Biography:
Isaiah Katumwa is a Ugandan jazz musician and saxophonist. He hosts a weekly program on Urban TV , called "Jazz with Isaiah" He is credited for turning many people in Uganda into jazz lovers as he won them over with his jazz skills.
As a passionate young teenager in the early 1990s when he was given a saxophone by his guardian, an instrument he had never seen before, he decided to make the best use of such an opportunity even when he knew he had no teacher to take him through saxophone lessons.
This self-taught saxophonist has stood side by side on stage with global icons like Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela, Jimmy Dludlu, Seweto Kinchy among many and he is Uganda's jazz pioneer and gem. His innovation has inspired and turned many onto jazz. He has converted many into jazz enthusiasts and has turned the genre into one the most sought after in the Country.
His experience and love for the saxophone dates back over 20 years, but he broke onto the international professional music scene eight years ago at a time wen jazz in Uganda and in east Africa did not have a significant presence on the music scene.
In 2006, Isaiah released ‘’Sinza” album that even featured on BBC focus on Africa. This was a break through album with the mega-hit song “Sinza” that earned him wide national and international recognition. He continued with jazz in his attempt to influence the industry for quality, skills, creativity and professionalism in not only jazz but also African music.
He has also either shared a stage or opened performances for names like Manu Dibangu, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Chaka Chaka, Oliver Mtukudzi, Erikah Badu, Phil Driscoll, Alvin Slaughter, Jimmy Dludlu and many others.
He is the endorser for C.E WINDS, a US based saxophone manufacturer in Florida. He has performed in Europe- London UK, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and in a couple of West and East African countries. He has also performed for heads of states frequently and so far more than 20 presidents and has performed for his Uganda’s president countless times.
Besides music, Isaiah has a passion to, mentor and inspire young musicians and talent which he does through “The Talanta Music. He also carries out school career mentorship tours where he visits different schools to share his experiences, struggles, dreams and personal path to success. This has inspired thousands of young people from different secondary schools and universities.
Apart from hosting a television show “Jazz With Isaiah”, He also hosts a daily request radio show program “The Isaiah Katumwa Show” on 106.1 Jazz FM where he mainly plays favorite jazz tracks from the world's renowned jazz musicians as requested by the listeners
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