Kampala — WHEN I heard that there was an Afro-Jazz band playing at The Lawns, I thought I would be hearing something like Oliver Mtukudzi or Miria Makeba. I was in for a surprise. Their sound can almost be compared to Lira or Zamajobe, with fewer vocals.

"I swear to you, you can literally just lay your head back, close your eyes and pretend they're not there, literally. No go ahead, close your eyes," Ajay, the owner of the beautiful venue, says.

And he was right. The music is so relaxing you just let it wash over you while you sip on a cocktail. The clincher is that they hardly sing, it is almost all instruments hence perfect for background music.

ilégé is the one band that has impressed me with their wide variety of instruments that are all used to the maximum. The 'Afro' in the jazz is created with conga drums, a thumb piano (akogo), shakers, a tube fiddle, and a traditional harp (adungu).

Milégé is a Luo word meaning "metallic ankle rattle", like the Banyoro's runyege. Historically, the milégé were used to announce the arrival of the chief. The dancers went out ahead of him and everyone had to prepare because the chief was coming. Milégé Afro-Jazz Band are a Christian band that took the name to symbolise the arrival of the king, Christ.

When I asked band manager Francis Manana how their message gets across with no words in their music, he said simply that they explain it after the show. "Oh yes, people always come and ask us for an explanation."

One of the songs I noticed they played had one line, "Kankutwale awali amazzi " (Let me take you to fresh waters). Probably from Psalm 23 where the shepherd "leadeth me beside the still waters".

Manana also insisted that jazz is jazz, it does not need to be embellished with words. "It's like when you hear a bell, you know something is about to happen," says Manana. Yes, like the trumpet on judgment day.

I was impressed by how much the musicians were enjoying themselves, dancing to the music, smiling to each other like they had a secret joke only they could share. When I asked about this camaraderie, I got a simple explanation of how, during practice they sometimes feel a presence from the Holy Spirit that settles over them and they are inspired to create new music. This is what brings these young Christian musicians together and strengthens the bond among them.

The few words the band actually sang were a range of different languages, including Luganda, Kinyarwanda and maybe Luo. I actually remember saying to Ajay, "Please don't let them sing". The music was that good! Probably the most impressive thing is that all the numbers they did were their own original compositions. Well, all but one Carlos Santana number.

They already have roughly 23 songs they have written, but when I asked about an album, I was disappointed to find that they do not have one yet, although they assured me that they were working on a CD that would be out soon.

If you are still not convinced, go to The Lawns next Thursday at 7:00pm and catch Manana on the electric guitar, Elaine, Dinah Oundo, Andrew Ahura, Gerald Mbuya and Rachel Asianut in action. I guarantee you will be impressed by their talent, especially since most of them only have about three or four years musical background.

Also, since their only payment for the music they devote themselves to is their weekly gig, one has got to admire their devotion.