Jazz Articles about Louis Mhlanga

Zimbabwean Guitarist Louis Mhlanga's New Album

by Ngwako Malakalaka
June 25, 2024

Louis Mhlanga is a Southern African musician whose passion for the guitar started at the age of 10, imitating the likes of Jimi Hendrix and many other rock musicians from the '60s through to the '70s. He is also a scholar of both the Southern and West African guitar traditions, successfully incorporating the mbira (thumb piano) patterns of the Shona people into his unique modern electric guitar style. Mhlanga is known for his collaborations as much as his solo work. ...

Louis Mhlanga: World Traveller

by Seton Hawkins
April 24, 2006

Louis Mhlanga has established himself as one of Southern Africa's most influential and unique guitarists. Originally from Zimbabwe, he now records for South Africa's Sheer Sound label. While his music, as the title of this album suggests, draws its inspiration from all over the globe, his guitar playing seems to draw its greatest influences from the melodic contours and rhythmic plays heard in the mbira music of Zimbabwe.This 2005 collection is mostly a retrospective album of Mhlanga's earlier ...

Louis Mhlanga: Shamwari

by Javier AQ Ortiz
July 25, 2002

Quick and to the Point : Beautiful, nice, enjoyable Afro-Pop jazz on deceivingly unassuming guitar chops.

One good listening of Louis Mhlanga’s guitar playing and you will unconsciously pay closer attention to his proficient technique. His clever and tasty phrasings are congenial and well adapted to their musical ecosystem, as conceived entirely by Mhlanga . The recording thrives in contemporary Africana with relatively little support. Size of the ensemble, or scope of the production notwithstanding, the support is ...

Louis Mhlanga: Shamwari

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 2001

While jazz purists might snub guitarist Louis Mhlanga's efforts on Shamwari as simple Afro-pop, this music rises above the elemental revolving harmonies of that genre. Mhlanga's guitar work combines a strong sense of form with occasional detours into open improvisational territory. His core sextet includes three percussionists, which may give you some idea of the rhythmic depth assembled to support Mhlanga's often rhythmically sophisticated work on top. (The recording unfortunately does not always do these players justice, but they do ...