Thabani Gapara presents his latest single, ‘Matunga’, a smooth groove tune composed as a heartfelt ode to his father. Blending a soulful, laid-back groove with an upbeat, joyful melody. This composition captures an intimate and reflective mood, with smoky undertones that create a serene ambiance.’Matunga’ Showcases Gapara's signature fusion of African jazz and modern rhythms, delivering a track that’s both emotionally resonant and musically uplifting.
STREAM ‘MATUNGA’ HERE
With a musical journey spanning 16 years, taking him across continents and musical landscapes. A graduate of the New Zealand School of Music, Gapara's collaborations with an array of artists in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and New Zealand have enriched his creative repertoire.
From being a vital saxophonist in some of Aotearoa’s prominent acts, including Stan Walker, Katchafire, Rob Ruha,Troy Kingi, Sons of Zion, Ella Monerry, The Modern Māori Quartet to contributing on projects like Five Minutes of Fame - Whakaata Māori, Symphony and the Rugby World Cup Sevens theme music, Gapara's musicianship and presence on stage knows no bounds.
Thabani Gapara invites you to join him on this musical safari. Immerse yourself in the sounds.
Zimbabwean born and raised, Thabani Gapara is an Auckland based saxophonist who has been performing around the world in various musical projects for the last 16 years. A graduate of the New Zealand School of Music (B Mus Jazz), Thabani has had the pleasure to play as a member in several musical projects in Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand.
His passion for collaboration has seen him work with a plethora of South African and New Zealand artists including: Batucada Sound Machine, Hipstamatics ,Bella Kalolo, Rob Ruha, Lou’ana, Vince Harder, Stan Walker, The Modern Māori Quartet, House of Shem, Three Houses Down and Katchafire to mention but a few.
2019 saw the release of Thabani’s first album ‘In Their Footsteps,’with his band The Thabani Gapara Project. A Celebration of the many varied musical influences that have shaped Gapara’s creative voice, each song given a unique take that breathes a fresh energy to these classic songs.
In the ‘The Griots Path’ ( 2020) Thabani presents his own original music celebrating a variety of his influences from the African diaspora incorporating styles such as Zouk, Afro Latin music, funk, and many of the sounds of Southern Africa. 2023 marked Gapara's New Zealand tour, titled "The Mwana Wevhu Tour."
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