Event Production
Client: Bob Collymore Foundation
Location
Tamarind Tree Hotel
Attendees
5000
Duration
2
In October 2025, the Bob Collymore Foundation (BCF) elevated East Africa’s jazz ecosystem to historic heights by hosting the Nairobi leg of the inaugural African tour by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO). As a monumental extension of the BC International Jazz Festival (BCIJF) series, this highly anticipated two-day residency brought a 15-piece ensemble of the world’s finest virtuoso instrumentalists, composers, and educators to Kenya, bridging the roots of American jazz with the rhythms of the African continent. The residency was masterfully curated across two distinct formats to balance premium entertainment with deep community impact: Day 1: The VIP Dinner & Show (October 1st): Held in an intimate, upscale setting, this exclusive gala offered guests an exquisite culinary experience paired with a masterclass performance. The orchestra—alongside brilliant special guests drummer Herlin Riley, percussionist Weedie Braimah, and vocalist Shenel Johns—mesmerized the audience with a world-class repertoire, including selections from Marsalis's groundbreaking new work, Afro!. Day 2: The Fan Show & Education Day (October 2nd): The second day opened with a powerful Education Day and Masterclass, where the legendary musicians mentored emerging local jazz artists and youth from the Ghetto Classics program and the M-PESA Foundation Academy. Later that evening, the energy shifted into a high-octane Fan Show. Backed by an exceptional opening set from The Kaima Mwiti Quintet, Wynton Marsalis and the JLCO brought down the house, famously delivering a moving, big-band arrangement of the beloved Kenyan classic Malaika that left the crowd in awe. By executing a seamless blend of high-end corporate hospitality, public music appreciation, and grassroots youth mentorship, this landmark BCIJF event solidified Nairobi's reputation as a vital global cultural destination and beautifully advanced the late Bob Collymore's vision of changing lives through the power of music.
