Idit Shner & Mhondoro - Heat Wave (2022)

Its name meaning "the lion spirit" in Shona, a language of Zimbabwe, MHONDORO has produced a powerful first album, full of joy and brimming with the force of life. Melding traditional Zimbabwean music, American jazz, and an unmistakable dose of the Pacific Northwest, Heat Wave celebrates the culmination of its diverse roots. Born during the pandemic as Israeli saxophonist Idit Shner, Zimbabwean vocalist & percussionist John Mambira, and the Oregon-bred rhythm section of pianist Torrey Newhart, bassist Garrett Baxter, and drummer Ken Mastrogiovanni formed a "parent pod" to allow their children to attend virtual school together while the parents jammed in the living room. Realizing that put together, the music created was both global and hyper-local—truly American, in the best sense of the word—it provided a thrilling artistic escape from the times and exciting possibilities for the future.

Idit Shner - alto saxophone & bass clarinet
John Mambira - percussion & vocals
Torrey Newhart - piano & keyboard
Garrett Baxter - bass
Ken Mastrogiovanni - drums
Ratie D - mbira, vocals (1,7)