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Zimbabwe Nkenya

A “staple of the New Mexico jazz scene” (Pasatiempo) Zimbabwe Nkenya has dedicated his life to music. A self-taught musical scholar, this St. Louis native started as a youth with the cello, but now primarily plays the upright bass, though he sometimes sets that aside to play the mbira, the African thumb piano. He has written and performed live musical scores for theatre, and collaborated with poets and vocalists. Nkenya produced/hosted KUNM’s “The House That Jazz Built”, and has performed in New Mexico for nearly 20 years.

He has been called “distinctive and innovative,” (Santa Fe New Mexican) and his music can be described as a fusion between improvisational jazz and African rhythms. Characteristically, Nkenya avoids the usual playbook of cover songs, and instead, uses the work of artists such as Thelonious Monk and Wayne Shorter as a springboard to dive head first into improvisation.

Zimbabwe Nkenya recently returned to the St. Louis area from the Southwest, where he became known as one of New Mexico's foremost creative musicians. His ensembles Black Jazz Culture, ZIYA, Contrabass Quartet and African Space Project were regularly featured in venues throughout the state including the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe and the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque.

In addition to his active playing career, Nkenya has also been an educator, playing concerts,workshops and residencies for school children. For some 20 years, he hosted one of New Mexico’s most respected radio shows, KUNM’s Sunday night special, "The House that Jazz Built."

Zimbabwe has performed with some of the finest internationally known musicians on the creative music scene including Warren Smith, Ku-umba Frank Lacy, Julius Hemphill, Rob Brown, Ori Kaplin, Douglas Ewart, Abdul Wadud, William Parker, Fred Ho's Afro-Asian Music Ensemble, Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Daniel Carter, Frank Morgan, Eddie Gale, J A Deane, Floyd LeFlore, Chris Jonas, Mary Redhouse, Bill Cole's Yoruba Proverbs, Jim Marshall and Maurice 'Malik' King. He has played with African singers, dancers & musicians Thuli Dumakude, Linda Tshabalala, Chipo Wakatanda, Duma Ndlovu, Lorraine Mahlangu, Abraham Adzenya, Welcome Msomi, Mohamed Kamara, Nhlanhla Brian Thusi and many others. Zimbabwe has also collaborated with poets Quincy Troupe, Eugene B. Redmond, Linda Piper, Mike'360' Ipiotes, Joy Harjo, Virginia Hampton, Michael Castro, Shirley LeFlore and Arthur Ray Brown.

Zimbabwe has performed at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, Knitting Factory, NYU, Hunter College, PS 122, and Riverside Church as well as The BRIDE in Philadelphia and One World Festival, Detroit.

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134

Performance / Tour

K. Curtis Lyle Presenting Benefit for Zimbabwe Nkenya on Tuesday, May 11

K. Curtis Lyle Presenting Benefit for Zimbabwe Nkenya on Tuesday, May 11

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Poet K. Curtis Lyle and collaborators will present “Barackutopia," a performance piece paying tribute to and benefiting bassist Zimbabwe Nkenya, at 8 p.m. this Tuesday at the Kranzberg Arts Center. Lyle will perform his own poetic text, accompanied by sound designer, musician and multimedia artist David A.N. Jackson, bassist Josh Weinstein, and a score by Baikida Carroll.Admission is free, but donations will accepted at the door and will go to Nkenya, who suffered a stroke in November and ...

162

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: A Benefit for Zimbabwe Nkenya; Brian Owens; Erin Bode; Larry Brown, Jr.; and More

Jazz This Week: A Benefit for Zimbabwe Nkenya; Brian Owens; Erin Bode; Larry Brown, Jr.; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

There's a brief respite from major touring jazz acts this week in St. Louis, but there are still a number of events over the next few days with potential appeal for fans of jazz and creative music.On Thursday, Washington University's Jazz at Holmes series continues with a free concert from pianist Ptah Williams and his trio. Also on Thursday, singer Erin Bode and her band will return to the events room at Cyrano's in Webster Groves.On ...

115

Performance / Tour

Concert to Benefit Zimbabwe Nkenya Scheduled for Saturday, January 30

Concert to Benefit Zimbabwe Nkenya Scheduled for Saturday, January 30

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This just in: New Music Circle will present a benefit performance for bass player and composer Zimbabwe Nkenya (pictured) at 7:30 p..m. , Saturday, January 30 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand. Nkenya has been an active participant in the local improvised music scene since his return to St. Louis from New Mexico in 2007. Over the course of his career, he has played with many well-known creative musicians here and in New Mexico, New York ...

95

Recording

Zimbabwe Nkenya Releasing New CD, Performing in-Store at Vintage Vinyl on Monday, October 26

Zimbabwe Nkenya Releasing New CD, Performing in-Store at Vintage Vinyl on Monday, October 26

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Bassist, composer and mbira player Zimbabwe Nkenya (pictured) will celebrate the release of his new CD, Bag II Project Vol. 2, with an in-store performance at 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 26 at Vintage Vinyl.After returning to the St. Louis area in 2006, Nkenya was the prime mover behind a revived version of the Black Artists Group, a.k.a. “BAG II." The group folded at the end of last year, but Nkenya continues to perform around town solo and in ...

116

Festival

African Arts Festival, St. Louis Art Museum to Present Mamadou Diabate, Zimbabwe Nkenya

African Arts Festival, St. Louis Art Museum to Present Mamadou Diabate, Zimbabwe Nkenya

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Next weekend's St. Louis African Arts Festival includes a couple of events at the Saint Louis Art Museum that may be of interest to local fans of jazz and creative music.Kora player Mamadou Diabate (pictured) will give a free concert at 7:00 p.m, Friday May 22 in the Grigg Gallery as part of the Museum's Art After 5 series. A native of Mali, Diabante has played at festivals and concert halls across North America, performing music that blends ...

"...Nkenya is already involved with the new Black Arts Group aka BAG II (see the previous post), and if his track record in New Mexico is any indication, could become a very active participant in the local music scene. StLJN looks forward to hearing what he has to offer" - St. Louis Jazz Notes

"Nkenya is a bass player who ranks with any of new jazz’s name artists. His fluid, far reaching runs on the acoustic bass are the stirring expressions of an artist who knows no limits." - Albuquerque Journal

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Zimbabwe Nkenya and...

High Mayhem Emerging Arts
2006

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