Should I see Thomas Mapfumo in a few days?

Playing around here. I love his early '80s stuff, but I worry that he's descended into World Music glop and doesn't put on a good show. Anyone have any ideas?

How much?

Has he actually descended into World Music glop? I haven't heard his most recent record, but I'd been led to believe it was still the same sound.

I last heard an album or 2 ago and it was good and definitely not 'world music glop.' His cds in recent years have been on small labels so it's not like some big corporate label is pushing him to do a crossover effort. Of course, there's still bound to be someone who will say he's not what he was x amount of years ago.

Well dude is like 400 now or something. I'm sure he was more animated in 1976, but given the way the current gov of Zimbabwe has treated him I'm sure he has plenty to be pissed about.

Heh plus he lives in Eugene, OR. That's gotta make him esp. angry. ;)

it's 20-22 dollars, I think. I mean, why not? But I was curious what he sounds like these days.

It sounds like a good deal. I'd go!

haha as a Eugenian I should try to take offense but that is OTM.

He has kept a really low profile around town but every once in a while people in his band will play a show at the local pub, good stuff.

I saw him maybe 8 years ago and it was excellent, so I would recommend.

i gotta be honest, this clip from a recent (2006) performance sounds pretty limp:

but it could be the sound quality.

Yep.

I've been listening to a cd comp of his old 70s Chicken Run stuff. Pretty nice.

Thomas Mapfumo recorded perhaps my favourite track ever!

What is it?

"Moyo Wangu":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMC_5FxdULY

This is poor quality, still great, but listen to the original version on Corruption. It is just sublime.

Just realised the original is also on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PazOWQz-yhw

http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Bite-Our-Ears-Collection/dp/B000AA4IVC

^awesome

It is awesome, but $41.00? it's on the iTunes store for ten bucks! 17 tracks for that price is more than good value.

the mp3 is $8.99 on amazon though

Oh right, didn't see that (I'm in Canada, so I don't associate Amazon with MP3s).

He's doing some American gigs this month. I think he's living in Portland, Oregon these days (with Mugabe still in power).

Meanwhile in Zimbabwe he's generated news for apparently criticizing a Zimbabwean dancehall star, Winky D. The article is not that clear:

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/entertainment/30363-mukanya-was-unfair-to-criticise-winky-d.html

Police in Zimbabwe also allege he bought stolen cars way back when and want to charge him. Weird.

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/SHOWBIZ-5467-Police+still+keen+to+charge+Mapfumo/SHOWBIZ.aspx

He's living in Eugene, Oregon actually. His Saturday July 23 6 to 7 pm Eastern time free gig at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage will be video streamed on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage website (and archived there)

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/artists/?entity_id=74575&source_type=B

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2011/07/22/thomas-mapfumos-music-of-struggle/#more-51573

Fuck man.

(Nothin' up with Mapfumo, just really digging him right now.)

Basically like around 20:15 of this:
http://soundcloud.com/luvliterecordings/makossa-megablast-inspirations

Banning Eyre will be reading from his book on Zimbabwe's Thomas Mapfumo tonight at the Busboys and Poets in Brookland at 6:30. Eyre is also a guitarist, so he might play some too. Eyre works for afropop.org and previously wrote a book on Malian music.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, May 19, 2015 9:37 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

14 people there. I enjoyed it. Powerpoint, book reading and guitar playing with an effects pedal.

http://www.banningeyre.com/events/

He's got more events related to the book coming up in the US all summer

He has put together a Mapfumo compilation cd that they are also selling