Search - Dumisani Maraire, Ephat Mujuru :: Shona Spirit: Mbira Masters From Zimbabwe

Two old guys twiddling their thumbs

Stephen Foster | Seattle, WA United States, via Scotland | 03/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My title sums this album up about as well as a review of the Book of Genesis titled: "One old guy waving his arms."This is not "World Music" - it is not of this world. These "old guys" are (or were, unfortunately - Dumi died on Thanksgiving 1999) all-time mbira masters who, for their own incomprehensible reasons, never played together until this album.I have no idea what the reviewer from "The Beat" (above) was listening to. "Oomph" and "punch" do not apply here. This album, more than any other (including Dumi's rather dry solo album: "Chaminuka") distills the essence of Shona music.Use it as wallpaper, use it for your breathing exercises, use it to put the baby to sleep, whatever. However you expose yourself to it, you will eventually become addicted.(You wouldn't know from Amazon's scratchy track samples, but the recording quality is also excellent.)"

One billion million trillion stars times infinity

bewise9 | 07/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"perfection at its most perfectes"

FANTASTICK

JALIA | CHICAGO, USA | 03/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE HEALING IN SHONA MUSIC BUT BY FAR THIS IS THE BEST. IT MOVES MY SPIRIT AND GET RID OF MY WORRIES AND FEARS. I MEDITATE TO IT AND RELEASE NEGATIVE ENERY THAT IS AROUND ME TO CALM MY NERVES.THIS MUSIC REPRESENTS NEW BEGININGS OF NATURAL ANIMAL BEHAVIORS IN SEASONS OF CHANGE: A SNAKE SHEADING ITS SKIN OR A CAMELON COLORS CHANGES DURING ATTACK TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS, A CACOON CHANGING INTO A BUTTERFLY.PARTICULARILY, I LIKE THE CALL AND RESPONSE OF THE TWO MBIRAS PLAYING IN HARMONY CONNECTING EACH SPIRT.WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS THIS MUSIC PLAYED SO DELICATELY BY MEN... THANKS FOR KEEPING THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ALIVE. I RATE THIS MUSIC A 10!!! SOOTHING TO BATH IN."