Award-winning jazz guitarist Louis Mhlanga has always let music take center stage. <\/p>\n
Growing up during the 1960s music revolution, Mhlanga remembers his mother playing Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson records. However, it was his professional musician brothers, William and Shaft, who introduced him to the guitar and were his first inspiration. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would just watch and listen (to them), and when they are gone, that\u2019s the time I would pick up a guitar and try to copy what they\u2019ve been doing,\u201d Mhlanga said. <\/p>\n
His brothers also introduced him to the music of the guitarist who would become his idol \u2014 Jimi Hendrix. <\/p>\n
\u201cI got inspired by one album of Jimi Hendrix,\u201d recalled Mhlanga. That album was \u201cBand of Gypsys,\u201d \ufeffreleased in 1970. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother brought it home, and I thought, wow, that guitar,\u201d Mhlanga added. \u201cMy brother kept repeating it, and it was like he was injecting me with this music.\u201d <\/p>\n
One especially memorable song was \u201cMachine Gun.\u201d The 12-minute jam-style protest of the Vietnam War is often hailed as Hendrix\u2019s greatest work. It showcases a stunning display of guitar virtuosity. <\/p>\n
\u201cHis approach to the music and the ideas that he was introducing, the sustain of the guitar which he used and the feedback, I don\u2019t think anybody was doing what he was doing,\u201d Mhlanga explained. \u201cEven today, it still keeps me going.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mhlanga\u2019s musical journey has a rich tapestry of influences. He delved into the electrifying beats of rock legends like The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath, while also being captivated by the soulful melodies of Motown icons such as The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. His exploration extended to sounds from China and India, creating a diverse and intriguing musical palette. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe music of way back then had a lot of messages which was building people\u2019s thoughts, people\u2019s behavior, which was bringing people together and had so much love in it,\u201d said the guitarist. \u201cAll that music really play(ed) a part in my growth.\u201d <\/p>\n
Professionally, Mhlanga started fronting bands in the late 1970s, mixing both American and Zimbabwean influences. Still, it was through collaboration that he made his mark, working with Zimbabwean music icon Oliver Mtukudzi. <\/p>\n
Venturing further, he immersed himself in the rich guitar traditions of southern and West Africa, infusing the traditional mbira rhythms of the Shona people into his own vibrant and modern electric guitar style. Fusing together all these sounds, Mhlanga says, has enhanced his creativity. <\/p>\n
\u201cI thought maybe I should try and pick up some traditional songs and change them and play them in my own way, and that kind of worked,\u201d Mhlanga said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think all those different cultures are a melting pot for me, so it also brings out something different to me,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
Mhlanga was intent on making his mark on the jazz scene, which meant composing his own music and blending jazz, rock and traditional Zimbabwean sounds. <\/p>\n
\u201cSlowly, I injected that idea into my mind, and it started growing within me. A song came up, another one came up and kept on growing, and the rest is now history,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Seeking new opportunities, Mhlanga joined The Beaters in 1976 on the invitation of band leader Sipho Mabuse, and relocated to South Africa. <\/p>\n
While in South Africa, he collaborated with some of the country\u2019s biggest acts, including Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Vusi Mahlasela. These collaborations not only expanded his musical horizons but also solidified his position in the music industry. <\/p>\n
Affected by the woes of living in a brutal apartheid state, he relocated to the UK, seeking a more conducive environment for his music. However, his heart remained in South Africa, and he eventually returned, determined to contribute to the country\u2019s vibrant music scene. <\/p>\n
Mhlanga released his first solo album in 2000 and has since released more than 10 solo albums, EPs, and collaborative projects. <\/p>\n
The musician was featured on the 1996 collaborative album \u201cPlace of Hope\u201d alongside George Duke, James Ingram and Al Jarreau. In addition to releasing an album with American jazz steel pannist Andy Narell, he recently released \u201cTwo Words\u201d with Budha Building (a pseudonym of Dutch musician Hans Timmermans). <\/p>\n
After more than half a century playing his guitar, Mhlanga still aims to transform the African jazz sound. His latest album, \u201cLiving for the Living,\u201d released earlier this year, aims to unite, uplift, and inspire, reflecting his belief in the power of music to bring people together and spread positivity in the world. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s saying that we are living for each other; we are a chain,\u201d the musician explained. \u201cWe need that respect and love within each other to uplift each other.\u201d <\/p>\n
See the full episode of African Voices Changemaker\u2019s featuring Louis Mhlanga <\/em>here.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Award-winning jazz guitarist Louis Mhlanga has always let music take center stage. Growing up during…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}