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.CHARLIE HUNTER AND BOBBY PREVITE/GROUNDTRUTHER
ALTITUDES
THE MACPODZ
Genius Food for Superheroes
THE REBIRTH
This Journey In
Various Blue Note Artists
Somethin’ New
ELVIS COSTELLO AND ALLEN TOUSSAINT (“Two-SAHN-t”)
The River in Reverse
Lois Deloatch
Hymn to Freedom: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
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