Benediction is a blessing or prayer, usually at the end of a ceremony. We offer up this album as a source of healing and celebration, enjoyment and strong artistic expression. These seven songs range from simple inventions to multi-section epic explorations, to deep traditional songs from Zimbabwe, sung by Zimbabweans. These tracks were laid down

Benediction is a blessing or prayer, usually at the end of a ceremony. We offer up this album as a source of healing and celebration, enjoyment and strong artistic expression. These seven songs range from simple inventions to multi-section epic explorations, to deep traditional songs from Zimbabwe, sung by Zimbabweans. These tracks were laid down at the end of touring-- after playing five or six nights a week for seven weeks-- so the group is super tight. We trust you will find lasting satisfaction listening to the rich acoustic rhythms of the marimbas, percussion, and polyphonic vocal harmonies, expressing the longing of the soul for benediction.

We recorded this over three years and two continents... Starting in 2019 we recorded Tsaba, Vamudhara-Noah, and Benediction, and after this last tour in 2021 rounded out the album with the other four songs. We had mostly the same line-up of players for both sessions: Peter and Karyna Swing, Jesse Larson, Adam Halpin, David Onstott, Conrad Rice, Branson Seamons, Caden Davis, Julia Nelson, Tessa and DeeDee Wells. Superb players all!

Then we sent tracks to Zimbabwe for vocal overdubs on Vamudhara-Noah by the brilliant Barnabas Ngalande and his student Tadiwa Mubayiwa. And to top it all off we had a guest appearance by Daniel Lockley, holding down a rock solid beat on Dreams 1. We hope you love the fruits of our efforts over the last few years, diving deep into these joyful and potent rhythms!

Recorded at The Kitchen Sink Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico by Jono Manson. Zimbabwean vocals recorded in Bulawayo by Thabani Mzila. Mastered by Thaddeus Moore at Liquid Mastering in Eugene, Oregon. Cover art by Rujeko Dumbutshena; back cover and lyrics art by Karyna Swing; and graphics by Willy Magee.