Zimbabwe-born saxophonist Thabani Gapara tells Voices why storytelling is so central to his music.
Auckland-based saxophonist Thabani Gapara Photo: Supplied
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Thabani Gapara Photo: Kadambari Gladding
"I'm the beneficiary of a strong lineage of music. And I'm just looking to share the sounds with maybe people who maybe haven't heard them, which is why I feel the need to tell story."
Thabani Gapara was 21 when he moved from Zimbabwe to South Africa to study jazz. It was a move that changed his life forever.
"For me, that was the place to be, for music."
His sound today is the product of the melange of music and musicians he was exposed to in his journey - from Zimbabwe to South Africa and New Zealand, where he moved to about ten years ago.
While he was finishing studying music in South Africa, his parents and brother moved from the UK to New Zealand, where Thabani eventually joined them.
"I wasn't sure why I would move to New Zealand because I had never really experienced any music from New Zealand, and then to come over here and to discover amazing music, and such a high standard of musicianship has been fantastic."
Voices spoke to him about his journey as a musician, finding a place of belonging and the discipline of championing his music - after it's been birthed.
"You know, when you put it out it's like a big exhale, but then you have to raise the child after" he says about promoting, playing and letting people know that you're making things you love and care about.
After a series of lockdowns, he's been out and about playing and promoting his album The Griot's Path these days in Auckland.
"The "Griot" part of it is to deal with, obviously, the storytellers and the singers whose history is passed down in most African traditions through song. "
"The responsibility of song to have story attached to it is something I like".
Listen to this episode of Voices where Thabani Gapara talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his journey as a musician.
FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
