HARARE - Tuku Mtukudzi has been rehearsing in Norton with his late sons group the AY Band in readiness for collaborations ahead to carry on the legacy of the talented younger Mtukudzi, starting with the Harare Jazz Festival this weekend. We cant replace Sam because he is irreplaceable. No one artist can be replaced because we are unique as artists individually, Tuku told the AY Band on Monday as they rehearsed for the first time since the death of Sam and his close friend Owen, the groups sound engineer, nearly one month ago now. But the idea is to carry on with AY Band. We have to adjust without Sam and move on. It will be painful and difficult but we must be strong, Tuku said.
Sams band returned to their rehearsal venue at Pakare Paye Arts Centre still visibly shaken by the loss of their band leader. Regrouping at the venue – their home ground since the formation of AY Band in 2006 – brought back memories of the tragic loss on Monday 15th March 2010.
The band members broke down as they held each others hands, shaking, and heavy with emotion as tears rolled down their cheeks. Tuku led them in prayer and they observed a minute silence to the memory of Sam and Owen. But Tukus presence, as he joined the band for rehearsal, was reassuring to the youthful group.
Said Tuku: I will continue working with the AY Band. I have worked with them before and there is no reason why I should stop now. I regard the AY Band as my own children and it will be business as usual as we carry on Sams legacy.
From the beginning of this year Tuku had already intensified his collaborations with Sam and the AY Band featuring together at several of Sams performances including the Perekedza Mwana shows and the one-off Nzou neMhuru Mudanga in Harare.
Today, the band performs at Mushandirapamwe Hotel gardens in Highfield, Harare, The show is a free jazz gig which is an extension of the main festival where several local groups are performing taking jazz to the masses.
Martha Badza, AY Bands backing vocalist is rehearsing for some of the lead vocal roles for the jazz show: It will be very difficult to do Sams songs he had his style unique to him alone but we will try our best. The whole band will do amazing work in memory of Sam and Owen. – Shepherd Mutamba (tukumusik.com)
Post published in: Music