WHERE'S THE 1? PRODUCTIONS

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Where's the 1? Productions

Avrom Caplan and Eli Cane

info@wheresthe1.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 5, 2004

ZIVANAI MASANGO, LEAD GUITARIST OF THOMAS

MAPFUMO'S BLACKS UNLIMITED, PREMIERES MUSATISIYE,

AN EVENING-LENGTH MUSICAL WORK RECOUNTING

ZIMBABWE'S PATH TO LIBERATION

PRESENTED AS THE SEASON FINALE OF THE ACOUSTIC AFRICAN MUSIC SERIES, SATURDAY, MAY 22, CORNELIA STREET CAFE

Zivanai Masango, who has risen to international fame as the lead guitarist for Thomas Mapfumo‘s Blacks Unlimited, presents Musatisiye, a conceptual work that combines original compositions with traditional pieces of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It will feature special guest McDonald Kombo, a Zimbabwean percussionist, in two performances Saturday May 22, at 8:30PM and 10:30PM. The ticket price for each show is $12.

Musatisiye, which is a plea to God and means “Don’t pass us by”, is informed by Masango's experiences touring with one of the world's greatest revolutionary artists and resonates with the communicative power of Chimurenga. Song by song it tells the story of Zimbabwe's struggle for independence, portraying chronologically through music the events and experiences of the path to liberation. Largely narrated through his own compositions, Masango also incorporates renditions of traditional pieces. For example, when the narrative suggests it, Masango sings Tondobayana, the traditional warriors’ song.

For 30 years or more, much of the popular music in Zimbabwe—the last British colony to gain its independence—has been concomitant with revolution and socio-political change. This association was largely the result of Thomas Mapfumo. In the early 1970s, he began introducing Shona lyrics and traditional instruments—mainly the mbira—into his music, and began singing about revolution against the ruling colonial class. This music reached the guerilla fighters and echoed popular sentiment.

Musatisiye is Masango’s personal statement, realized in this style, and offered for the first time at the Acoustic African Music Series in the intimate environs of the Cornelia Street Café. Together, the guitar and percussion create a unique and intriguing sound, derived from the music of mbira ensembles. Masango’s winding, intricate guitar melodies echo mbira lines and interlock with the cyclical, driving rhythms of percussionist Kombo. The combined effect is a sophisticated musical dialogue providing a foundation on top of which Masango sings Musatisiye’s story.

Masango was born in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare (then Salisbury, Rhodesia), into a family of musicians. Many of his family members were—and still are—mbira musicians, who play for traditional ceremonies. The mbira is used to bring the Shona into contact with their spiritual ancestors, and musicians such as Zivanai’s relatives use their skill and stamina to persuade the spirits to enter members of the community as living spirit mediums. In addition to the spiritual soundscape that shaped his musical orientation, Masango was influenced by Western music, both popular and orchestral. His father was the first black bandmaster of the Police Military band, which played mostly military and orchestral music. However, under his father the band began performing traditional Zimbabwean repertoire. Although Masango excelled at a number of instruments it was not until the age of 18 that he first picked up guitar. Three years later he was performing with Thomas Mapfumo.

Following the smashing success of Acoustic African Spectacular!, Where's the 1? Productions welcomes this exciting, young musician to the Acoustic African Music Series for his premiere. Masango's Musatisiye transcends parameters of ordinary concerts, standing apart as a singular, conceptual piece.

Where’s the 1? Productions is dedicated to the promotion of African music in New York City and produces the Acoustic African Music Series to advance traditional music and its contemporary incarnations. This event is held at the Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, between Bleeker and West 4th at the A,C,E,B,D,F,V West 4th subway stop. Doors open 15 minutes prior to show times. Please call 212-989-9319 for ticket reservations. For more information, please visit www.wheresthe1.com.

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