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.
MICROSCOPIC SEPTET
Surrealistic Swing
Organissimo
This is the Place
KEN CLARK ORGAN TRIO
Mutual Respect
Matt White The Super Villain Jazz Band
Worlds Wide
MIKE FROST PROJECT
Comin' Straigt At Ya'
The Hot Club of San Francisco
John Paul George & Django
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