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.
THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET
THEIR LAST TIME OUT
Brian Marsella's Imaginarium
The Clocks Have Gone Mad
CLIFTON ANDERSON
AND SO WE CARRY ON
DIZZY GILLESPIE ALL STAR BIG BAND
I'm BeBoppin' Too
BELA FLECK AND CHICK COREA
The Enchantment
Soel
Memento
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