Louis Mhlanga and Regis Gizavo performing at Horizon Pub and Grill in Bulawayo on Wednesday evening.
Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
RENOWNED jazz musician Louis Mhlanga has revealed that his music is inspired by the legendary American rock prodigy Jimi Hendrix’s singing guitar.
The multi-award winning jazz musician was in the country this past week where he performed at the Horizon Pub and Grill in Bulawayo with Regis Gizavo as part of the Francophone Festival organised by Alliance Francaise.
Hendrix, described as arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music, was famous for making his guitar sound like a human voice.
Unlike Hendrix who used the wah-wah pedal in the 1960s, Mhlanga uses his fingers to nimbly pluck away at his guitar to churn out melodious jazz tunes.
The soft spoken musician, who started playing the guitar at the tender age of 10, said his wish was for his guitar to do the singing.
“My music is very instrumental these days. I’m more of a guitar player and as such I don’t sing a lot these days. I let my guitar sing for me and let everybody derive whatever meaning from my guitar strings. Some say my songs evoke feelings of love, travelling, and it’s about the things that happen in my life,” said Mhlanga.
He said during the late 60s and early 70s rock and roll and Simanje manje music ruled the roost in Zimbabwe.
“We used to listen to a lot of rock music from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. This was our bread and butter during those days. I fell in love with Jimi Hendrix. I wanted to play the guitar like him so I started teaching myself to play the guitar that my father had. This was no mean feat, it took hard work and dedication,” said Mhlanga.
He said although rock music had a big influence in his life, it was not resonating with his character hence he chose jazz music.
“Rock music was too loud for my liking and as such I settled for jazz,” said Mhlanga.
The muso, who was in Bulawayo for the first time in more than 20 years, said he had fond memories of the city that was home of jazz music.
“Each time I came to Bulawayo, I would visit Valley Hotel to perform there because that is where I used to meet a lot of old friends. I remember playing with the late Josh Phiri, the guys from Wells Fargo. I would then take the opportunity to move around, visiting Nguboyenja and all those places. These places mean a lot to me as they’ve influenced the type of music that I play now,” said Mhlanga.
He said he was proud that his two children were involved in music.
“My son (KB) plays guitar and my daughter Nomsa sings and plays piano. My son wants to go into sound engineering and I’ll assist him to realise his dream,” he said.
Mhlanga who has six albums namely World Traveller, Tinganekwane, Live at the Bassline, Greatest Moments Of and Shamwari, has worked with Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi locally.
The man behind the signature tune for Zimbabwe talk show the MaiChisamba Show, has travelled the world over in his illustrious career that spans over four decades.
Regionally he has worked with the likes of Hugh Masekela, Judith Sephuma, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Ray Phiri, Busi Mhlongo, Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbuli, Jonas Gwangwa, Sibongile Khumalo and Vusi Mahlasela.