Episode #77: Myele Manzanza

Myele Manzanza is a drummer and composer who has rightfully earned himself a reputation as a visionary musician who is not afraid to experiment. Born in New Zealand to a Congolese master percussionist, and currently residing in London, Manzanza was raised listening to hip hop, jazz and dance music all of which strongly inform his current practice.

As a drummer and a sideman Manzanza regularly tours and collaborates with a broad range of artists across multiple genres including Theo Parrish, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Amp Fiddler, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Jordan Rakei, Ross McHenry, The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Ria Hall, Marcus Strickland, Recloose and Sorceress among countless others.

Manzanza has truly established himself on the world stage having being selected from over 20,000 applicants to participate in the Red Bull Music Academy in London. He has multiple solo album releases on esteemed international labels Sound Signature, First Word and BBE and is recognized as one of NZ top jazz musicians, having been nominated for the 2017 NZ Jazz Album of the Year for his sophomore album OnePointOne and 2020 APRA Best Jazz Composition for his work Mortality from the A Love Requited LP. In this episode, Myele shares his background, education, and musical journey.

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