The Herald (Harare)
January 17, 2007
Posted to the web January 17, 2007
Wonder Guchu
Harare
ONE of Zimbabwe's greatest trumpet blowers, Paul Lunga, used to play drums until his bandmaster stumbled on him experimenting with a trumpet before a session some 40 years ago.
"I played drums for the Mhlangeni All Stars Band until David Charles Gambe, who was our bandmaster, decided that I should play the trumpet after he had found me 'messing' with the instrument before our normal session. He said I was producing a unique sound," Lunga, who is teaching music in the United Kingdom, revealed.
Gambe, who was the first trumpeter for the Bulawayo African Orchestra, taught Lunga the rudiments of music reading.
Before the switch, Lunga had played drums for his first band --- the Pirates --- together with Abraham Ncube, Andrew Kangwa, Paul Lunga, Japhet and Misheck.
The Pirates were a regular band at halls such as Stanley, Macdonald and Beithall in Luveve during the Teen Time shows in the '60s where they played Afro-jazz, marabi and pop music.
"We played Afro jazz, marabi and pop during what was called Teen Time shows at Stanley Hall, Stanley Square, Macdonald Hall, Beithall in Luveve and many other venues. We played at weddings and other social functions," he said.
Later he played drums in the Stanley Wilson's Band with Stanley Wilson, Andrew "Scarab" Mtshangane, Manyika and Machipisa, then in John Randon's band and for the Jerry De Vos Combo.
While he was jamming, Lunga studied music with the Royal School of Music in Bulawayo and passed.
In 1964, he was employed by the then Rhodesia Railways as a locomotive fireman but even then, he did not stop performing on a part time basis.
Seven years later, he was promoted to a locomotive driver and was transferred to Wankie where he worked for three years but would travel to Bulawayo to see his family and jam with his mates every fortnight.
When he finally returned to Bulawayo, the jazz master won a contract to perform at the Bulawayo Holiday Inn with a group known as the Lucky Dan Trio together with Lucky Thondlana who played drums, Bosco Ncube and Danny Chiradza.
From the Bulawayo Holiday Inn, Lunga teamed up with Neville Nevada, Davison Munemo and Bradshaw Muchirahondo to form the Jazz Incorporated that performed at the Je Tame Night Club that was later renamed Cappellis along Fife Street.
"I also played with the Jazz Merchants that comprised Henry Thondlana, Guinea Sibanda and Isen Phiri.
"When The Soweto Review that was led by Dennis Mpali with Kippie "Morolong" Moeketsi, Barney Rachabane, Pat Matshikiza and Matthews came to Bulawayo, I played with them at the Happy Valley Hotel where I used to jam with the Echoes and Limpopo Jazz Band," he explained.
He then relocated to Harare and led the group that was called Happening whose members were Basil Kumpeu, Alois Kumpeu, Davy Marumahoko, Bradshaw Muchirahondo, Solo and Max Mambo Anselmo and Margie.
With this group, Lunga recorded a single.
"In Harare I later played with St Paul's Jazz Band together with Timothy Makaya, Noah Matselele, Bruce Nyamayaro and Amanda, Playboy at La Boheme and then at Le coc dor Night Club (now Livewire) with Johnny Papas, John Nyathi Nguza from Tanzania," he added.
He then returned to Bulawayo where he played at the Cellar Club along Main Street after founding the group Jazz Impacto together with Neville Nevada, Abraham Ncube, Andrew "Mtshangane" Sithole and Danny Chiradza with Jacob and Dicky.
This was the outfit that recorded Zimbabwe Jive, Ketchup and Township jazz in the '90s.
From the Cellar Club, the group moved to the Zambezi Bar along the same street before they won a contract to play at the Boma (Bulawayo Sun Hotel) and later at the Alabama with Elliot and Killer Phiri as well as Eric Juba.
Once again, Lunga returned to Harare and joined Moses Kabubi, Vincent Kapepe, Jeff Kawamba, Safeli Fari Sumayili, Clancy Mbirimi and Jonasi Sarutawa as Summer Breeze.
With Summer Breeze, they recorded the album -- Real time Afro Jazz.
And it was time to retrace his footsteps to Harare again when the Mannenberg was opened.
Here he had the opportunity of performing together with the likes of Misheck Takadiyi, Chris Chabuka, Basil Coetzee, Dorothy Timothy Skova, Simangaliso Tutani, Dorothy Masuku, Abigail Kubeka, Patience Africa, Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim.
Although jazz music was slowly coming alive, Lunga left for the UK where he enrolled as a student music educator at the Gold Smith University in London in 2004.
"One of my memorable shows was in 2004 at the famous Storeyville Jazz Club in Helsinki when I played with the backing of the Jelly Rollers Band," he remembered.
Lunga, who developed a long time passion at a very tender age, will be coming back to Zimbabwe to launch his new album titled Real time Afro-jazz in Harare and Bulawayo this month.
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