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.DON STIERNBERG
SWING 220
DR. JOHN AND THE LOWER 911
TRIBAL
LISA HILTON
Underground
THE MACPODZ
Genius Food for Superheroes
John Scofield
That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles
CONNIE EVINGSON WITH DAVE FRISHBERG
Little Did I Dream
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