Saxophonist Thabani Gapara is hitting his stride at 40: ‘So many wonderful changes are taking place’

With the new album Dzindza scoring him a nomination for Best Jazz Artist at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards, Thabani Gapara is honoured by the company he's keeping these days.

Being personally nominated alongside acclaimed former collaborators like Troy Kingi and Stan Walker is “absolutely surreal”, the African-Kiwi musician tells Music 101.

“For my original music to be put in that same realm is fantastic, just phenomenal.”

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Growing up in Zimbabwe, Gapara picked up the saxophone at 17, later playing music festivals with local bands Afrika Revenge and Jazz Invitation.

As a young man, he lived for seven years in South Africa, studying jazz, “soaking up” as much music as he could and forging a deep connection with African musical heritage.

After moving to Auckland 13 years ago, Gapara soon started jamming and collaborating with local musicians.

Some of those he had “a very special connection” will join the line-up for his headlining performance at Hawke's Bay's Jazz In The Park on 12 April and his upcoming African Traveller national tour in April/May.

In a year that he's collaborating with amazing Kiwi artists, nominated for an AMA and performing live shows around the country, Gapari says he's feeling a sense of possibility summed by the Dzinda track ‘Times Change’.

“The goal for this piece of music is to let the listener know that there's always brightness and excitement ahead. Always. I'm very optimistic, and this is an optimistic but also very groovy piece of music in an Afrobeat style.

“[The message is] everything happens at the right time, and things don't stay the same. Things can always get brighter and better.”

17 April – Totara Street, Mount Maunganui

26 April – Edisons, Whangamatā

10 May – Space Academy, Christchurch

17 May – The Meteor, Hamilton

23 May – Meow, Wellington

31 May – The Tuning Fork, Auckland