The Broadway Quintet - 1976 - Amalume (Lekani Mowa)

The Broadway Quintet

1976

Amalume (Lekani Mowa)

01. Amalume

02. Kanyange

03. Nifyo Fine

04. Chingoma Uri

05. Change Your Mind

06. Akana Ndiwo

07. Jiye Manguwe

08. Matteo

09. Kayuni

10. Mr. Music

11. Pimu Chinanga

Tony Maonde – Keyboards

Zacks Gwaze – Lead Guitar, Vocals

Simanga Tutani – Bass Guitar, Sax, Vocals

Timothy Sikova – Drums, Percussion, Vocals

Jonah Marumahoko – Congas, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Peter Bwalya – Trumpet on "Matteo" and "Nifyo Fine"

Produced and Arranged by The Broadway Quintet

Recorded at d.B Studios, Lusaka in 1976

Sharp-Flat Records presents the long-awaited restoration of The Broadway Quintet's cult classic Amalume – a hypnotic concoction of traditional Zambian sounds and jazz-rock grooves with a twist of 1970s African psychedelia.

Emerging to serve the entertainment needs of Zambia's United National Independence Party (UNIP) in the early 1960s, The Broadway Quintet gathered seasoned talent from Lusaka's best hotel bands to fashion its esteemed lineup. Starting as a quartet and later evolving into a quintet, the group's career spanned over twenty years as favourites on the cabaret circuit and boasted a myriad of prestigious collaborations.

The Broadway Quintet's jazz sensibilities set them apart from the rock sound that dominated the music landscape of the 1970s. Yet the formula behind Zamrock, fusing indigenous Zambian sounds with Western pop, shaped their one and only 1976 long-player. Featuring modern arrangements of traditional songs, Amalume blended congas with sax sounds, folk lyrics with electric keyboard shenanigans and show business staples with jazz guitar noodling. With its psychedelic fever dream illustrated cover, it was an explosive package of "originality and electrifying beauty" as the album's liner notes rightly attested.

A killer full length set from this Zambian group of the 70s – a smaller combo made up of members from some of the bigger hotel bands of the time – coming together with a lean groove that's really wonderful throughout! Core elements include the guitar of Zacks Gwaze, the keyboards of Tony Maonde, and the saxophone of Simanga Tutani – and vocals are usually sung by one or a few members of the group together, often in these lightly lilting ways that roll along with the rhythms and instrumentation, rather than stand apart from them. Songs are short and tight