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.
DAVE SIEBELS
With Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
Jeff Lorber Fusion
Galaxy
INARA GEORGE WITH VAN DYKE PARKS
An Invitation
Carlos Vega
Bird's Ticket
DAN BARASZU
Nightfall
CHARLIE HUNTER
GENTLEMEN I NEGLECTED TO INFORM YOU YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING PAID
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