‘LIVE RECORDING SPEAKS TO FANS’

. . . SA GOSPEL CHOIR JETS IN

GOSPEL group, The Vine, say they have opted for a live recording of their second album at Harare International Conference Centre, to give their fans an interactive experience.

Titled The Great Physician, the album is set to be launched in collaboration with South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir, who arrive in the country today and tomorrow.

“We want our fans to have a live experience with God together with us and a live recording gives us that,” said the group’s founding director, Everton Mlalazi.

He said they roped in the Soweto Gospel Choir because of their huge name on the continent and in the world.

SGC is a 40-piece orchestra group which hails from Cape Town, Mahalia and Mabongi.

“There is a huge African theme in some of the songs on the album and the Soweto Gospel Choir, with three Grammys to their name, were an easy choice. Their energy is refreshing and infectious. It’s been easy and humbling to work with the Soweto Gospel Choir.”

Mlalazi is not new to bringing South African legends to Zimbabwe as he recently launched his latest album, In His Presence in the company of gospel guru Benjamin Dube, whom he featured on the song Mwari Hamushanduki, at 7 Arts in Harare.

He hailed Nigel Nyangombe, the producer of The Vine, for the wonderful work done on the forthcoming album.

“Nigel is very talented. He makes all our arrangements and we are very happy working with him.”

Mlalazi said the Great Physician album was inspired by the hardships brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic that made many Christians look forward to a time without disease and suffering - the time of the great physician.

“The great physician NOW is near. The sympathising Jesus. We all have different situations as a result of Covid19 and we need physical, mental, financial, and social healing.

This message speaks to the present truth of a Jesus who is interceding on our behalf,” he said, adding that the pandemic also disturbed the progress The Vine was making on the album.

“It’s been a stop and start since we began working on the album in 2020.

“Lockdowns and illnesses amongst our members delayed the project but we thank God that the album is ready now.

“We are so excited for the upcoming live recording.”

The Vine was formed in 2014 with Mlalazi as the founding director.

The group is meant to spread the good news of salvation unto all the world.

“Our music is fashioned to reach everyone in Zim, in Africa and in the rest of the world,” said Mlalazi.

The group has 13 singing members, a sound person, a pianist, the producer and the management team led by RHI Media.