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Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
Jazz musician Charles Chipanga has engaged the services of Malawian producer Erik Paliani on his forthcoming album that will be released in May. Paliani has worked with South African jazz artiste Hugh Masakela for years. Chipanga said the move was meant to bring new style to his music that is fast gaining ground.

“I have been in South Africa for these past three weeks to finalise my new album. We decided to engage Paliani so that we can have a new touch on the music,” said Chipanga.

The yet-to-be-named album will be Chipanga’s second release without his wife Namatayi.

“I have done an album so far without her and this will be the second album in my name,” he said.

He said they have not been hosting live performances since January because they were working on the album.

“We have starved our fans because we have not been staging live performances because we were preparing for the album,” he said.

On Saturday the musician will be staging a show at the Zimbabwe Germany Society. Running under the theme “The Different Kind of Christian Jazz” this will be their first gig this year.

Chipanga started his career in Kadoma at a school called Chedonje Primary School.

Chipanga studied at the Zimbabwe College of Music for his Certificate in Ethnomusicology and before embarking on a degree in Ethnomusicology.

He is one of the pioneers of Umoja Cultural Flying Carpet (the exchange of African drumming and dance). Chipanga worked with Oliver Mtukudzi and toured various countries up to September 2011 when he formed Charlenam Rhythms with his wife. Chipanga has been teaching African drumming, percussive instruments, songs and dance in various schools over the past years.