KEZIAH JONES THE GENIUS OF BLUFUNK

[OSINACHI]

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:11 am Post subject: KEZIAH JONES ABOVE THE JONES

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KEZIAH JONES: IN THE BLUES OF THE HEART AND SOUL OF AFROFUNK MUSIC.

KEZIAH JONES is the Nigerian born world-class guitarist who seems to be the one and only surviving exponent of his ⌠Blufunk■ music. A soulful fusion of African American blues spiritual and classical rock music guitar. KEZIAH JONES▓ version is highlighted by his African roots with the attributes of Afro beats and some highlife to create a unique art form in modern music. And I prefer to call it ⌠Afro funk■. Many people have referred to hearing echoes of Jimi Hendrix and the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti. But, to refer to KEZIAH JONES, as the ⌠Prince of Afro beats■ is erroneous, because, his ⌠Blufunk■ is not Afro beat. And KEZIAH JONES is not competing with the successor of the great ⌠Abami Eda■ his first son Femi Kuti who has taken up the mantle of his late father and has taken his Afro beat to the next level of the evolution. There is no need for comparison. What Femi does magically with the horns, KEZIAH JONES does so mysteriously with the strings. And both of them are proudly Nigerian. KEZIAH JONES is worth studying.



I see KEZIAH JONES more as an artist than a musician, because of the rich poetry of the lyrics of his songs. And when you watch him performing them, you would be wondering if he has not been overtaken by the essence of his innermost spirit, because he is so enraptured in his guitar that you would know that he is playing the heartstrings of his heart and soul.

I have decided to study KEZIAH JONES as an artist and his music as an art form. Because, if we see him as another phenomenal funk guitarist or musician, we shall lose the true essence of the spirit of his genius.

KEZIAH JONES is yet to peak. And he has a lot of room for improvement in the composition and conduction of his music. He needs a better music producer and director. And I recommend Quincy Jones of America, because he has the thorough knowledge of music to be able to analyze KEZIAH JONES▓ genius. If KEZIAH JONES will only let Quincy Jones to produce his next CD, he will increase the mileage and patronage of ⌠Blufunk■ beyond the precincts of his selected audiences in Europe, Africa and even in Japan. Because, presently KEZIAH JONES is yet to explode. The publicists have not been packaging his music properly. There is no hype to celebrate the charisma of this awesome artist of Afro funk music. They should not make KEZIAH JONES look like an intellectual musician with a kind of enigma. Because, his charisma is what will take him into millions of more homes and not his enigma.


BY EKENYERENGOZI MICHAEL CHIMA .
MARCH 9, 2005.
For ⌠TALKING DRUMS AFRICA■