By Benjamin Njoku

One came to Lagos and started hearing about popular Jazz 38 Club with The Extended Family Band. If you have not visited the club located then along Lekki-Epe Expressway, to listen to ‘refined old school tunes’ in the 80s, you have not been to Lagos at all.

The band led by Tunde Kuboye, and his wife, Fran Kuboye, who died in 1997, was the dawn of the new era. It was a marketplace of ideas, where talented musicians fused classical Afro rhythm with jazz to form Afro jazz. Kuboye, together with his 15 man versatile ensemble were the talk of the town then.

It was an awesome experience. But while the master composer guided the band through its concerts, gigs and appearances within and outside the shores of the country, it suddenly disappeared into thin air, leaving ‘old school enthisiasts’ and fun seekers without a replacement.

Formed in 1978, the band members were reputed to be the pioneers of Jazz music in Nigeria and also, happened to be the first in the country to put out an album on compact disc.But suddenly, it went off stage, so also Uncle Kuboye. It was rumoured some time ago, that the Extended Family Band was planning to stage a comeback. But with the passage of time, this rumour has been unfounded.

Nonetheless, Kuboye has written his name in gold, having touched many lives through his music in Nigeria and beyond. As a celebrated musician, a performer par excellence, legendary Kuboye whose great heart and deep jazz roots and history is enviable has made his mark in the Nigerian music scene. Then, the slogan was “If you love music that touches the heart and soul, if you love music for matured minds, if you love originality and creativity, if you love jazz, no doubt you will love Tunde Kuboye.”

But today, the slogan has changed as lovers of jazz music are daily missing the magic wonders of the legend. One very striking thing about Kuboye,is his evident humility. Spend some time with him and you will instantly fall for him. His smile is infectious, just as his company is equally interesting and stimulating. No wonder his fans and family adore him and desperately longing for his return to his first love-music. In 2011, Kuboye reappeared when he performed at The Life House, with his Extended Family band.

Those who graced the event testified that it was “a truly special evening filled with musical walks down memory lane; excellent musicianship; smoooooth quality jazz and the warmest ambience.” What more! The buzz is that Kuboye’s disappearance from the scene is to pay way for his son, Babatunmida to step into his shoes. For whatever reason, what the legend’s fans are missing today, his son has emerged to fill the gap.

The London-based RF Engineer, who has always been on the periphery of the music industry by virtue of his regular sessions at his parents’ popular Jazz 38 Club with The Extended Family Band and even released an album to lukewarm reception years back is now keen to give top music stars in Nigeria a run for their talent and artistry.