Ugandans will pay top dollar for good indigenous stuff. The crowd at Kampala Serena Hotel readily forked out Shs70, 000 for a ticket to hear Ugandan saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa play cuts from his smooth jazz catalogue.

At precisely 7p.m., Katumwa started his set list with Welcome, the opening track off his 2007 album Coming Home. He was at home with this crowd that was anxious to hear him play jazz with an African accent.

Katumwa not only came home on Friday night. He proved he had also come into his own. Casual fans only familiar with his iconic staples My Joy, Welcome and Just For You were delighted with his new material on Nsiima, Luganda for "I Appreciate" and Africa, which samples the childhood folklore song imploring a headmaster not to forget his "coat".

This time, the background vocalists implore Africa to unite and take its place on the global stage. It is a song that thrives on fusion with traditional Ganda percussion rhythms pouring into a fine reggae beat. Katumwa took the song's fine progression a notch higher on Friday night abandoning his saxophone for a while to play pulsating Gishu Kadodi rhythms on the djembe drums while his lead guitarist plucked strings with his teeth.

Some of his less universally known material included Sanyu and Amata, the latter another rendition of a Runyakitara folksong, played against the backdrop of long-horned cattle/ milking graphics. It is hard to detach Katumwa from his church roots and the spiritual Nina Omukwano, which samples Grover Washington's Just The Two of Us is one song that celebrates that chapter of his life.

That slow-tempo song is neck and neck with the up-tempo Afro-pop flavoured Wamilele. On that one, Katumwa did not have to prompt the "savedees" in the crowd to provide the wamilele, wamilele mungu baraka ni Yesu lyrics which they sang along to his saxophone melodies. It is a pity Pastor Robert Kayanja in whose church Katumwa polished his technique walked in late long after the hallowed session was over.

Katumwa, who was dressed in a loosely fitting white two-piece African outfit, impressed every time he sustained a note on his musical brassware without running out of breath. A smouldering take on Kirk Whalum's My All and a predictable inclusion of the Dave Koz' anthem Together Again were among the night's highlights. The closest homage paid to Kenny G was in Katumwa's Coming Home whose execution is reminiscent of Songbird.

The band was "tight". Michael Ouma oscillated between the electric and acoustic guitars; Isaac Zimbe showed he was the versatile acoustic drummer in town while Samuel Bakkabulindi ethnic percussions seasoned Katumwa's pursuit to play jazz with an African accent.

Coming Home producer Victor Uringtho also lent his talent on the keyboards. The five background vocalists were mostly invisible and inaudible even with acclaimed vocalist Hum K among their number. Katumwa hardly spoke during the two-hour set but he was kind enough to do encores, just about the only endorsement an artiste needs to show he/she has left an imprint.

Hotel International Gives Back to Clients

The evening kicked off with a great opportunity for the guests that mostly comprised of scribes and top business personalities to interact as they sipped on several rounds of drinks that were on the house. The Kombat Dancers set the trend of entertainment for the evening with energetic great dance pieces including Indian dances while Michael Kasaija and Natasha Sinayobye got everybody clapping in approval as they unveiled their newly acquired Salsa dance antics.

With business all good at his Hotel International, Muyenga, city tycoon Godfrey Kirumira decided to give back to the hotel customers and all people that offer all kind of support in the day-to-day running of the hotel during a cocktail party. Mr Kirumira added the hotel to his streak of investments three years ago.

Before welcoming guests, he introduced Mr Patil Shahayan, who he referred to as "a man with international skills in the hotel business," as the the hotel's new general manager. Kirumira recognised some of the hotel's most loyal customers and rewarded each of them a bouquet of flowers. Kirumira said he got the idea of giving back to customers from his longtime friend tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia, whom he described as a big inspiration and financial supporter in all his business ventures.

Above the steadily flowing eats and drinks on the house, a business card draw was held and two lucky guests won fully-paid weekends at the Commonwealth Country Resort Munyonyo and Hotel International Muyenga respectively.

Among the key personalities in attendance was Minister Semakula Kiwanuka, Prof. Gordon Wavamuno, Crane Bank MD, Mr AR Kalan, as well as Rapid Response Unit Commander David Magara.