VETERAN Zimbabwe jazz crooner, Filbert Marova is set to launch his new but unique album where he plays mbira on piano, a fusion of the traditional mbira vibe with jazz dubbed Mbiriano.
Titled Mbiriano Style, the album is set to be officially unveiled at the 28th and 29th of April at Ela the Garden.
Speaking to EnterSportNews, Marova said he has just finished working on the Mbiriano project which has got six tracks.
The tracks are Madanha, Mbiriano Style, Hope Dzangu, Karingezuva, Dzekwedu and Pese Pese.
“We have just finished working on the video for one of the songs titled Karingezuva,” he said.
“The other tracks are going to be released next week and will be available on all social media platforms.
“Revelers should expect to experience some jazz mbira explosion.”
Marova is a renowned musician, composer, music educator and also founder of The Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust which organizes the annual Zimbabwe Jazz Festival.
In January 2021, he unveiled a new unique project dubbed Mbiriano which is a blend of different rhythms. It is a sound based on mbira music transcriptions originally written for the piano. The project produced three singles namely Mari Ine Chitema, Taffi Bhesi and Zinyaride.
According to Marova, Mbiriano combines deep traditional mbira rhythms, harmony and polyphony with jazz licks, riffs, syncopation as well as improvision to create a novel sound that is fresh and familiar at the same time.
Marova said he intends to do music videos for most of the songs and give Mbiriano masterclasses to aspiring young musicians.
“The main reason behind this is so that we have more people involved in the creation and production of the music,” Marova said.
Marova has done several Mbiriano shows since the launch of his three singles in 2021.
“The singles have been received quite positively mainly from abroad so basically I want to take it to the local market where it is supposed to be received,” he said.
“It is where I also hope If we push we should be able to get some more positive feedback.”
Other previous releases by Marova include Kariba Bream – 2006 (Won Zima Best Jazz Artist), Hard Hat Area – 2015, Nyanga Trout – 2016, Zim Jazz Chapter One – 2018 and Chinyamanje – 2021 (a 3 track Single).
Some of his well-known compositions include BP and Mandega performed by Prudence Katomeni Mbofana.
