For three full months the Zambian guitar legend ‘Sir Jones’ has been in Europe now. On his program have been studio session as well as a number of festivals.
Reason for the trip was a major album production of the award winning Zambian vocalist Yvonne Mwale who recorded her latest album in Frankfurt (Germany). She invited Sir Jones as well as a percussion player from Tanzania over for the recordings, followed by a tour to promote the album. Yvonne says: “When planning for the album recording I had not to think twice. I know that we had to bring musicians over from Africa to maintain the african spirit in the music. And when it comes to guitarist from Africa I don’t know anyone better then Sir Jones.”
‘Sir Jones’, as Jones Kabanga is widely known, was awarded several times as the Best National Lead Guitarist and just recently occupied this trophy for himself at the Zambian Breweries Zambia Music Awards in 2013 and 2014.When recording Yvonne Mwale’s album Sir Jones made good use of a unique collection of vintage Jazz-, Rock- and Concert-Guitars made by popular brands such as Gibson or Ibanez.The recording was follow by performances at various concerts and festivals all over Germany. After meeting Nigerian actor Mama G at the European-African Film and Music Awards in Frankfurt Sir Jones performed at Yvonne Mwale’s album launch in Frankfurt, followed by the Hakuna Matata Festival in Wiesbaden, the Afrika-Festival Stuttgart and the Afrilu Festival in Ludwigshafen.Last Monday Sir Jones finally returned back home to Zambia where the local community of musicians was awaiting him.
