and connect through the rhythms of jazz,” she said.
The initiative is backed by several partners, including the Embassy of France in Zimbabwe, the Embassy of Switzerland to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, the US Embassy in Harare, the Embassy of Italy, and the Alliance Française network across Harare, Bulawayo and Lusaka.
