Idit Shner & Mhondoro Ngatibatanei Let Us Unite - OA222226 - Jazz - par OA2 Records

The Shona, "Ngatibatanei," translates to a call for unity and kinship, emphasizing the interconnectedness of people—a very appropriate sentiment guiding the second album by Mhondoro. The melding of traditional Zimbabwean music, American jazz, and an unescapable dose of the Pacific Northwest, Ngatibatanei celebrates the sounds of its diverse roots with tart melodies sailing amongst inspired grooves, creating surprising moments throughout. Mhondoro is Israeli saxophonist Idit Shner, Zimbabwean vocalist and percussionist John Mambira, and the Oregon-bred rhythm section of pianist Torrey Newhart, bassist Garrett Baxter, and drummer Ken Mastrogiovanni, who discovered their collective sound—both global and hyper-local, truly American in the best sense of the word—during the long days of the pandemic. Meaning "the lion spirit" in Shona, Mhondoro is full of joy and brimming with the force of life.