Mwalim
A Musical Transformation
It's a crowded night at a sub-terrainian bar. Red lights soak the stage, bathing the darkened room with a hot glow. You descend the cavern steps into the warm, mesmerizing sounds. You sink into a room that is electrified and engulfed in a free-flowing concoction of funky, syncopated rhythms, warm fat bass grooves, jazzy harmonies and soulful melodies that pierce the darkness like a laser beam..
Tonight, the performer is Mwalim, a Black Indian singer/musician/storyteller. On a keyboard, he frames rhythmic harmonies and counter melodies as a foundation for his laid-back, yet commanding vocals, as he interweaves songs, chants, poems and folk-tales into the music. His voice easily shifts from smooth crooning to the raspy belting of bluesy-gospel shouts, as d ictated by the mood of the song and it's lyrics. Tonight, the bar is packed to capacity with a multi-ethnic array of young professionals (incognito artists), college students, bohemians and seasoned veterans to the underground music scene.
Mwalim's set deftly progresses through a tasty collection of original grooves and slow jams as well as a few re-worked cover tunes, including a rendition of D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" that has often lead listeners believing it is the original. The diverse appeal of this neo-classic soul artist, bridges the gap between jazz, funk, r&b and alternative music enthusiasts. On occasion, Mwalim performs alone or, like tonight, with Soul Ensemble a five-piece jazz-funk band. This ethereal experience has taken place in coffeehouses, jazz and blues spots, art galleries, alternative clubs, and festivals throughout New England and New York City.
Aside from original compositions, Mwalim has loaned his piano and vocal virtuosity, as well as African percussion to a host of other artists recorded and live performances, including jazz poetry favorites, the Jeff Robinson Trio; old-school hip-hop legend, D.J. Jazzy-Jay; The Last Poets and Betty Carter. As the last song fades, it's energy glows like coals in a fireplace. All over the room, peo ple are slowly emerging from their ritual-induced trance. The mood created by the music lingers in the air, like the spirits of many ancestors. In an industry that is committed to categories, Mwalim's music proves to be at the core of what entertainment should be: A transformation.
