Bernard Ayisa, Bob James for Stanbic Jazz Festival

Ghanaian tenor saxophone player, Bernard Ayisa and American Jazz player, Bob James have been announced as artistes for this year’s Stanbic Jazz Festival scheduled for the Accra International Conference Centre from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26.

Bernard Ayisa is a formidable player well-grounded in Ghanaian popular music approaches as well as the traditions laid down by great saxophonists like Charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Sonny Rollins, Lester Young and Wayne Shorter.

A two-time, Grammy Award-winner, Bob James is a keyboardist, arranger and producer. He is recognised as one of the original founders of smooth jazz and is renowned for the complexity of his arrangements and instrumentals. 

Jazz lovers can look forward to his gripping tonal colours as he pushes through his own compositions and some time-tested jazz classics.

Well-known songs under Bob James’ name include Feel Like Making Love, Nautilus, Angela, Take Me To The Mardigras, and Westchester Lady. He has also collaborated with musicians like Earl Klugh, Kirk Whalum and David Sanborn and is a member of the formidable Fourplay jazz quartet. 

“We are presenting Bob James to cement the plan of making the festival a must-attend event on the jazz circuit. Stanbic’s association with such world-class talent is to buttress the point that we aim to deliver world-class service,” Stanbic Ghana’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Mawuko Afadzinu said recently.

Other artistes billed to perform at the festival are American saxophone player, Tom Braxton and from Ghana are guitarists Akablay, Kyekyeku and Constant Boty.

Sponsors of the three- day event include Graphic Communications Group Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions, Labadi Beach Hotel, Joy FM and Citi FM.