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A harvest, they say, is a crop or yield of one growing season. But we know what harvests can be like - sometimes bountiful and abundant, other times meager and unsatisfying. ZAO, Swahili for harvest, is the title of the record put out by the crew at JKUAT, and straddles the best of both worlds. 
First up, here’s the definition given by the conglomeration of artists of their record.
“The album dubbed ZAO entails artists and musicians in different backgrounds, styles, genres and different grace abounding, but all from one campus, JKUAT, in one purpose, and under one Lord above all, even His pre-eminence, Jesus, the Christ. This album is a celebration of the fruit of different individuals, who have come together as one, to honor the Father of gifts with their talents.”
It’s important to note that ZAO is put out not by seasoned musicians with stacks of time on their hands, but by busy students struggling to manage frenzied routines. To drop this in the midst of demanding lives, and obviously on limited student budget, is a great achievement. Hats off to them!
And speaking of achievements, the record has many. Not least of which is the beautiful zouk number Rafiki, which instantly rings of a Gospel Nyota Ndogo. In the midst of all the high-profile talent searches going on around us (think Project Fame, Idols), this record has unleashed a real gem in Becky Winja. She stands out on this mid-tempo Coastal gem, one of the obvious picks of the album. Fantastic! Two thumbs up. Check it out:
“Umetenda mengi, na sijui kueleza, wala wapi kuanzia,
watu wote wafahamu, umuhimu wako,
Umetenda mengi, hata sijui kueleza, wala wapi kuanzia,
watu wote wafahamu, umuhimu wako”
Wapi wapi, eti wapi…mwanzo wapi?
JKUAT mainstays 501 weigh in with Nimechoka, one of their best and cleverest jams to date. This talented foursome has proven themselves as gifted rappers and remarkable performers, and now they demonstrate versatility with good vocals and great sing-song rap delivery. Newcomer Beth Wanjiru is introduced on Hush, a dreamy guitar-driven ballad that is a song of great contrast. A seemingly melancholic demeanor is beautifully overlaid with against warm encouraging lyrics. Here, the Lord speaks to quiet the hearts of His restless children. In similar vein is Naomi Ngendo’s My Child, another encouraging laid-back number.
 Newcomer producer Alex “A-Minor” Kamau, who produced the entire record, must be credited with his attempts at mixing it up, the different genres come hard and fast. Ruhamah are creative writing new verses on the Benga Ni Wara Nono (killer guitar licks mid-way through will make it a fantastic live listen). On the Chakacha-based Sina Cha Kujivunia, the idea is there, not always the execution. Jose & the (very oddly named) Hosanna Sisters do a brilliant job on Wa Milele Medley, giving these very popular praise choruses a decidedly urban feel. Very nice!
Elsewhere, hip-hop is attempted on the mediocre Twasonga, while a stray rap verse interferes with the otherwise smooth gem Mwangalie Mungu.
By and large the album is a mixed bag. There are many brilliant moments, making the CD a very worthy buy. Many great debutants are exposed, most of whom are undoubtedly destined for even greater things. Producer A-Minor, helming his first full-length album, shows fantastic promise. Surprisingly defined by slow to mid-tempo cuts, it is also a great easy-listening set.
Yet there’s still the sense that even though at many points the record is on the brink of something magical, about to take off and fly, it never really does. The bright moments shine, but possibly encumbered by the relative inexperience of campus students afraid to come out of their shell, and a handful of songs that sound more like filler, a lot of the material still needs polishing.
Look out for the record in your local music store.
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1"becky"
at Sunday, 04 January 2009 11:00
hey anyone who gets a hold of thi... becky (the one who did rafiki) has released a new song called leo iko kwa intimacy album... you should listen to it this one is even bigger better and sounds classier....at first you\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ll wonder ka ni yeye
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