Mhondoro

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Join the incredible Mhondoro in celebrating the release of their new album, NGATIBATANEI: Let Us Unite! The name, meaning "the lion spirit" in Shona, a language of Zimbabwe, MHONDORO is a band full of joy and brimming with the force of life. Melding traditional Zimbabwean music, American jazz, and an unmistakable dose of the Pacific Northwest, Mhondoro celebrates the culmination of their diverse roots. John Mambira is a traditional musician from Zimbabwe who toured Europe and the US with his band Bongo Love. Idit Shner, from Israel, performs as both a jazz and a classical saxophonist. Torrey Newhart, from Bend, Oregon, plays piano and keyboards and has experience as a band leader. Garret Baxter, previously hailing from Ashland, Oregon is now one of the most in-demand bassists in Portland scene. Ken Mastrogiovanni, a drummer from Eugene, Oregon, is at home with modern jazz but also composes music and produces beats. Put together, they are global and hyper-local—truly American, in the best sense of the word.