Online Reporter
Trust Khosa, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
As a teaser for the upcoming Heroes and Defence Forces Day holidays, living legend Louis Mhlanga is set to rekindle his connection with local audiences.
The jazz maestro will headline the Moving Jazz Café events in Bulawayo and Harare on August 8 and 9, respectively.
Mhlanga, who has proudly represented Zimbabwe on the international stage since the early 1970s, will lead a lineup of talented crooners in two concerts tailored for mature music lovers.
Powered by Jazz 105 and hosted by Josh Hozheri and Mehluli Moyo, the Bulawayo concert will take place at Kings Kraal, featuring support from Vuyo Brown, Hudson Simbarashe and Gog’Bekezela.
In Harare, the “Distant Lover” hitmaker will perform at Centurion Pub & Grill, sharing the stage with Victor Kunonga, Prudence Mbofana, Philip Svosve and his band, Jabavu Drive, alongside the Sub Sahara Tribe Jazz Band.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, Mhlanga expressed that the Moving Jazz Café is designed as a precursor to the holidays, aimed at catering to the jazz community that has been starved of such gatherings since the demise of Jazz 105, which was specifically established for this genre.
“The Moving Jazz Café has been set up to cater to jazz lovers, who have been longing for this over the years since we no longer have jazz venues. We are basically catering to a niche market, unlike Sungura and Amapiano, which are meant for the mass market.
“I am working with Mehluli Moyo on this project, where we are catering to mature music lovers,” stressed Hozheri.
“The feedback from the jazz community is overwhelming, with some fans asking us where they can get their tickets early to avoid the last-minute rush.
“Jazz still commands a remarkable following, but we have not held such shows since the demise of Jazz 105, which was well-known as a jazz joint more than 10 years ago.”
Hozheri, who has a good working relationship with Mhlanga dating back to the 1990s, firmly believes the crooner is the right person to lead the new movement he has started.
“Louis is a living legend, who has been in the game for years. He has toured the world extensively and commands a lot of respect in South Africa, where he resides,” he emphasised.
According to his profile, Mhlanga started playing the guitar at the age of 10, imitating the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and other rock stars from the 1960s and 70s.
He also studied both Southern and West African guitar traditions and successfully incorporated the traditional mbira (thumb piano) patterns of the Shona people into his unique modern electric guitar style.
