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.JEFF COFFIN MU'TET
Mutopia
MeShell Ndegeocello
The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel
The Hot Club of San Francisco
John Paul George & Django
Jeff Coffin & Charlie Peacock
Arc of The Circle
THE MATT SAVAGE TRIO
Hot Ticket
JERRY LEAKE AND RANDY ROOS
Cubist Live
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