MPAMBARA

March 2008

 

In his own words Mpambara stated,  “America is filled with all kinds of excellent musicians.” Over the years, Mpambara has become one of them. As a bass player who used to make his own instruments as a child in Mbarara, Uganda from twigs, he has come a long way, across the Atlantic ocean and with musical instruments. In 1978 he came to the U.S. to go to school at U-W Platteville in Wisconsin. Eventually, he arrived in the Twin Cities and started a band with Ugandan musician Shalita called “Sweet Taste of Africa” in the 1980’s. “We played soukous music…we were ahead of our time,” he stated. He played with this band for two years and then played with a Caribbean band called “Shangoya.”

 

the 1980s, Mpambara decided he wanted to get a music degree at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and so he did. He then went on to play in the MN Jazz Festival and has toured with Kanda Bongo Man. Mpambara has two solo albums and his first album debuted in 2000 called, “Hail to the Chief.” “On the internet they’ve called it the best music under the sun…I would say it is jazz inspired and influenced by other American forms of music as well, like rock and funk,” he stated. He also admits that artists such as Stevie Wonder have inspired him.

 

He later produced his second album called, “Rio de Oro” and it debuted in 2007

The evolution of Mpambara has been one where music was always present. He is now a full-time bass player who sings vocals in more than five languages, writes, composes music, and performs around the Twin Cities. For the African Global Roots event he plans to play solo bass and sing, with an African touch to it. When asked what the audience can expect at his next performance at T’s Place in Minneapolis he stated, “they can expect music that I hope will engage them…and that will communicate with them. My intention is always to make music that can engage people and if I can attain that I think I have met my goal.”