Mte Wambali to usher in ‘new era of jazz in Malawi’ with latest album

With a truly unique sound, Wambali continues to win accolades for his uniquely expressive musical style. A true music maestro, Wambali has over the years released timeless music that has earned him numerous awards and nominations, including the Bingu Presidential Award in 2011, a Kora Award nomination for Best Southern African Artist in 2003, and a MOBO Award nomination in the UK for Best African Artist in 2007.

At the upcoming launch he will be backed up by a diverse band featuring a Congolese bassist, a Zambian lead guitarist, two Malawians on the keys and drums with himself an acoustic guitarist. The evening is set to be a night of beautiful music by talented musicians. Wambali promised music lovers a night to remember: “People should expect to experience the beginning of a new era of jazz in Malawi,” he said.

Wambali’s journey in music dates back to when he was only eight years old while in Congo, where he was born. He was influenced by his grandmother and mother’s Tumbuka hymns and fables, his grandfather’s gramophone, which played contemporary Congolese music, and his uncle, who introduced him to South African jazz, his musical background is rich in diversity. During the late 1980s he recorded with the South African gospel crossover group Friends First. His first album, Tidzamutamanda, was released in 1989. Soon after that he recorded two albums in Glasgow, Scotland. His most recent release was in 2011, called Liberty. Unlike Mte Wambali’s previous eight album, Calabrash Breath is unique in that it’s purely jazz - a rare event in Malawian music.

Tickets - priced at MK 10 000 for Standard and MK 20 000 for VIP - are available at Wilderness Safaris, Ulendo, Four Seasons Garden Shop, Crossroads Hotel Business Centre, Papaya, Cappuccino’s, Flavour’s, Golf Club, La Dolce Vita, and AC Opticals. Every ticket holder will receive a free CD of Calabrash Breath.