Ndzuti

Ndzuti means shadow in Xichangana, an ancient languageof southern Mozambique. This title reflects Ivan Mazuze's view of his cultural heritage set in a modern perspective.

All of the music is composed by Ivan Mazuze, and is based on his studies of African traditional music in a contemporary "sound" environment. The compositions have grown out of

Ndzuti means shadow in Xichangana, an ancient languageof southern Mozambique. This title reflects Ivan Mazuze's view of his cultural heritage set in a modern perspective.

All of the music is composed by Ivan Mazuze, and is based on his studies of African traditional music in a contemporary "sound" environment. The compositions have grown out of Mazuze's experience as a musician in southern Africa and his current musical experience with West African musicians in Norway. They present a mix of musical styles, of southern African melodic material onsaxophone along with western African vocals and percussion traditions.Into this mixture, Mazuze has added elements of Norwegian vocal phrasing with southern African phrasing.

Among other things, the album includes Mazuze's blend of typical Norwegian jazz piano with an entire percussion ensemble, African and Norwegian vocals and saxophone improvisation.

Percussionist Sidiki Camara,Mali,is an important partof the Ndzuti album. He contributes with a full djembe ensemble, and instruments such as doundouns and talking drums. Also important are Hanne Tveter's latin-American and Norwegian vocal interpretations of African melodies. Andre Viervoll sets up the typical Norwegian Jazz piano phrasing expression by providing calmness within percussive moments.

Singer Manou Gallo, Ivory Coast, contributes with her typical way of performing contemporary and traditional western African songs with southern African-based rhythmic grooves.

The Cuban pianist Omar Sosa has also participated, providing spontaneous moments inthestudio that resulted in the creation of several compositions during recording sessions.

Mazuze has aimed at creating an album that presents percussion and saxophone melodic improvisation that is deeply centred in southern and west-African roots with jazz structured elements.This is one of the Afro-Jazz forms of musical expression.