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.JACK DEJONETTE AND BILL FRISELL
The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers
ERIN BODE
The Little Garden
FO/MO/DEEP
Eclecticism
SONDRE LERCHE & THE FACES DOWN QUARTET
Duper Sessions
WYNTON MARSALIS
From The Plantation To The Penitentiary
WIL SWINDLER'S ELEVENET
Universe B
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