Another Int. Jazz Day Concert delights fans at +233

Spanish-American trumpeter Milena Casado performed at the International Jazz Day concert on May 3. She was backed by the GHJazz Collective at +233 Jazz Bar and Grill in Accra. The audience appreciated her melodic and harmonic textures.

Casado started her set without speaking. She launched into "Thula Mtwana," a piece by Bheki Mseleku. The haunting track showcased flexibility and creativity. The band played with vibrant energy, taking turns for solos and creating beautiful harmonies.

The next piece was "Nana Freme," which blended folk song with jazz. It was charming and unpretentious, earning warm applause from the audience. Afterward, Casado expressed her pleasure to be in Ghana. She thanked the GHJazz Collective and +233 management for the event.

The band continued with compositions by saxophonist Bernard Ayisa, pianist Victor Dey Jr., and Casado's own piece "Resilience." This piece featured inspiring poetry from Ghanaian poet Poetra. The performance was gripping and invigorating.

Brazilian-American singer Jackie Ribas also performed that night. Some audience members recognized her from last year's concert at +233. Ribas delivered long notes and scat-singing that were well-received.

She reworked classics from Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Michael Jackson, and Aretha Franklin. Ribas noticed some Brazilians in attendance and promised a samba performance. When she did, it got people dancing, ending the evening on a high note.

Some patrons lingered to mingle with the musicians afterward. They agreed they thoroughly enjoyed this year’s concert, organized by the Ghana Jazz Foundation with +233 Jazz Bar and Grill.

International Jazz Day was established by UNESCO in 2011 to promote jazz music worldwide. Since 2012, concerts have been held on April 30 at +233 to celebrate this day. However, this year's concert took place on May 3 instead.