Compilation Spotlights South African Jazz
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Compilation Spotlights South African Jazz
Sat Feb 28, 2004 04:49 PM ET
By Dan Ouellette
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and trumpeter Hugh
Masekela are well-known in the United States, but their native South
Africa is even more of a hotbed of jazz activity than such fame
suggests.
At last year's North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town, the revelations
included guitarists Philip Tabane and Jimmy Dludlu, female vocalist
Busi Mhlongo and trombonist Jonas Gwangwa. That's just the tip of the
iceberg.
The compilation disc "Africa Straight Ahead," released Feb. 24 on
Heads Up International, showcases the creme de la creme of South
Africa's robust jazz scene. Highlights include tracks by pianists
Hotep Idris Galeta and Bheki Mseleku and saxophonists Zim Ngquwana and
McCoy Mrubata.
The CD also features American artists collaborating with South African
musicians, including steel pan player Andy Narell and pianist Darius
Brubeck, the son of Dave Brubeck. The younger Brubeck is also a
longtime jazz teacher at the University of Natal in Durban.
Heads Up president Dave Love, a frequent visitor to South Africa,
says, "I continue to be mesmerized by the vision and instrumental
facility of South African jazz musicians. They've studied jazz and
incorporated it into the diverse musical elements of their culture.
They deserve to be put on the world stage."
"Africa Straight Ahead" is Heads Up's follow-up to 2000's "Smooth
Africa" and 2003's "Smooth Africa II: Exploring the Soul." Love says,
"I felt it was time to document the straight-ahead scene. This is
compelling music that honors the 10th anniversary of the end of
apartheid."
Earlier this year, Heads Up released Zulu vocal group Ladysmith Black
Mambazo's "Raise Your Spirit Higher -- Wenyukela." The label plans to
deliver Miriam Makeba's new recording, "Reflections," later this year.
Galeta said last year, "I believe there's a great future in South
African jazz. The music of the new millennium will come from this
country."
Love agrees. He'll continue to advance the cultural exchange,
encouraging collaborations between American jazzers and their South
African counterparts. This year he'll take the band Hiroshima to Cape
Town for the April 9-10 North Sea Festival.
Reuters/Billboard