In a music landscape where bands have such names as Orchestra Mberikwazvo, Vigilance and The Black Spirits, The Husbands is a name that manages to stand out. Before I had seen the ensemble perform I was already intrigued, and when I finally saw them live, the intrigue was met with a bit of awe. While they performed lyrics that sounded familiar, the melodies were continuously reimagined, almost a mirror image of the band's somewhat polygynous name.
 |
| Vera |
Although no longer at the peak of prominence, jazz music has long been a soundtrack of Zimbabwean life. A sound that can double as a metaphor for life. Vera & The Husbands offer up a reminder of what we've lost over the years, while also displaying what we still have. In a quaint auditorium at Nhaka Gallery, the quartet present (other members of the band were not there) gave us a show with practiced ease. Yet everything still very much felt like it was on the fly. A live showcase of improvisation.
While Vera dominates the spotlight with her mellisonant vocals, the supporting cast on guitar, drums and saxophone is equally capable. Reggae, pop and folk songs were expressed in altered timbres that enhanced their resonance. As much as it was titled as a concert, Jazz Night felt like a conversation between friends. Friends with a shared love of music.
From Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Jamming," to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." On the night Vera was a storyteller. Takes us through a story of love, heartbreak and life lessons, with an eclectic selection of music that ran from the 70s to the 2000s. The hits were painted with unique timbres and in-between Vera provided interludes, a story about how her grandparents fell in love being especially touching.
There was swing, the blues, funk and Zimbabwean rhythms that one can't name but simply knows when they hit the ear. A bit of comic relief was provided by a performance of the popular folk song "Mapurisa emuno muHarare, akatibata tichiputa mbanje..." which resulted in a singalong from everyone in attendance.
When the performance ended, the crowd asked for "one more, one more, one more..." and after the encore they still wanted some more. While jazz was the theme of the night, it was a performance to be enjoyed by any music lover. Vera & The Husbands while unconventional, they're certainly remarkable. A music act that leaves you yearning for more.
Enjoyed reading this news report? Support Greedysouth by buying the team a cup of coffee. Your support assists in the production of such quality reports. Thank you.