The hard driving, brass-dominated, sounds of the Juwata Jazz Band has been an influential musical force in East Africa for more than three and a half decades. Formed under the auspices of the National Workers' Union and funded by the Tanzanian government, the group has continued to inpire audiences with their exciting improvisations. The Juwata Jazz Band has gone through several name changes. Initially known as the NUTA Jazz Band, the group became the Juwata Jazz Band in 1977 after several members -- Muhiddin Maalim, Abel Balthazar and Hassani Bitchuka -- left to form Dar International, and, later, Mlimani Park. The band's name was changed to the OTTU Jazz Band after the National Workers' Union became the Organization of Tanzanian Trade Unions. Leadership of the band has also evolved through the years. While Saidi Mabera, a solo guitarist and composer who joined in 1973, directed the group in the 1980s, his role was taken over by Maalim who rejoined the band, along with Bitchuka, in 1991. Other prominent band members are trumpet player and vocalist Joseph Lusungu and saxophonist Mnenge Ramadhani, who joined in 1966, and lyricist, vocalist, second guitarist and bassist, Moshi Williams. While Tanzania has a very limited recording industry, the Juwata Jazz Band is one of many bands that record once or twice a year at the studios of Radio Tanzania Dar Es Salaam (RTD)