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Louis Mhlanga

From: Africa > South Africa, Zimbabwe

Genres: South African Jazz, World Jazz, Jazz

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Louis Mhlanga was born on the 10th of November 1956 in Harare Zimbabwe. He started playing guitar at the age of 10. Being completely self taught he mastered the instrument by copying from records like Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and many other bands that were very influential in the late sixties early seventies. Besides the Western influence through radio broadcasts Louis investigated and studied the Southern and West African Guitar tradition intensively. He transferred the traditional Mbira patterns, which are well known all over Africa into a unique way of playing the guitar in an eclectic, modern way.

During his career Louis has worked and recorded with a number of accomplished and recognized musicians. He worked with King Sunny Ade in Lagos, Nigeria where Louis also produced some artists connected to King Sunny Ade. This proved to be a great starting point and a solid base for his ongoing musical career. More recently he worked with Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri, Busi Mhlongo, Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbuli, Jonas Gwangwa, Sibongile Khumalo and Vusi Mahlasela.

In April 2000 Louis produced Mahlasela's 4th album and featured on it. Before that in 1999 a live duo recording with Mahlasela resulted in the album "Vusi and Louis Live at the Bassline". He was involved with Thandi Klaassen's album "Two of a kind". This was a project initiated by Dutch Singer Stef Bos. Bos featured Louis on the album "De Onderstroom" for which he co-wrote the music of the title-song. Louis is to be found on another album called "Place of Hope" which is collaborations with George Duke, James Ingram, Al Jarreau, Diane Reeves a.m.o. Louis can also be heard on "Fire in the Engine Room" by Andy Narell, and following their South African tour they released the album "Live in S.A."

Louis recorded some great work under his own name - his solo album "Mukai" and with "Music Ye Africa" in 2001 he put together a new group 'The Louis Mhlanga Band'Õ featuring musicians with a strong Jazz influence. They were invited by SAFM (one of South Africa's national radio stations) to perform at the Grahamstown Standard Bank National Arts Festival. The recording in July 2001 has resulted in the release of "Shamwari", Louis'Õ debut release on the Sheer Sound Label.

In 1998 he went to Europe to give workshops at several Conservatories to teach his Mbira transferred material to students. There he met Double bassist Eric van der Westen with whom he recorded in 1999 a beautiful duo album (dedicated to his daughter) "Song for Nomsa". It was the first time that Louis could be heard in such a spacious acoustic setting. From that album the song "Zvinoshamisa" was selected as the soundtrack of a video clip produced by Education International and NOVIB for their 'Global Campaign Against Child Labor and The Right for All Children to Education'. Through this connection with the Netherlands, Louis came across less common ground when he started to play in a jazz setting with the famous Dutch jazz group The Paul van Kemenade Quintet. He recorded the album "Zvinoshamisa" with them (containing the title song of course) and toured The Netherlands in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Louis' outstanding feel and touch have taken him all over the world. He has performed at major festivals like: The Sunsplash in Austria, Music Metisses in France, Rudelstadt in Germany, Masa in Ivory Coast, Dranouter in Belgium, Tribute concert for Lady Di in England, Stranger than Paranoia and Mundial in The Netherlands.

Louis Mhlanga's playing is very clear and bright; his melodic feel and superb sense of timing make him a true master on the instrument. This mastery combined with a deliberate yet delicate singing voice expresses what a special musician and human being he really is!

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World Traveller


Need Help listening to Samples? All songs just $0.99 each!

	Title	Length
	Rhumba All The Way w/Orchestra Baobab	5:44

	Afrika Ya Uya	6:00

	Shungu Iwe	5:09

	Spreading Some Love w/Ernest Ranglin	4:54

	Hona Ka	4:08

	Serina w/Oliver Mtukudzi	5:02

	Distant Lover	4:33

	Gumbo Muchochocho	4:14

	Kamba Kemaziso w/Habib Koite	6:20

	International Rhumba	6:16

	Mark Hakuna	4:43

	Zuva w/Busi, Oliver and Chiwoniso	4:42

	Chifamba	4:05

	Rudo	4:31

	Take Me	4:32

	What The Future Hours	3:22

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Shamwari

Louis Mhalanga's album Shamwari, is an album of Lusicous licks, groovy tunes, african-touched melodies for your mind & soul".

First of all it's a guitar album with easy melodies, flying around your head like butterflies. If you are in bad mood, this album will brighten you up. If you like to travel, this album might allure you to Africa.

Hona Ka (Look Here) is an example of this cheerful good-humored music without compromises. Louis Mhlanga plays his guitar in a relaxed manner.

The next tune Beira was inspired by a trip to Malawi via Mozambique. Beira is the main port of Mozambique. Anew we listen to Louis slightly striked guitar.

Africa Ya Uya (Africa has come). This continent has been in the dark a long time, this is time. The melody has a grooving teetering touch. Denny Lalouette's bass running is an impressive mirror to Louis' masterfull guitar play.

What Happened To Love? Louis comments: "So much fighting is taking place, where is the love peace we talk about so much?" Surprisingly the tune get's a Latin (Salsa) groove. If you know, that the roots of Brazilian music are in Africa you will not wonder. Andile Yena kicks the piano keys.

Distant Lover is a further best-mooded guitar tune. I'll leave this to your own imagination. Louis ' way of play is melody-orientated. The improvisations are all narrow-bundled to the melody.

On Chifamba (Move On) Louis Mhlanga shows another guitar sound, more with metallic strings.

Kugaisana Nevamwe Zvakanaka (Living together in harmony). We all know about the problems in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Louis tries to express his wish of peace, his dream of harmony. In the steady repetition the tune gets a dynamic conjuring attitude.

Shamwari, the title song means friends. We are all friends. Louis Mhlanga understands his music as a message. The message of peace. The harmony of his rapid but complex song structure is his signal.

Take Me. I've come a long way, this is where I am now. Louis ' music has a certain similarity to Jonathan Butler's music, simliar in the naturalness of the guitar sound.

Dzembira (Tune for thumb piano) is the last guitar tune on this vivid album. Those which love the african-touched guitar music will like this album full of enjoying and uplifting sounds.
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Need Help listening to Samples?

All songs just $0.99 each!

	Title	Length
	Hona Ka (Look Here)	4:08

	Beira	4:23

	Afrika Ya Uya (Africa Has Come)	7:55

	What Happened to Love?	5:57

	Distant Lover	4:33

	Chifamba (Move On)	4:04

	Kugarisana Nevamwe Zvakanaka	6:03

	Shamwari (Friends)	4:47

	Take Me	6:09

	Dzembira	4:59

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