2010-06-14
Strut Records concludes a three-CD set of early South African music by highlighting that country's jazz musicians of the '60s, '70s and '80s. While many prominent artists fled South Africa for the safer and richer shores of the U.S. and Europe, these musicians stayed and kept jazz alive. Some interesting stuff here -- you can hear the roots of what Hugh Masekela wound up doing with "Grazin' in the Grass" in 1968. The Malombo cuts are the ones that fuse jazz and African rhythms the most extensively. That these artists could play so skillfully during a time of great repression is amazing. Such is the power of music. 06/10 Michael J.POSITIVE CATASTROPHE
Garabatos Volume One
New Birth Brass Band
New Birth Family
BELA FLECK AND CHICK COREA
The Enchantment
Lois Deloatch
Hymn to Freedom: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
DAVID WIATROLIK
Dave and the Gin Mill Gypsies
PONCHO SANCHEZ AND HIS LATIN JAZZ BAND
LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD
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