‘The greatest pianist in East Africa’
Harun Kimathi Rimbui aka Aaron Rimbui. Photo/PAULINE ONGAJI
What you need to know:
- Many know him from his involvement in the Tusker project Fame, but his prowess in playing the piano surpasses this competition.
- In his career, he has worked with the likes of Derrick Haddon, Bobby Rickets, Emmanuel Jal, Suzanne Owiyo and Erick Wainaina just but to name a few.
- “I’ve also had a chance to curtain raise for musicians like the great Hugh Masekela, Kirk Franklin and Gerald Albright among others,” he says.
Whenever his skilful fingers touch the keyboard of a piano, be sure to get amazed by the beauty of the sound that will follow.
It is a fact that has made Harun Kimathi Rimbui aka Aaron Rimbui, considered by some as the greatest pianist in East Africa, a title that though he modestly accepts, he still terms it as a gift from God.
Those who know him say it wouldn’t take long before his popularity as a pianist surpasses the East African boarders, and see his name placed in a list of other great pianists in the world.
A GREAT PIANIST
At the launch of the first Safaricom Jazz Festival concert in February, Steven De Bruyn of the Belgian band Rhythm Junks described him as a great pianist, a fact that was witnessed the moment he rose for the live performance with the group.
Many know him from his involvement in the Tusker project Fame, but his prowess in playing the piano surpasses this competition.
In his career, he has worked with the likes of Derrick Haddon, Bobby Rickets, Emmanuel Jal, Suzanne Owiyo and Erick Wainaina just but to name a few.
“I’ve also had a chance to curtain raise for musicians like the great Hugh Masekela, Kirk Franklin and Gerald Albright among others,” he says.
Perhaps something that may be new to many is the fact that apart from his usual identity of playing the piano especially on TPF, he has been in the forefront in popularizing jazz music in the country.
“I’ve been hosting the bi-monthly jazz festival dubbed All That Jazz for a while now,’ he explains.
It is a fact that has led to him getting invitations to perform in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and even the U.S.A.
That aside, together with Erick Wainaina, they have written and produced the theme song for BBC’s Tinga Tinga Tales currently running on Disney channel.
