Music Crossroads graduate cuts debut album
Three times winner of national Music Crossroads and lead vocalist for the disbanded Cool Giants Band, Jonathan Tembo, has released the Afro-jazz album called Ubanike (Shine).
Although Ubanike is gospel, Tembo has tackled issues of love, HIV and Aids and others affecting humanity.
He says his 13-track-album is a mixture of Chichewa, Chitumbuka, Chiyao and English languages.
“I just want to do something different, something Africans can be identified with. I don’t want to be a copycat of western culture,” he said.
Songs in the album, recorded at his Star Studio in Mzuzu, include Chimwemwe Mulenji, Wanzeru, Mtende, Nena Eya, Wankongwe Muwoli, Pokerera, Ubanike, Zanga and Ndawona.
“But Mtende was re-recorded by Qabaniso Malewezi while Wali-Waliyose, which is used as soundtrack by Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) in its HIV and Aids programme (Mofanana Mphamvu kuchepetsa HIV), was recorded and produced by England-based Joe Herrmann and Mark Nunn with Christian Aid sponsorship,” explained Jonathan, who is usually the backing vocalists in Wambali Mkandawire’s performances.
He said the album will be launched in June this year. A pre-launch show would be held later this month.
Jonathan was part of Akhebulani Cool Giants that won the Music Crossroads Competition at national level in 2000 before it was renamed Cool Giants.
