African roots enthusiasts who have yet to discover this veteran master of Tanzanian ilimba (thumb piano) could hardly ask for a better introduction. The deep, gong-like resonance and loping swing of Zawose's thumb piano grooves invite comparisons with neighboring Zimbabwe's Shona music masters, including their pop icon Thomas Mapfumo, but the rich, crying vocal harmonies that accompany many of these all-acoustic tunes also recall the more familiar folkiness of music from Madagascar. With flutes, a violin, and ringing percussion worked into the mix, these 10 seductive tracks can also approach the hocketing, gonzo spell of Central African pygmee singing. But enough comparisons. For all the resonnances, Zawose has a sound of his own, sweetly mysterious, moody, revelatory. With all today's releases that sell notions of trance and spirituality cheap, here is genuine music of the soul, simply recorded, simply presented, simply spectacular.

Contributed by: Banning Eyre
Originally published in: Boston Phoenix