Jah Prayzer to launch album tonight in Harare

CONTEMPORARY reggae musician Jah Prayzer will launch his third album titled "Ngwarira Kuparara" at a venue in Harare tonight. The gifted artiste - whose real name is Kudzai Mukombe - will launch the nine-track album supported by man of the moment, comedian-cum-sungura musician Freddy "Kapfupi" Manjalima and Somandla Ndebele.
Jah Prayzer featured "Mafia" - as Somandla is called in music circles - on the Afro-jazz track "Kumusha" while popular mbira virtuoso Chiwoniso Maraire makes a guest appearance on the traditional song "Dande".

"Ngawarira Kuparara" is Jah Prayzer's third offering after "Rudo Nerunyararo" (2007) and the hit album "Sungano Yerudo' that stormed the music scene in 2009. It shows Jah Prayzer's maturity as an artiste, judging from the medley of beats that make up the album - Afro-jazz, reggae and traditional, among others.

"Music lovers who will attend the launch will also be treated to live music by Jah Prayzer's backing live band, the Third Generation. Unfortunately, Chiwoniso Maraire is out of the country with a number of shows but there is going to be an act with Soma at the launch.

"There is a difference from his (Jah Prayzer)'s previous releases because he is now playing with a full live band and the collaborations that he has done with Soma and Chiwoniso on the new album unifies artistes.

"He is now playing socially constructive music for all ages," Jah Prayzer's manager, Filda Muchabaiwa, said. 

Jah Prayzer also said he was grateful that Kapfupi would be playing at his album launch describing the "Mai Nga" hit-maker as one of his music "idols".

"He (Kapfupi) is my hero. He has been very supportive of my music career and has moulded me during the numerous shows we have been holding together around Zimbabwe," he said.

Some of the tracks carried on the album include "Musango," "Chirangano," "Chibvumirano," "Maria," "Chii?," "Daka" and the title track "Ngwarira".

Diamond Studios' artistes and repertoire manager, Pathisani Sibanda, described the album as one of the best releases from the stable yet. "It is a powerful album showing maturity on the part of the artiste. Jah Prayzer has proved to be a force to reckon with in local music circles with his unique beat and vocal style and this album will without doubt live up to the standard of his previous hit album ‘Sungano Yerudo'," said Sibanda.