Isaiah Katumwa is Uganda’s Jazz pioneer whose innovation has inspired and sensitized many to jazz, this self-taught saxophonist has converted many into jazz enthusiasts whose crowd and players is growing dramatically in Uganda and East Africa at large.

Much has been said and written about Isaiah Katumwa than any other instrumentalist in Uganda where he was born and raised. He has been dubbed the country’s leading jazz artist, the best saxophonist in East and Central Africa, …arguably East Africa’s best jazz artist’, ‘East Africa’s Kenny G’ and ‘Uganda’s sax wizard’.  The list goes on and on… but one thing is for sure, he is a living legend to the East and Central African music scene and is slowly growing this genre of music that fuses soul, smooth jazz and Afro-centric beats.

In Uganda and generally East Africa, Jazz did not have a significant presence on the music scene. Isaiah’s album ‘Sinza’ was a breakthrough event in 2006 opening doors that saw him featured on the BBC.

He continues in his attempt to challenge and influence the music industry for greater quality, skill, creativity and professionalism in not only jazz, but African music. Along with the traditional folk musical background, he has developed a blend of sounds to express his East African identity, smooth jazz influence fused into gospel message.

So “it is African, Smooth and Divine”

In 2010 he was nominated for two outstanding awards in the following categories:

1. Best Artist of the Year in Uganda – The Grove Awards (Eastern Africa)
2. Best Artist outside the United Kingdom – The Africa Gospel Awards (United Kingdom)

On the international scene he has not only featured on BBC but Africa Magic TV, DSTV’s Studio 53 and on several occasions Mnet, he has either shared a stage or opened performances for names like Manu Dubangu, Jonathan Butler, Miriam Makeba, Chaka Chaka, Oliver Mtukudzi, Phil Driscoll, Alvin Slaughter, The Flecktones etc. He is a qualified Sound Engineer educated in the UK. He has performed for more than 20 Presidents. Isaiah Katumwa is married man whose music will be sure to calm an anxious and restless spirit!

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