Dudu Manhenga launches her third recording, ****Towards Alignment****, at The Mannenberg on Fife Avenue this Wednesday. (Pictured: Dudu Manhenga performs at the Nguva Yedu Youth Festival earlier this year. Photo by Jekesayi Njikizana)Another colourful afro-jazz adventure, the latest offering is a double CD recorded from *****Solo Encounters with Dudu Manhenga**** over four days at the beautiful REPS theatre stage in March 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, said Manhenga.
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.
According to Manhenga, the live performances saw her reach a new level of delivery, a new high in quality, the achievement of a production of international standard something of which Zimbabwe could be proud.
After ****Out of the Blu**** in 2003 and ***Jula**** in 2007, the 2009 album charts the artists development and growth, and is 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, Zimbabwean traditional, township, jazz, latino, and a cultural cross-breed of Zimbabwes 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.
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****, appearing at Johannesburgs Arts Alive festival in September, and with Mozambican artist Mingas at Maputos Franco Mozambicana in October, before returning to Zimbabwe to perform with Color Blu alongside Italian visitors Ital-Jazz and Oliver Mtukudzi.
Post published in: Music