NORA BALABAN began her musical career in 1980, singing with the rock band, Pop Decay. The band performed regularly at CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City and other NYC underground clubs.

In 1982, Nora relocated to San Francisco, beginning a musical journey that would influence her life long musical career. She first joined the band “Mapenzi”, a ten-piece “Zimbabwe Style” dance band, recording and performing with them for three years as their marimba player and singer. She then began composing pop songs based on African marimba grooves and this led to the formation of her band “Fuzz Factor”, a pop rock band fusing African marimbas with rock and roll. It was during this period that Nora heard the sound of the Timbila (Mozambique’s national xylophone). She became obsessed with this sound and after searching for recordings in record stores and radio stations she realized that she would have to travel to Africa in order to locate the source of this music.

In 1996 Nora returned to NYC. Soon after returning she was invited to travel to Ghana to study Gyil (Ghanaian xylophone), with Bernard Woma of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble. She spent two months in intensive study with Bernard and then traveled to Zimbabwe for ten months to study with Mbira Master Tute Chigamba and his family. She took daily lessons and performed at ceremonies and various functions with the family, solidifying her playing and understanding of the instruments and culture. Nora crossed the border to Mozambique several times during this trip to learn about the Timbila. This is when she met and began her study with the great master Venancio Mbande. She has returned to Zimbabwe and Mozambique several times over the last ten years to continue her music studies.

During her trips to Africa Nora began to collect beautiful instruments and crafts and upon returning to NYC she realized that many musicians expressed an interest in purchasing these instruments. She opened a store called “Tribal Soundz” and began selling these African treasures. This led to her sponsoring world music instrument workshops, concerts and events at the store.

Presently Nora continues to teach Mbira privately and in group workshops. She organizes workshops and concerts for many of Zimbabwe’s visiting Mbira Masters. She performs with her group “Timbila” an “Afrodelic Xylo Pop Band” with Banning Eyre. She composes the music for the band, plays Timbila, Mbira and sings. In addition Nora performs with Mbira NYC.

Via MbiraNYC