Jazz was born in America in the early 20th century, evolving out of a meeting of African and European music traditions. Once the style began to develop around the world, jazz found its way back to Africa, which spawned the internationally acclaimed likes of Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Abdullah Ibrahim.
We are continually inspired by these great creative icons from our history – both as an artist and as a lover of music.
Zimbabwe has been a hotbed of talent and one can easily experience the very best the Zimbabwean music scene has to offer.
We get to have a quick chat with the passionate contemporary jazz expressionist born in Harare and was raised in a city called Kwekwe in the midlands province of Zimbabwe.
His music is pretty much inspired mainly by the aunthentic and dinstictive African traditional sound. His style of music is not a surprise as he grew up listening to serenading sound of the later superstar Dr Oliver Mtukudzi from childhood until he got into the music industry.
He delved into the music scene professionally in 2007 as a session guitarist. Norman started his solo career in year 2013 the same time he released his debut album. This also allowed him to be a session musician and a solo artist.
To “jam” alongside the likes of the Late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi, Bra Hugh Masekela, Chiwoniso Maraire, Victor Kunonga , Judith Sephuma, Sipho Khazi, Ringo Madhlingozi, Bekezela and the many other talented jazz musicians has been a wonderfully creative ride.
“I try to get as lost as possible in the sea that is the performance. Steer the boat in a general direction and let it go where it goes.
Since my music has a strong an ethnic vibe my dream is to collaborate with other cultures and see what sort of magic comes out from there. The goal would be to bring people of different races, religion and generations together through music”, he says.
Jazz is very visual for me. Each instrument has it’s own color, line and personality. I try to translate that emotion of sound onto the panel and hopefully there’s a few folks out there that it speaks to.
I am very much impressed and love how some African artists of my generation are beginning to realise the positive effect of our African culture in music. This sums up this absolutely special relationship between Jazz and culture.
