WDP gives jazz a refreshing twist with Bechuanaland Sessions: Phase 1

There are days when one wants to kick back and relax with good music in the background. Your current best pick would have to be upbeat jazz album Bechuanaland Sessions: Phase 1 by WDP (abbreviation for Willingness Determines Potential).

Comprising of ten tracks, the album consists multi-instrumentalist Leroy Nyoni and saxophonist Terry Lewis’ interpretation of songs from various Botswana artists.

The songs include Black mampatile by Amantle Brown, Naomi by Ban T, Sala le nna by Dramaboi featuring Katlego and Kopisa by Gaone Rantlhoiwa, among others. Nyoni says they decided on these renditions in order to pay tribute to local artists.

“We realised that a lot of artists in other countries paid tribute to them while they were still alive so we felt the same should be done for Botswana artists,” he says.

Nyoni refers to it as a crossover album because they “retained the mainstream elements in the songs so that they are still recognisable to the listeners but we portrayed other aspects of the music.”

He says that they have also improvised on songs such as Black mampatile. Nyoni says that each CD comes with a free case made of German Print as the duo wanted to use a product associated with Batswana.

He further says that there are plans to release Bechuanaland Sessions: Phase 2.“We are already in talks with other artists and some of the music which was not included in the first album will be included in there.” The album is available at Street horn music café and Botswana Craft.