Local jazz outfit set for Malawi

The band’s project manager, Stephen Tsoroti, said the five member band is set to perform in Malawi as part of the band’s regional and international project aimed at increasing its visibility regionally.

“The gigs seeks to create synergies with other regional artists and we hope that these shows will increase the band’s visibility regionally and internationally,” said Tsoroti.

He said because the band would be performing at several festivals in Malawi, the possibility of the group being identified for regional collaborations were very high.

“We are yet to get confirmation of the venues where we are going to perform but we hope that our team is going to stage good shows, which will place us on the international arena,” he added.

Led by Manu Chimbakura who is the lead vocalist, Band Tower comprises of Alexander Mpundu, who plays the keyboards and contributes as a vocalist, Roger Mbambo plays the lead guitar, Conrad Masimba: drums and Macknon Kadzombe plays marimba.

The band plays percussive jazz, which is influenced by traditional intonations.

Its singing is restrained and intimate with varying cadenced rhythms and melodies which has in the past been described as a welcome voice for a generation that has witnessed the breaking down of cultural and stylistic barriers in African music.

To date, the group has produced two albums, Mavambo (Dawn 2007) and the evocative eight track album Zororo (Tranquility.

The group has performed in a number of European countries including, Norway in Oslo, Starvanger at Norwegian Independence, Prague in Slovakia, Antwerp Belgium, and Trafalgar Square in United Kingdom where the Band has performed alongside the legendary Afro-pop music group Ossibisa Peace Festival Brighton and Luton Carnival.

In Africa, the band has performed alongside, rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide, Awilo Longomba, Anelique Kidjo at the Bi-annual Pan African Festival of Music (FESPAM) in DRC.

Back home, the band has performed at the Harare International Festival of the Arts, Chimanimani festival and at the Alliance Françoise, Harare, among other events.