Tapuwa Bright Chisvo (TBright)
Boom-bom-boom-bom-boom-bom, the sound of the drum, like a heartbeat, bringing to life the story and stage of the Notes and Bars Poetry Chill Session. Behind that drum, a seasoned drummer whose expertise was not only visible to the eye but could be felt in the core of everyone’s soul with each vibration coming from the drum.
Tapuwa Bright Chisvo, stage name “Tbright” was born and raised in Zimbabwe. His musical career began in 2004 with a small band called Gwarimba as a drummer. Four years later they got their first when the band competed at a music festival hosted by Music Crossroads in Malawi. Tapuwa was part of this small time band as a drummer and was also hired to play for Kombooka which is now Mokoomba at the same music festival. The two bands where representing Zimbabwe against Zambia, Tanzanian, Mozambique and Malawi.
Tapuwa and the second band he was playing with won the the competition and where awarded a musical tour to Sweden and Austria as their price for one month in 2009. This on its own brought so much exposure and experience for Tapuwa as an upcoming drummer. When the tour ended and the band came back home Tapuwa decided to further his exposure by becoming a session drummer.
Tapuwa joined Diana Samkange (a local Afro-Contemporary female musician) and BaShupi (a local) and became their drummer / vocalist for (years) in this time Tbright was growing as a brand and musician and realizing his talents. He then started directing music for the two bands, attending workshops and learning how to be a better drummer, vocalist and music director.
The knowledge he got over the years was evident in how he directed and coached each poet that performed at the October Chill Session. Paying special attention to tone, rhythm and most importantly the message in every piece that was delivered ensured that the acoustic arrangements they created for each individual piece was fitting. Below are some of the sentiments shared by both performers and listeners.
“The intensity of the message in each piece was incredibly magnified by the musical accompaniment.”
“I can still hear the tune playing in my head and with it I find myself recalling several punch lines from my favourite performance.”
In 2001 Tbright moved to Summer Breeze band which was a jazz out fit where most of his grooming as a professional drummer came from in terms of discipline and maturity. During that period he played for artists like Aunty Dorothy Masuka, Mbare Trio , The Cool Crooners , a U.K bassed Jazz Pianist named Jane and a few others.
After a few years Tapuwa got his break and was hired by a band that performed internationally named Black Pressure which was led by Netsai Chigwendere. From 2012 to 2014 Tapuwa and this band toured USA and Europe and had the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Richard Bono amongst others. On Tbright’s tour breaks he was hired to play for one of Zimbabwes successful musicians called Jah Prayzah on his acoustic performances for private functions and up close and personal gigs.
With so much success on all these performances Tbright was one of the most sought out drummer/ vocalist and this landed him the opportunity to work with Cynthia Mare (a UK based afro musician) who holds two national merits awards (NAMA) for best female album of the year and best song of the year (2000), as her music director and drummer. Tbright also played for Rute Mbangwa (an afro jazz female musician). Together with a UK based award winning bassist and afro pop musician named Edith WeUtonga with whom he has played with from 2014 to date. Together they have played at most corporate events and festivals including VISA For Music Festival in Morocco.
Tbright has made a name for himself where drumming and singing is concerned and in 2021 he did a remix of a song done by one of Zimbabwes South African based legends, Louis Mhlanga named Mai Rugare. The remix has further put a stamp on Tbrights musical journey both as a vocalist and an instrumentalist and has also enabled him to have a good fan base of a mature crowd on national radio, social media and at local shows.
Tbright is currently working on his first debut album. look out for that soon. Offstage, Tbright is a drum coach at a private school in Harare and also has private weekend classes for adults for both drums and vocals. He is also hired to work as a music director in studios for artists.
From everyone from the Notes and Bars Poetry Chill Session team, we would like to thank TBright for helping us make the first chill session a success and give him a standing ovation for all of his successes.
Novelty Ink 