Monoswezi Yanga

This is the second album from a remarkable collaboration between African and Scandinavian musicians. The name Monoswezi is an amalgamation of the four nationalities of the five-piece band: Mozambique, Norway, Sweden and Zimbabwe. At the centre of their music is the mbira, the Shona thumb piano, and singing of Hope Masike from Zimbabwe. Mozambican Calu Tsemane adds male vocals, percussion and some guitar; and the other three band members, from Scandinavia, play saxophone, bass and drums.

Their first album was very well received and this record is equally impressive. It's a fusion of African tradition and the very relaxed modern jazz of Scandinavia. The songs are mostly reworkings of Zimbabwean traditional folk songs and tales. Hope Masike is a formidable talent with a fine voice that has great range; she also displays tremendous technique on her mbira and marimba (wooden xylophone). Combined with some impressive, understated and unpretentious jazz instrumentation, it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable, totally hypnotic, and utterly unique listening experience.