What is Mama Jaz?
It is a creative music and jazz festival. This year's is the 8th edition and there will be indoor concerts, outdoor gigs, snippets of performances on social media, and a territorial celebration of International Jazz Day.
Where did the initiative to promote jazz in Mauritius come from? Is there interest in this type of music on the island?
It came from a conversation between eminent composer Jerry Léonide and my art lover self at the end of 2015. The first edition took place at the end of April 2016 and since 2017 it has become the only festival in the southern hemisphere dedicated to jazz that spans over a full 30 days.
Today, Mama Jaz has become a unique creative music and jazz festival on the planet.
The concerts and festival content, as well as their media coverage, reach more than 750,000 Mauritians!
Who are the headliners this year?
We value the Mauritian creative genius here at Mama Jaz but we also like to hear from international artists. For this 8th edition, Rouhangeze & Tomasz (Mauritius, Poland), Gran Bekar Luc Joly (Réunion, France, Mexico), Hanbin Lee (South Korea) and Eric Triton (Mauritius) will be performing at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis on Wednesdays; Philippe Thomas Trio (Mauritius), JYSE XP (Mauritius), Kolektif Desvaux Bertin (Mauritius), Samuel Laval Quartet (Mauritius) and Neshen Teeroovengadum Quartet (Mauritius) will be performing for the free outdoor sessions at the Creative Park in Beau Plan on Sundays.
What's new in this 8th Mama Jaz edition?
We are back to live performances without restrictions! Also, the music on offer is rich and diverse and artists will only be performing original compositions, so everything will be original.
What has been the response to Mama Jaz over the years?
Mama Jaz started in 2016 and has steadily gained momentum, reaching its peak in 2019. 2020 and 2021 were challenging and required us to innovate. We relied on social media, national television and radio. There was a massive following during that time. Today, the platform has a strong presence and we are focusing on its evolution and stability.
What are your personal favorites this year?
The Caudan Arts Centre concerts on Wednesdays in April are rare gems that music lovers will appreciate.
Why is it also important for you to have free outdoor sessions?
It is important to us that people leave their homes and are able to experience great collective outdoor events. These sessions are aimed at families, music lovers, and musicians.
For the indoor concerts, the setting is different, the production is more demanding and the sound and visual experience is of better quality.
So, how do we get access to the different events ?
Tickets for the indoor concerts held at the Caudan Arts Centre can be bought online through caudanartscentre.com. Access to the Sunday afternoons at the Creative Park in Beau Plan is free for all.
What would be the one thing you'd like to say to anyone who might not be into jazz?
Leave your preconceived notions behind and be open to this new experience.
