Mena Err an instrumental concoction for your soul

Chippa Legodimo | Tuesday April 1, 2014 10:52

 

Listening to the recently released jazz album, those words ring true of the musical content.  It is such a relaxing, soulful album that demonstrates the composers’ brilliance with various musical instruments.

With only three of the eight tracks mixing instrumentation with lyrics, the listener gets that rare chance to appreciate undisturbed workmanship as the fingers create various melodies. 

Fronting the band on both vocals and lead guitar, the elderly musician symbolises maturity and versatility in the album that is set to reinvigorate those forgotten old sounds of the 80’s.

Alongside him on guitars is Oral Mokgadi, then Andrew Chinganga on tenor saxophone, soprano and flute, while Blessing Godzi provide the synthesiser effect with his keyboard.

He says: “The album has a little of everything as it will remind the listener of something they have heard somewhere at some time, although they might not necessarily remember where.” 

The album registers with the track Lengau, boasting a tickling lead guitar, cushioned by deep bass created when both the heavy drum and the bass guitar fuse at one point.

The artistic talent continues as you move to the second track Mononyane, in which the lead and bass guitars compliment each other so well.

Coupled with a snarling flute and that rackety mid drum, this number also provides a relaxing effect, while at the same time provides that celebratory atmosphere.

On track number four Give It A Shot, the music shifts a little to the reggae beat.

This is where the band brings in the lyrics, just to give the music more meaning, one can guess.

Once again Brian Khuzwayo’s bass guitar authoritatively controls the tempo Enock Mbewe’s propping drums give the music its audio shape.

The track Babe Ntshware, one of the three lyrical compositions in the album, reminds the listener of the old Sankomota tunes.

The musician has been working with a talented group of artists in the last three years to produce the kind of album that many jazz lovers would find difficult to ignore.

It is time to relax and enjoy Japi Lingo’s sounds.