Search - Various Artists :: Zimbabwe: Soul of Mbira

Thank you Mr.Berliner for this jem

Laurence | Somerville, MA United States | 01/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Berliner literally wrote the book on mbira (The Soul of Mbira), this accompanying recording is top notch. All of the tracks are field recordings and the whole album has a very unpolished feel. If you listen to this album with headphones in the dark, you'll be transported to Zimbabwe. Many of the great artists featured on this album aren't even alive anymore. It's a rare look into traditional mbira music.
There are no Thomas Mapfumo style guitars or electronic instruments, strictly mbira, hosho (shakers) and voices. These are the roots of Shona music. This collection shows why Zimbabwe is considered to have developed the mbira most of anywhere in the world.
The tracks include such "standards" as "Nhemamusasa" and "Nyamaropa" and other great traditional tunes, as well as, some variations. The types and tunings of mbira included vary which displays how versatile the instrument is. Mbira has become more popular in a global sense, but these recordings give you a good idea of how it has been passed down from generation to generation in Zimbabwe.
If you haven't heard mbira before, this is a fabulous place to start. Even if you're a seasoned music lover, this one will fit nicely into your collection. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes to expand their ear."

True African music

dialo | South Africa | 02/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hey, I usually distrust stuff coming from whites about African things, as they perceive it from their own mentality and fail to get in touch with the African soul. This CD was compiled by a white, but wait, man, that's all about it. He did not fiddle with the music, these are original recordings from African heartlands, and any African try to rediscover his African soul and to listen to it will just feel it. Although the compiler his white, the music is much more African than most contemporary African bands that pollute original African music for commercial reasons (does greed belong to the African soul? No man, shame on them), so as to sell it in white countries and get many bucks. Not so here, man. I was unsure about the CD until I listened to it, and that was a pleasant surprise. Conclusion : recommended to all my brothers and sisters.."

A classic

andylyn | Portland,OR | 02/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Must listening. This is the real deal folks. Fugetabout the "Enya"ized American New-Age Mbira CD's....none of the "healing" blather needed for this one."