Clive "Mono" Mukundu, Louis Mhlanga, Robben Ford, George Benson, Norman Brown, Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Carlos Santana, Eric Krasno, B.B. King,
Zivanai keeps carving a place for himself in the hearts and minds of both musicians and audiences alike with his sweet, sincerely heartfelt and ticklish style of guitar playing. He understands the subtle intricacies of traditional and popular Zimbabwean music, as well as other Southern African music styles but is also amazingly at home with other international forms from Blues to Funk, Rock to RnB, Reggae, Soul and Jazz. At 28, Zivanai can be regarded as a veteran of music. This all-round musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, producer/engineer has toured the world, rubbed shoulders and shared the stage with legends such as Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Hugh Masekela, Buddy Guy, Ziggy Marley, Marxi Priest, The String Cheese Incident and others far too many to mention.
With the album DUTU-STORM (May 20, 2007 Release), Zivanai is poised to prove once again that he is one of the finest guitarists, songwriters, lyricists and producers to ever come out of Zimbabwe. He also emerges as one of the torchbearers of Afropop and World Music into the future.
Wholly recorded and mixed by Zivanai himself and mastered by Grammy Award Winning mastering engineer Paul Blakemore, DUTU-STORM disregards barriers and defies categorization while projecting a certain maturity beyond Zivanai's age. Laced with touches of Contemporary Jazz, Blues, RnB, Rock and Reggae, yet still firmly rooted in the sounds, rhythms, tradition and culture of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa, the album reflects the various influences that have shaped Zivanai into the maverick musician he is today.
"I was immersed in classical music as a young boy into my teens, yet at the same time, traditional Zimbabwean music was a part of my daily life," says Zivanai " and ever since arriving in the United States in 2004, I have been exposed to and dipped in all these rich international forms of music. DUTU-STORM is a result of my being a 'world-citizen', and not forgetting that I am Zimbabwean at my very core!" The lyrical arrangements on this album bring out the poet in Zivanai. The 12 tracks are sung in Shona and Zivanai employs rich, ages old traditional Shona analogy and proverbs to put his rich messages across.
Featured on the album are some of the San Francisco Bay Area's most illustrious musicians namely Baba Ken Okulolo ( Kotoja, AfroGroove ConneXion, West African Highlife Band), Bob Crawford (Michael Franti and Spearhead), Donna Viscuso (WOM), Amber Hines (Albino, KTO Project) and one of New York City's very best and saxophone genius Chris Cuzme (Rufus Reid, Ryan Adams, Guster, Panjea etc). This album could very well provide Zivanai with the international breakthrough and recognition that he so rightly deserves!
Checkout www.zivimusic.com for more about Zivanai's life and musical journey and enjoy the music!
Hi Zivanai, Thanks for accepting my request for an add and the message with the kind words regarding my music. Your music is cool and reminds me of Africa! I also like how you mix in some great jazz licks as well!
One of the most popular spaces for free expression in Zimbabwe's tightly censored society is the Harare Book Café. The Book Café attracts an eclectic crowd; artists, students, writers, businesspeople, street kids, farmers and workers from all races and classes frequent it six nights a week. Short documentary by Eugene Ulman shown on the “People & Power” program on Aljazeera. Features Chiwoniso Maraire, Metaphysics, Mashasha & Too Open, Hamlet Zhou, Comrade Fatso and other great Zimbabwean artists.
yo bro us thought i shud let u know dat am aswell a young man born in zim and raised in S.A. and now living in U.K. which is where i handle my music business and by that i mean engineer, produce, write songs and all of the obove and the main reason for why am sending this messege is because of people like you ,you help me as a zimbabwean to keep on working hard at what i do, which is making music in order to bring better identity for my people and for myself so from me it would be a honor for someone like me to tell you that you've influenced me in a major way and pliz continue to release the music we are short nowa dayz which is music from our soul 1love and peace
Tonight @ TRILOGY will be awesome!! Come down my Boulder and Denver peeps!! 9 PM
Get ready to Shake your Fuckin Ass!!!
SHOW SOME LOVE !!!! Bringing some CITY to the Boulder Bubble!!!
Only $7
GOLDEN, Hip Hop artist (Live Band) from Minneapolis MN (toured with The Black Eyed Peas and recorded with Fergie and more!!) AND ROOTS and FIRE Massive open the show!
Plus very special guest, CHANTEL of 8traC will sing some tracks with Golden!! Please come out! Show some Love!
Zivanai Thanx a million for your encouraging words bru. I feel honored to be part of your network. your music is very mature and cast a fresh sound into the sound of Zimbabwe, which has a very rich culture and history of music which has also shaped even my own my style. I wonder if you know Sam Mataure, a great drummer from Harare who played drums in my Album. I wish you luck, happiness and success in this year and beyond.
