Riyadh: After three nights of Saudi and international musicians performing in the heart of the Kingdom, the first Riyadh International Jazz Festival ended at midnight on Friday.
Taking place at Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah and hosted by the Music Commission, each day of the festival showcased a brand-new lineup of impressive musicians, leaving guests spoiled for choice.
The third day of the festival featured Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote, Saudi jazz-fusion band Garwasha and Jamaican-American musician Masego.
In addition to the main stage, the festival included a Jazz Cafe where renowned clarinetist Peter Long and his orchestra performed each night with a rotating lineup of vocalists, including Saudi artists Nourah Sings, Mazen Lawand, Sarah Al-Shafie, Loulwa Al-Sharif and Abdullah Filfilan.
Al-Sharif and Filfilan joined forces for the first time to serenade the crowd with a performance featuring a mix of jazz standards and soul music.
“I am so happy to attend the first jazz festival in Riyadh. It is such an incredible feeling to see how excited people are about the music and to see them singing along with us. The engagement was incredible,” Al-Sharif said.
The singer presented an original jazz piece, “Min resala,” which translates to “from a message.”
She said: “The crowd loved the song. I have always wanted to create a jazz song in Arabic. I also appreciated the lineup that was chosen and the inclusion of local artists. Next year, I hope to be on the main stage.”
Al-Sharif has performed at numerous events in AlUla, Ithra in the Eastern Province, King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah and at the Soundstorm festival in Riyadh.
Filfilan told Arab News that he has listened to Al-Sharif's music for a long time, describing the collaboration as “exciting.”
He said: “It was a beautiful fusion of music with Loulwa and me. The crowd was amazing, upbeat and interactive. It gave me the feeling that I wanted to do this more often and never stop.”
The night ended with a closing performance by Masego, who treated guests to an unforgettable musical experience with hit songs including “Tadow” and “Navajo.”
Masego is known for combining his signature saxophone with elements of trap and house sounds, dubbed “TrapHouseJazz.”
The artist crafted an impromptu song — featuring the Arabic words “shukran” (thank you) and “afwan” (you’re welcome) — using a looper pedal, an electronic device that creates instant recordings on repeat.
