Tambai

The group Zimbamoto are led by singer and songwriter Kurai Blessing Mubaiwa, who plays either mbira (thumb piano) or marimba as the lead instrument. The rest of the line-up comprises guitar, bass, drum kit and hosho percussion (the maraca-like driving pulse of Shona music), and they are augmented in the studio by trumpet and saxophone. Tambai (meaning ‘Dance’ in the Shona language) is an excellent album of modern Zimbabwean dance music from a multicultural collective of talented players. The songs are a mixture of Mubaiwa's compositions and the traditional ceremonial dance repertoire of Zimbabwean mbira music. Like the great Zimbabwean chimurenga performer Thomas Mapfumo, they frequently mesh their traditional mbira melodies into a chugging solid reggae beat.

There's a modern urban edge to the group's arrangements here and this comes from the fact that the other members of Zimbamoto are experienced in a variety of styles of music. A highly impressive debut album from a group who, judging by their video clips, are able to transfer their energy and musicality into an exciting live performance.