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‘Towards Alignment’
The Mannenberg
Wednesday 11 November 2009
6-8pm
[Picture attached: Dudu Manhenga at the Nguva Yedu Youth Festival, March 2009 Picture by Jekesayi Njikizana]
On Wednesday 11 November, DUDU MANHENGA launches her third exciting recording ‘TOWARDS ALIGNMENT’ at The Mannenberg in Fife Avenue. Another colourful afro jazz adventure, the latest offering is a double CD of a top-quality live recording of some of Zimbabwe’s best of that genre, made in Zimbabwe.
Towards Alignment was recorded from ‘Solo Encounters with Dudu Manhenga’ over four days at the beautiful REPS theatre stage in March 2009, a daring move by the young diva to get closer to her audience in a setting where the finer nuances of her music could be more fully appreciated. “I feel more alive on stage than in the studio, and the studio does not allow for that spark of spontaneity - an occasional joke, or sharing of my life experiences - like I am able to do during live performances” she said.
The hidden challenge of a live recording, of course, is that there is no room for error, and the first recording has to be the best recording; it cannot be repeated in the live setting. As evidenced on the CD, the live performances revealed Dudu reaching a new level of delivery, a new high in quality, the achievement of a production of international standard - something of which Zimbabwe can be proud.
After ‘Out of the Blu’ in 2003 and ‘Jula’ in 2007, the 2009 album charts the artists development and growth, and a huge step forward. It features new compositions Udwendwe, Inspired by Nature, Aye Dudu, Amalobolo and Ngiyesaba, along with some songs from the first two albums now recorded live for the first time.
The music is a dynamic fusion of genres: afro, contemporary, Zimbabwe traditional, township, jazz, Latino, and a cultural cross-breed of Zimbabwe's Manica, Mashona and Matabele rhythms and melodies, with sizzling vocals.
Artistic support is everything, and is brilliantly delivered by backing band Color Blu, comprising Blessing Muparutsa (drums), Nick Nare (keys) and Enoch Piroro (bass), and for this recording features guests James Buzuzi (guitar), John Mambira (percussion), and backing vocalists Zanele Manhenga, Tino Bimha, David Machaka and Victor Muparutsa.
With the live spark and such an array of gifted musicians, Towards Alignment brings the best of live entertainment and quality recording together into a great third album.
The launch of the CD comes shortly after the launch of a continental album for the campaign against hunger project by Action Aid International-Africa, ‘Hunger Free, Music for Freedom and Justice 2009’. The album features artists from 15 other African countries, and includes two Dudu Manhenga originals, Is This the Life and Women of Africa.
Dudu has been busy in the region since the recording of Towards Alignment, featuring at Johannesburg’s Arts Alive festival in September, and with Mozambican artist Mingas at Maputo’s Franco Mozambicana in October, before returning to Zimbabwe to perform with Color Blu alongside Italian visitors Ital-Jazz and Oliver Mtukudzi.
Background
'OUT OF THE BLU' - 2003
After only a few years of studying and paying dues in the music industry, Dudu and Color Blu recorded their debut nine-track afro jazz fusion album 'OUT OF THE BLU' in 2003, which was warmly received by the music-loving public and contained songs which became hits like Mvura, Bengimthandile, Madlamini and a beautiful rendition of a medley of The Click Song, Iyaguduza and Shosholoza - songs that Dudu says ‘grew her up’ in the dusty streets of Pumula North in Bulawayo.
‘JULA’ – 2007
In 2007, Dudu released 'JULA' (- a Ndebele word meaning 'depth'), which aptly describes the musical journey on which she has reached deep into herself to find a music an identity that is unique and distinctive. In her own words, "The album is a synthesis of my experience so far in the music industry where I have sought my own space and realized my individuality – where I have come from, where I am going to and who I am." It features tracks such as Kudala (Long Ago), Zvapressa, and Izithukuthuku, an artist’s plea against piracy which also features prominent Zimbabwean artists Chiwoniso Maraire and Victor Kunonga.
Dudu & Color Blu
In her twelve years in the music industry, Dudu has performed widely at local clubs, corporate gatherings and festivals in Zimbabwe (HIFA, Winter Jazz Festival, Regional Jazz Festival, African Banking Cooperation Summer Jazz Festival ) and Grahamstown Arts Festival, Women In Arts Festival (South Africa), Nguva Yedu Thuba Lethu Youth Festival, Harare Jazz Festival, often sharing the stage with big names such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Dorothy Masuka, The Cool Crooners, Judith Sephuma, Ray Phiri, Jimmy Dludlu and the late Jabu Khanyile, Kunle Ayo, Ernie Smith, Ringo, Eric Paliani, Prudence Katomene, Kudzi Sevenzo ,Chameleon, Gang of Instrumentals, Kwani Experience, Mingas, among many, many others.
To add on to this colourful profile her backing group Color Blu has helped produce and record major musical projects in the country where Dudu has emerged as a creative director and producer. The productions include the Famba Zvakanaka (IOM Safe Journey campaign), Action Aid’s campaign against hunger, and Power in the Voice.
Dudu is also active in Pamberi Trust’s FLAME programme for the development of women artists, and Color Blu work with Pamberi’s Jazz Appreciation project to promote African jazz.
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Pamberi Trust
The Book Cafe & Mannenberg Jazz Club
Fife Avenue mall (upstairs), cnr Fife Ave/6th Street
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: 263- 4- 793182, 792551
www.zimbabwearts.org
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