Evangel Gimandu and Asiku Asiku performing at the Piano Evenings music show. PHOTO | EDGAR R. BATTE
Each musical note played, every vocal piece performed and poem recited was food for the souls in attendance at the second edition of Piano Evenings at the Victoria Ballroom of Speke Resort Convention, Munyonyo last Friday.
Talented organist and pianist Paul Luggya set the tone and stage for the smooth musical sail with a special edition of the national and Buganda anthems. The night’s co-emcee, Dr Mitch Egwang introduced the first performers: Louise Nakayenga, a pianist and founder of the Piano Evenings, Dickson Nsubuga – a double bassist, and Luggya, who exhibited dulcet masterly of their fingers, each on their instruments, as they did a rendition of Beyonce’s Dejavu.
True to the night’s dub, ‘A World of Colour’, patrons were served to different music styles and themes through the years; from the Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World which was preceded by a poem recited by the event’s co-emcee Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva .
Topacho ‘Omukongo’ came from the back and made his pitch-rich presence as he crooned out the melodious song. Jimmy Ssenkusu played the piano, Nsubuga the double bass and Evangel Gimadu the violin. Diana Gowa came on to rendition Bagatelle by Ludwig van Beethoven . Asiku Asiku sang the vocals and played the harp alongside Dr. Ham Muliira on the piano as they did The Saints by Paramount Jubilee Singers , getting the audience nostalgically singing along to the popular song .
Shardakirti Thawrani and little Kajal Talreja voyaged the audience to India with Habibi Ya Nour Al Ain with a well- choreographed dance. Asiku Asiku further tickled the nostalgic nerve with Ennyonnyi as he took music lovers on a trip down memory lane and back to childhood when it seemed okay to think free and big when the sky was never the limit but an imaginary playground.
Asiku later on returned to enchore the show as he shared a stage with Masanja Eddie Innocent, Apio Rebecca and Topacho to melodically bring us back home with an organic offering of local instruments in harmony; the thumb-piano, tube fiddle, harp complemented with optically entertaining dance that followed the rhythmic patterns to which the dancers shook their waistlines in tande with their feet and hands.
One of the notable performances during the Piano Evenings was by vocalist Hannah Grace Nyombi whose vocal range was so powerful it left the audience in awe as they excitedly clapped to applaud her. Alongside Ssenkusu, she did Climb Every Mountain by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
In the audience were some notables; the Nnabagereka (Queen of Buganda Kingdom), Sylvia Nagginda Luswata, former finance minister Maria Kiwanuka, second deputy Katikkiro (Buganda Prime Minister), Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, among others.
