Louis Mhlanga
Encyclopedia
Louis Mhlanga is a South African based Zimbabwean award-winning guitarist and producer. Mhlanga taught himself playing the guitar at a tender age and is considered one of the best Southern African guitarists.
Mhlanga's career began in the 1970s. Fronting many bands in Zimbabwe, he mixed American and Zimbabwean influences into his music. Mhlanga became renowned for his guitar skills, and worked with Zimbabwean acts such as Shaka
, Talking Drum, Ilanga, Mudzimu, and Oliver Mtukudzi. Louis eventually headed to South Africa to pursue different musical opportunities, leading to collaborations with renowned South African artists such as Miriam Makeba
, Hugh Masekela
, Ray Phiri
, Sipho Mabuse
, Mlunhgisi Gegane, and Busi Mhlongo
.
. His first recording was not recognized for a whole decade until BMG released it in South Africa in the early ’90s. However, his 2001 international debut, Shamwari, established him as a rare guitarist able to span African traditional pop and jazz.
In April 2000, Louis produced Mahlasela's 4th album and featured on it. Before that, in 1999, a live duo recording with Mahlasela resulted in the album Vusi and Louis Live at the Bassline. He was involved with Thandi Klaassen's album Two of a kind, a project initiated by Dutch
singer Stef Bos
. Bos featured Louis on the album De Onderstroom, for which he co-wrote the music of the title song. Louis is on the another album called Place of Hope, which is collaborations with George Duke
, James Ingram
, Al Jarreau
, Diane Reeves, among others. Louis is also on Fire in the Engine Room by Andy Narell
, and following their South African tour, they released the album Live in S.A.
Louis has recorded some work under his own name — his solo album Mukai and Music Ye Africa with Jethro Shsha, both at Shed Studios
in Harare. In 2001, he put together a new group, The Louis Mhlanga Band, featuring musicians with a strong jazz influence. They were invited by SAFM
(one of South Africa's national radio stations) to perform at the Grahamstown Standard Bank National Arts Festival. Subsequently the group released the album Shamwari, Louis's debut release on the Sheer Sound
label.
He has produced albums by Thomas Mapfumo, Nigerian King Sunny Adé
, South African musician Vusi Mahalasela, and many other artists. A former director of musical theatre
, Mhlanga also ran Zimbabwe's Ethnomusicology Trust, where he was in charge of developing national teaching programmes for traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music. He also spent a year in the Netherlands
. As the musician-in-residence at the Royal Dutch Conservatory of Music, Mhlanga taught African guitar courses and eventually recorded several albums with bassist
Eric Van Der Westen, one of which also included Malian guitarist and singer Habib Koité
.
Mhlanga's career began in the 1970s. Fronting many bands in Zimbabwe, he mixed American and Zimbabwean influences into his music. Mhlanga became renowned for his guitar skills, and worked with Zimbabwean acts such as Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
, Talking Drum, Ilanga, Mudzimu, and Oliver Mtukudzi. Louis eventually headed to South Africa to pursue different musical opportunities, leading to collaborations with renowned South African artists such as Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
, Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela
Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
, Ray Phiri
Ray Phiri
Raymond Chikapa Phiri is an African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga. He became founding member of the Cannibals in the 1970's...
, Sipho Mabuse
Sipho Mabuse
Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse was born in Johannesburg on 2 November 1951. Mabuse got his start in the African soul group the Beaters in the mid-1970s. After a successful tour of Zimbabwe they changed the group's name to Harari...
, Mlunhgisi Gegane, and Busi Mhlongo
Busi Mhlongo
Busi Mhlongo , born as Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo, was originally from Inanda in Natal, South Africa, Busi Mhlongo was considered by many to be a virtuoso singer, dancer and composer whose music defies categorization....
.
Musical career
He admired the traditionally derived pop music of local luminaries such as Thomas MapfumoThomas Mapfumo
Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo is a Zimbabwean musician known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of President Robert Mugabe...
. His first recording was not recognized for a whole decade until BMG released it in South Africa in the early ’90s. However, his 2001 international debut, Shamwari, established him as a rare guitarist able to span African traditional pop and jazz.
In April 2000, Louis produced Mahlasela's 4th album and featured on it. Before that, in 1999, a live duo recording with Mahlasela resulted in the album Vusi and Louis Live at the Bassline. He was involved with Thandi Klaassen's album Two of a kind, a project initiated by Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
singer Stef Bos
Stef Bos
Stef Bos is a Dutch singer who has been living in Antwerp, Belgium, since 1984. He sings in Dutch , and has been successful in Belgium, the Netherlands and South-Africa ever since his breakthrough single "Papa" came out in 1990.He wrote Belgium's entry into the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest, "Door...
. Bos featured Louis on the album De Onderstroom, for which he co-wrote the music of the title song. Louis is on the another album called Place of Hope, which is collaborations with George Duke
George Duke
George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
, James Ingram
James Ingram
James Ingram is an American soul musician. He is best known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards...
, Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, Diane Reeves, among others. Louis is also on Fire in the Engine Room by Andy Narell
Andy Narell
Andy Narell is a musician and composer specialized in the steelpan.-Biography:He was born in New York City and moved to California in his teens. He took up the steelpan at a very young age in Queens, New York...
, and following their South African tour, they released the album Live in S.A.
Louis has recorded some work under his own name — his solo album Mukai and Music Ye Africa with Jethro Shsha, both at Shed Studios
Shed Studios
Shed Studios was responsible for the production of hundreds of band recordings and a large body of music used for various advertisements and films in Rhodesia, and later in Zimbabwe, from 1975 until 2000...
in Harare. In 2001, he put together a new group, The Louis Mhlanga Band, featuring musicians with a strong jazz influence. They were invited by SAFM
SAFM
SAFM is a commercial FM radio station in Adelaide, Australia, primarily targeted at those in the 16-35 age group on a frequency of 107.1 MHz, and part of Austereo's Today Network.-Station History:...
(one of South Africa's national radio stations) to perform at the Grahamstown Standard Bank National Arts Festival. Subsequently the group released the album Shamwari, Louis's debut release on the Sheer Sound
Sheer Sound
Sheer Sound is a South African indie record label formed in 1994 by Damon Forbes.-History:Sheer Sound was formed in November 1994, shortly after South Africa’s first democratic elections...
label.
He has produced albums by Thomas Mapfumo, Nigerian King Sunny Adé
King Sunny Adé
King Sunny Adé is a popular performer of Yoruba Nigerian Jùjú music and a pioneer of modern world music. He has been classed as one of the most influential musicians of all time.-Background:...
, South African musician Vusi Mahalasela, and many other artists. A former director of musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, Mhlanga also ran Zimbabwe's Ethnomusicology Trust, where he was in charge of developing national teaching programmes for traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music. He also spent a year in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. As the musician-in-residence at the Royal Dutch Conservatory of Music, Mhlanga taught African guitar courses and eventually recorded several albums with bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Eric Van Der Westen, one of which also included Malian guitarist and singer Habib Koité
Habib Koité
Habib Koité is a Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist. His supporting cast, Bamada, is a super-group of West African talent, including Kélétigui Diabaté playing balafon.- Musical style :...
.
Musik Ye Afrika
Mhlanga's 1997 release with Zimbabwean stars, bassist Jimmy Indi and the late drummer Jethro Shasha.- 01. Kugara Nekugara
- 02. Rudo Rugare
- 03. Mai Rugare
- 04. Ndarwa Ndega
- 05. Alois Na Jane
- 06. Shungu Iwe
- 07. Chintere
- 08. Imbura Msango
- 09. Kwadoka
- 10. International Rumba
Mukai
Louis' debut solo album was re-released in 1999.- 01. Mukai
- 02. Wandikurumdzira
- 03. Manhanga Kutapira
- 04. Spread Love
- 05. Chiutare
- 06. Mwana Wenyu
- 07. Love On The Radio
- 08. Pamhuno Sefodya
Live at the Bassline with Vusi Mahalasela
- 01. Ubuhle Bomhlaba
- 02. Two Birds
- 03. Silang Mabele
- 04. Zvinashamisa
- 05. When You Come Back
- 06. Fountain
- 07. Basimanyana
- 08. Tontobane
- 09. Mai Rugare
- 10. Untitled
- 11. Chibona
- 12. Red Song
- 13. Woza
Shamwari
Released in 2001. The album features Mhlanga's dreamy, jazzy compilations, however lacks vocals of any kind.- 01. Hona Ka
- 02. Beira
- 03. Afrika Uya
- 04. What Happened to Love?
- 05. Distant Lover
- 06. Chifamba
- 07. Kugarisana Nevamwe Zvakanaka
- 08. Shamwari
- 09. Dzembira
- 10. Take Me