Jazz musician vows to stick to the genre

By Khulani Nkabinde

Bulawayo based jazz musician, Hudson Simbarashe has said he has a passion for the genre and will continue to produce such music despite lack of support.

Simbarashe told Standardlife&Style in an interview on Tuesday that jazz music did not have much support as compared to what he prefers to call “popular” music.

“If you compare jazz music to other genres such as house music, you will realise that jazz would sell less in a longer period because it is aimed at a mature audience who also take time to buy it,” said Simbarashe.

He however said he would continue to play jazz music.

“My music is heavily influenced by jazz. There are people who would want us to believe that there is no jazz music in Zimbabwe but Jazz is African music, and we are entitled to play it.”

Chenga Ose is a nine track album with two instrumental songs, which are Fallen Trees and Zim Blues. Tracks to look forward to include Africa, Pabva Gondo, Mapfunde and Fallen Trees.

Simbarashe’s music has roots in African philosophy.

“I read a lot of African literature. I believe that the best philosophers are found in the African continent,” he said. “We are talking here about people who learnt their philosophy from their culture and not from school.”

In 2002, Simbarashe, who started music in 1996 formed a jazz music group called Five Fold.

They released their debut album, Now or Never in 2004 followed by Forgotten Tears in 2008.

The musician said he looked forward to holding a number of shows in summer.

“As from August, we will start to hold live shows in the city so that people can have a feel of our music,” he said.

Other music greats he has worked with before include the late Leonard Tembo, who lived in Bulawayo before independence.

“We lived together in Sizinda suburb and we did music together,” he said. “He later relocated to Harare”.

He also performed with Edith WeUtonga and Loveness Wesa who is now based in the United States.

From: http://www.thestandard.co.zw/2012/08/12/jazz-musician-vows-to-stick-to-the-genre/