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Zim, born in Port Elizabeth in 1959, was studying music at 21 when he took up the flute. Working his way through the University of Natal and onto scholarships in the U.S., he studied with Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef at the University of Massachusetts.

He’s been on tour in America, Africa and Europe with the likes of Max Roach, Keith Tippett, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela and his own projects, Ingoma and the 100 strong, Drums For Peace Orchestra.

Zim has used all experience in Vadzimu as it mixes up South African folk traditions and world music with classical western music and jazz avant-garde with varying amounts of horns, strings and djembe.

Set out in four parts called ‘Satire’, ‘Diaspora’, ‘Liberation Suite’ and ‘Nocturnes’ it was originally recorded in 2002. It must have been frustrating that he’s had to wait until now for its international release but in many ways this is timeless global music.

As the tribal chants of ‘Umthakathi’ melt in the harp intro of ‘Kubi’ (very Alice Coltrane, RIP) you just know this is a special album. Zim’s sax is very smooth and you get the impression Lateef was very influential.

Unsurprisingly, the ‘Diaspora’ suite wanders around the globe a bit but it’s worth it for the trombone on the Cuban-influenced ‘Mozambique’.

I can imagine the variation of styles might be too much for some, like the New Orleans funeral march tango called ‘Dirge’ followed shortly by the St. Thomas’ style ‘Carnival Samba’ but if you approach it more like a compilation album, I think you’ll love it, especially, the flute-dominated Afro-modal ‘Unamaquinga Na’ and the avant-jazz dancer, ‘Anthem’.

Hectic Mix nomination: ‘Umthakathi’/’Kubi’, ‘Unamaquinga Na’, ‘Mozambique’, ‘Anthem’.

Reviewed: Zim Ngqawana - Vadzimu (Sheer Sound) Cat. No. SSCD096 Release date: 12th February 2007
Track listing:
Satire:
1. Umthakathi
2. Kubi,
3. Gumboot Dance
4. Interlude
5. Amagoduka Part 3.
Diaspora:
6. Long Waltz to Freedom
7. Zanusi
8. Mozambique
9. Zimzim (0:50)
10. Dirge (2:40)
Liberation Suite:
11. Tafelberg/Carnival Samba
12 Unamaquinga Na
13 Anthem (9:13)
Nocturnes:
14 Umoya
15 Vadzimu
16 Thula Sizwe

Links:
www.zimology.com
www.straightnochaser.co.uk
www.portelizabeth.co.za