US-based jazz musician Masauko Chipembere Jr, son to political nationalists Henry Masauko Blasius Chipembere and Catherine Chipembere is in town ahead of his show at Madsoc Theatre in Lilongwe.
The show will start at 9pm and the entry fee is K5,000.
“I only have one concert. The show is a sneak preview of the album which I will release later this year. Actually Waliko Makhala will also be coming to open the show with some songs,” Chipembere said.
He then called on people to come in large numbers to dance and hear “things that are familiar and new at the same time.”
Chipembere, who was born in the country but was raised in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile, revealed that he has been given a record contract by a company called Come to Life Record.
“This contract has allowed me to hire local musicians to record. Ernest Ikwanga, Sam Mkandawire, Kyle Lucy Phikiso and Chambota Chirwa, these four will travel with me to Cape Town next week to record,” he said.
Chipembere also said Faith Mussa will be featured but will not travel with them to South Africa.
He said the album they will make is titled Masauko.
“It will be an exploration of my Malawian roots. We will use local rhythms like Vimbuza and Ngoma. We will be mixing local sounds with jazz, funk, hip hop and reggae. We are trying to create sound that is both local and global,” said the jazz musician.
Chipembere, who has been performing all over the world, began singing at the age of seven.
He studied Jazz and Opera at Cal State University Northridge in 1988 and it was there that he got his first real exposure to jazz and developed a deep love for the art of improvisation.
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