On MLK’s birthday we presented the debut jazz concert of violinist HERITIER MAYIMBI and his group CoJazz. The concert successfully demonstrated the collaborative and community-building process that has become Operanauts’ hallmark. Having discovered this lively 180-seat theatre during our recent feasibility assessment trip to Kinshasa (August, 2015), it became the perfect place to introduce this exciting new art music form to a Congolese audience. (photo below courtesy of CoJazz)
We are especially proud of Héritier who has been participating in our 2015 Opera Fellowship program. He is a disciplined musical artist, the concertmaster for the OSK, and teaches music theory at the Institut Nationale des Artes (INA) in Kinshasa. Here are a few comments from the international, intergenerational audience we had hoped to engage:
“OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD! The music was amazing! The theater was packed and rocked right along with the musicians! Oh, you would have loved it! Armand played guitar with them!!”
“I was at the concert of Congo Jazz on Friday. The concert was fantastic!”
“It was fantastic! A real meal of oohs and aahs! Our [Congolese] friend said it was a total distraction from the problems and challenges that pile up. We all completely enjoyed it. Thank-you for this wonderful opportunity! Please let us know if you do it again.”
“Exceptional Congo jazz by CO-JAZZ! We enjoyed it with dear friends tonight. I love Congo jazz! So proud right now to belong to Congo!”