Afro-Cuban Jazz

Biography

Established in 1964, and named after its sponsor, the National Union of Tanganyika (NUTA) was the main Tanzanian trade union. In the early years of Dansi, the NUTA Jazz Band was very influential both artistically and in terms of financial organization; namely, it was one of the first Dansi bands to constitute itself into a "cooperative" of salaried musicians (a model that would become widespread in the 1970s). In the 1960s, NUTA Jazz Band was led by trumpeter-singer late Joseph Lusungu and saxophonist Mnenge Ramadhani, who defined the brass-centered sound of the band. NUTA Jazz Band held its position as one of the major Tanzanian Dansi bands throughout the latter half of the 1960's and most of the 1970's. In 1977 it experienced a major change in personnel, with many of its most talented musicians (including Muhiddin Maalim Gurumo and Hassani Rehani Bitchuka) leaving the band to form a new ensemble, [a1227567]. In 1977, the band changed its name to [a1789256], after the Swahili name of its sponsor (NUTA), Jumuiya ya Wafanyakazi Tanzania. At about the same time, guitarist Saidi Mabera became the new leader of the band. He wrote several of Juwata's hit songs of the 1980's. After Mabera, both Maalim and Bitchuka (who rejoined the band in 1991) became leaders. Muhidini Gurumo is credited with on the major hits of Juwata in the 1990s, Usia kwa watoto. The band changed its name again in 1991 from Juwata Jazz to [a1227572], when the trade union that sponsored it was renamed Organization of Tanzanian Trade Unions. The band is currently active as [a3978338].

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