Aloysius Migadde’s stage presence is nothing short of good, with an exhibition of confidence, as he holds forte with an instrument to produce melodic sounds.
Relatively new, he surprised many when he was chosen to play the lead guitar opposite Tshaka Mayanja in the Black Roots Unlimited at the annual Jazz Safari.
Elijah Kitaka, a music enthusiast behind the artistes booking Fezah mobile application had seen Migadde at singer Susan Kerunen’s concert at Sheraton Kampala Hotel and had recommended him to Tshaka
“Jazz Safari was special. It was the first stage where I was given the opportunity to play in my individual capacity, as one of the acts,” he recounts.
Starting Out
Migadde started taking music baby steps in 2006 while in Senior One at Uganda Martyrs High School.
Then a chorister in the school choir, ‘Les Voix Des Ange’, Latin for ‘Voices of Angels’, the choir was an opportunity for them to visit other schools during competitions
The sojourns enabled him grow his vocal cords- starting out as a soprano in Senior One, an alto in the third term of Senior Two, a tenor by Senior Three and a bass baritone in A-Level.
In Senior Three, he also started playing the tube fiddle (Endingidi) and taking on soloist roles in folklore performances. Along the way, he picked interest in the Adungu (bow harp) and later the acoustic guitar.
A guitarist from Rubaga Cathedral that noticed Migadde putting time, effort and passion in learning the guitar and offered some basic lessons.
“I started practicing on my own. During A-Level, I joined the brass band which exposed me to more instruments,” he recalls.
By this time, he was aware music was what he wanted and thus, he fasten his grip on the guitar strings: “A friend had a guitar that lacked some strings, I think A and B and whenever I borrowed it, I enjoyed playing it,” he says adding that he played the guitar at every opportunity I got.
His friend offered to teach him some more though making sure he did in the view of adoring females.
As fate would have it, during Senior Six vacation, he ended up in Furaha Africa rehearsal.The band used to play near his home and he of course appreciated their sound.
Coincidentally, a friend of his played with them and thus implored him to join since Migadde was an instrumentalist as well as dancer and singer.
As a member. of Furaha, they played at Kisisira, a bar on Sundays, and at weddings and other social functions.
“When I joined university, I had mastered the trumpet and guitar though I wanted to find out which of the instruments would earn me more and majority encouraged me to stick to the guitar,” he explains.
Migadde was pursuing a bachelor’s degree of Arts in Music in 2013, when he landed an opportunity to play with Jaguza Band, this opened doors – soon, City Blend Band, courted him then to Baximba Waves where alongside Black Roots Unlimited, he is a permanent member.
He dearly holds his Gibson semi-hollow jazz guitar on stage and in studio where he is putting final touches to his debut album.
What associates say
Winston ‘Tshaka’ Mayanja- musicians
He has done his homework. Most importantly, he has identified one or two greats to emulate; George Benson and Norman Brown, I believe. Now he’s going to nail down his own identity, like Jimmy Dludlu did. Borrow from the best, and then create your own sound. He’s on the right path.
Kenneth Mugabi- Vocalist/Guitarist
I have watched him grow as an artist.He has used his patience with the degree of music and added a little jazz in it.
