On
Tuesday, July 29th, S.O.B.’s presents Afro-pop icon,
Oliver Mtukudzi and his legendary band, The Black Spirits.
Arguably the most powerful creative force to emerge from Zimbabwe
in the last three decades, Mtukudzi carefully balances compelling
rhythms and accessible melodies with insightful lyrics, building
a vast body of work that is politically and socially relevant,
yet entertaining and accessible to a worldwide audience.
Mtukudzi
is such a musical force that his name has become synonymous
with his style, and “Tuku music” has evolved into
something quite distinct from any other Zimbabwean music. Clearly,
his cultural influences are evident – the traditional
forms of the mbira, the South African mbaqanga style, and the
popular Zimbabwean music style called jiti, are all evident
in his sound – but these have been distilled into an
aesthetic that is now very much his own.
In October 2007,
Oliver performed for a sold out crowd at S.O.B.’s, to
celebrate the release of his latest album Tsimba Itsoka, which
has garnered considerable media attention throughout the year.
Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi returns to S.O.B.'s for 2
shows to bring the sounds of Zimbabwe to New York on July 29th.
