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.
SOMI
If the Rains Come First
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Highlights, Volume 1
THE MIKE LONGO TRIO
Float Like a Butterfly
STEVE SWALLOW with ROBERT CREELY
So There
Bob Merrill and Roswell Rudd
Cheerin' Up The Universe
EMP PROJECT
Wherever We Go
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