Grammy-winning jazzman Bob James to play Accra festival

Slated for 24 to 26 June, the forthcoming festival is expected to build on the success of its 2015 edition, which featured jazz guitarist Earl Klugh, himself a Grammy winner, who performed on a night that saw also performances by Ebo Taylor, Aka Blay, Kyekyeku and Bernard Ayisa.

Klugh succeeded the smooth jazz exponent Peter White, who headlined the first edition of the festival in 2014. The singer Wiyaala performed at the opening of the event as well.

The date of this year's festival, which was supposed to be held in February, had to shifted. According to a report quoting a source at the corporate communications department at Stanbic Ghana, the shift was to permit further negotiations between the organisers and team of the potential headliner. “We have established a track record that needs to be maintained,” said the source. “After Peter White and Earl Klugh, we had to follow up with another class act and Bob James perfectly fits the bill.”

Bob James, a jazz keyboardist, was awarded his first Grammy award in 1981 for One on One, an album recorded with Earl Klugh. The award was in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist), a Grammy category that no longer exists. Double Vision, his collaborative album with David Sanborn, released five years after One on One, received another Grammy.

Besides James, other performers at the 2016 Stanbic Jazz Festival are yet to be announced.

For more information visit the Stanbic Jazz Festival website or watch the video for last year's edition below.