Kenny G Storms Nigeria

With the event now just three weeks away, the question many fans and industry practitioners have been asking is “How did Mike Aremu get the great Kenny G for Sax Appeal?”

On behalf of Mike Aremu Vision (MAV), a team of dedicated singers, instrumentalists and performers, Aremu announced last week that “all is set for this year’s edition of Sax Appeal and it promises to be one night you will never forget, To those that were at the event last year, we promised to bring Kenny G on board and it is my joy to announce to you that he will be performing in Nigeria for the first time this year.’’

The musician’s announcement surprised many. Kenny G is big fish; moreso the bestselling act had never been to Nigeria.

And as fans and music lovers gear up for the event that has been tagged “The Jazz show of the year”, the organizers have confirmed the full set of acts (from four countries: Nigeria, South Africa, the United States and England) getting set to perform at the third edition of Sax Appeal, one of which is 56-year old Saxophonist Kenny G.

“Getting Kenny G was really easy, my team and I agreed on having Kenny G perform at the 2011 edition of Sax Appeal last year, and then we began speaking to our very good friends at Wave FM in California. Sometime this year, we got to speak to his management team, and then they agreed to come to Nigeria in July. A couple of meetings and exchanges and here we are.”

Born in Seattle, Washington to a Jewish family, Kenny G grew up in a Jewish community. His first contact with a Sax was at age 10, when he heard someone performing with one on The Ed Sullivan Show. He has since then grown to become a successful instrumentalist whose recordings make the pop charts, and rock fans on all four corners of the earth.

Aremu continues: “It’s a privilege, and I feel honoured that Kenny G agreed to grant our invitation to perform at Sax Appeal, and all I can say is that this year’s event will exceed people’s expectations. Last year was really fun, we made sure people enjoyed themselves, as it was a night of quality music. I’m so looking forward to this year’s gig.”

Aremu says seven of Kenny G’s aides will leave their base in Vilnius, Lithuania on Friday on Friday July 1, 2011 to set up in readiness for his arrival from Warsaw, Poland(where he is currently performing) on Saturday, July 2. He is expected to come to Nigeria with an 11 man crew including sound engineers, backup singers, security personnel and his management team.

Joining Kenny G on stage is two time Mobo Award winner Yolanda Brown who last year teamed up with Aremu and Judith Sephuma from South Africa. With a brilliant live performance by Sephuma laced with wit and charisma, the trio claimed the crowd’s attention at The Shell Hall Muson Centre on Saturday July 24, 2010 as Brown and Mike Aremu supported Sephuma’s vocals with powerful saxophone solos.

Other acts this year include rising Nigerian Singer Waje and South Africa- based Nigerian guitarist Kunle Ayo. This is the first time Waje and Kenny G will be performing at Sax Appeal.

“Judith, Kunle Ayo, Tosin Martins and Yolanda were phenomenal last year, and our guests loved and enjoyed the show” says Aremu.

“It just goes a long way to show that our people love and appreciate good music. Everyone was there, from politicians to Governors to entertainers, all the way to Entrepreneurs which is the essence of Sax Appeal- Bringing everyone together through rich live music.”

Sax Appeal, a concept of Mike Aremu Vision is geared towards the rebirth and promotion of live musical performances in Nigeria, also aims at creating a platform for interaction between sponsoring organisations, corporate executives and entrepreneurs coming together under an entertainment-friendly environment.

Past editions featured Bez, Tosin Martins, Judith Sephuma, Cobhams, Yolanda Brown, Kunle Ayo, Yinka Davies and Mike Aremu.