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.CONNIE EVINGSON WITH DAVE FRISHBERG
Little Did I Dream
Mark Isbell
Encontro
ALLEN TOUSSAINT
The Bright Mississippi
JOHN ELLIS AND DOUBLE-WIDE
Puppet Mischief
Billy Childs
Rebirth
THE MEMPHIS HANG
THE MEMPHIS HANG
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.