tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353203582024-02-08T10:05:09.973-08:00South African Music and South African JazzThoughts, Rants, and Possible Insights on the music of South Africa.
And occasionally other things that seem worth blogging.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-55359968094954871792018-02-10T13:11:00.000-08:002018-02-10T13:11:02.850-08:00Nduduzo Makhathini: Jazz Is a Shared MemoryI had the opportunity to interview pianist Nduduzo Makhathini and discuss his latest project. He was a truly remarkable artist to speak with, and his answers on the questions are illuminating and exceptional.
You can read the article here: <a href="https://www.allaboutjazz.com/nduduzo-makhathini-jazz-is-a-shared-memory-nduduzo-makhathini-by-seton-hawkins.php">https://www.allaboutjazz.com/nduduzo-makhathini-jazz-is-a-shared-memory-nduduzo-makhathini-by-seton-hawkins.php</a>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-72687234274508026662015-09-22T13:33:00.002-07:002015-09-22T13:35:16.400-07:00Uhadi and South African Jazz videosI had the opportunity to work with some wonderful artists from Johannesburg, in a group we formed called Uhadi.<br />
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While they were in town, we prepared some videos outlining South African Jazz styles. Two of them - a video on mbaqanga and a video on ghoema - are up here. Check them out:<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zkVh8FIC2QY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/StfYxD8LqYw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Two more lessons--one on marabi and one on Jazz in the anti-apartheid struggle--will be posted soon, as will a longer form oral history with Sibongile Khumalo.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-48761884757826415042011-09-12T11:37:00.000-07:002011-09-12T11:41:13.830-07:00Peter AuretI recently <a href="http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40203">completed an interview</a> with the drummer Peter Auret. He's a fascinating figure - a wonderful jazz drummer, but also a guy who is looking to find solutions to a declining array of performance opportunities for jazz artists in South Africa.<br /><br />He formed his own collective, around his self-produced label Afrisonic, and is beginning to develop showcase-style performances in Johannesburg. Given the dearth of clubs in the country, Auret's vision may prove to be a helpful antidote for SA, which is swimming in incredible talent, but lacking in appropriate venues for the talent to perform.<br /><br />Auret just released a marvelous album, <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/peteraurettrio"><span style="font-style: italic;">Turn the Tide</span></a>, which I heartily recommend.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-45890980430003439862011-08-24T12:26:00.000-07:002011-08-26T07:46:40.107-07:00Ard MatthewsWhoops!
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<br />Ard Matthews opts for epic fail [a la <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB61wXKROtw">Christina Aguilera</a>]:
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<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fu6IG0Wx19w" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe>
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<br />[insert generic and tiresome joke about <a href="http://justjinjer.com/">Just Jinger/Just Jinjer</a> doing to pop music what Matthews did to the anthem]
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<br />[8/25 addendum: Ard posted a video of his playing the national anthem at home to demonstrate that he actually DOES know the lyrics. Though I am going to go with "living room doesn't count," I figure it's worth noting this:
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<br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bg9RhaNlP9k&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bg9RhaNlP9k&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>
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<br />There we go]
<br />smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-60979212312112000262011-08-19T09:44:00.000-07:002011-08-19T09:58:25.324-07:00An overdue noteOne and a half years late, but what the hell.
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<br />I've been conducting some interviews lately with South African artists - mostly jazz, but I think the genre line gets fuzzy as a general rule when discussing South African jazz (for reference, see the increasingly tiresome debate over whether Hugh Masekela is jazz or not...no, not here...just look around, I suppose).
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<br />The interviews are online at allaboutjazz.com, but I'll hyperlink them below, too.
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<br />The <a href="http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=39358">first interview</a>, which was published earlier this year, was with a guitarist named <a href="http://www.derekgripper.co.za/derekgripper/home.html">Derek Gripper</a>. He performs classical pieces, Brazilian music, Malian kora music transcribed for guitar, original compositions, Cape vastraps (a quickstep-style dance), and so on. He just began releasing his own albums through his limited-print label, New Cape Records. The interview is quite striking, and he's very forthcoming with info and engaging, so I hope you'll read it. From a personal standpoint, one particular album of his stands out for me: <span style="font-style: italic;">Sagtevlei</span>, which he recorded with the late multi-instrumentalist Alex van Heerden. Mr. van Heerden and his extraordinary body of work merit their own blog entry (maybe even their own blog!), but for now, just check out <a href="http://shop.newcape.co.za/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sagtevlei</span></a> and maybe give the interview a read (Derek and I discuss Alex).
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<br />The <a href="http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40039">second interview</a> that's currently live is with a jazz pianist and composer named <a href="http://www.jasonreolon.com/">Jason Reolon</a>. He began playing in a group called Breakfast Included, which in the very late 90s into the early part of the last decade, was something of a jazz sensation in SA. A number of critics wrote extensively about the group, and particularly highlighted Jason's playing. He just released an album called <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jasonreolon"><span style="font-style: italic;">Outline</span></a> that I thought was pretty magnificent - beautiful jazz trio work, in fact. In conjunction with his interview, the site also made one of his tracks <a href="http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownload.php?id=6783">available for free download</a>. Check it out - wonderful stuff.
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<br />I figure, in lieu of writing too much about either of these artists, I'd actually just suggest reading the interviews - they do a better job explaining their work and music than I do!
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<br />More interviews will be coming - one with a guitarist named Bruce Muirhead (whose exceptional debut album I <a href="http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38419">reviewed</a>), another with a drummer and entrepreneur named Peter Auret, and a third one with a pastor, singer, and music promoter named Glenn Robertson. There will be further interviews too, but these ones are nearly completed.
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<br />The overall lesson I learned from these interviews, however, is that South Africa is currently enjoying a wealth of talent and innovation that it hasn't seen in a while. The shame is, clubs there are closing, and in fact I don't believe there is a single dedicated jazz club remaining in South Africa right now. However, what also struck me from these interviews was the level of business innovation that a number of artists are applying towards rectifying this and rebuilding the scene: from Robertson's Friday night jazz series (forthcoming interview), to Auret's Afrisound label and musician collective in Johannesburg (likewise), to Kesivan Naidoo's Silent Revolution Productions and their mini-jazz festivals (have to conduct the interview, but THEN it will be forthcoming). I found myself not only blown away by the music and artistry, but also deeply respectful of the business savvy many of these artists are demonstrating.
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<br />I am looking forward to writing more on that soon.
<br />smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-87605062940704636502010-04-07T20:47:00.000-07:002010-04-07T20:57:44.436-07:00Haven't updated, I knowI haven't updated in forever because I haven't felt like writing about music. I haven't enjoyed music lately, and I considered leaving the industry completely for a while.<div><br /></div><div>This is what an MBA program will do to you. Be warned. But I largely got over it (still unemployed at the moment, so I have to wonder at the utility of the MBA), and so I'm returning to blogging</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to write on a question to which I don't have the answer, but for which I would love feedback.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a piece by the magnificent (late) composer and saxophonist Zacks (sometimes Zakes) Nkosi called Ama Swati.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you don't know it - check out his <a href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=1_17&products_id=1403">album</a> to give it a listen.</div><div><br /></div><div>I first heard this track on my iPod in shuffle mode. Without looking at the track info, I heard the melody and knew immediately it was a South African jazz piece.</div><div><br /></div><div>No, I'm not bragging. Rather, I'm curious what specifically triggered my recognition. The melody is a beautiful, singing melody with consonant major harmonies backing it. It might be the grouping into threes of the notes themselves, but I'm not certain. There were no Zulu or Xhosa vocals backing it, nor the choked guitar sound of mbaqanga.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I ask the question what makes a piece a South African jazz piece? What are the qualities that we feel link Abdullah Ibrahim, Chris McGregor, Hugh Masekela, Louis Mhlanga, Busi Mhlongo, et al together?</div><div><br /></div><div>Is there a common tie here, or must we scrap the catch-all term as useless beyond noting composer origin? (and if so, how then do we address the American composers who copied Ibrahim's music or the folks like Darius Brubeck?)</div><div><br /></div><div>Musicologically, what was in in Ama Swati that triggered immediate recognition as South African jazz?</div><div><br /></div><div>More generally - is it useful to even distinguish jazz pieces as South African jazz? American jazz pedagogy and general viewpoints already like to diminish the artistic merit of jazz created outside US borders, so is creating this distinguishing note hurting the ability to try to incorporate it into the general lexicon of jazz?</div>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-88758987699407597472009-05-20T17:32:00.000-07:002009-05-20T17:37:28.504-07:00Returning SomewhatBusiness school has ended for the year, so my schedule freed up a bit.<div><br /></div><div>We're working on bringing some South African jazz artists to the US over the next year, so I am hoping it will go well.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, it seems that Abdullah Ibrahim is earning honorary doctorates, winning music awards, and all sorts of good stuff these past few months. I'd post the links, but I'm sleep-deprived and fairly certain you've seen them.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, I have to say that, following <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Senzo-Abdullah-Ibrahim/dp/B001P5Q6L6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1242866113&sr=8-1">Senzo</a>, the awards may be fully deserved. Senzo is an absolute masterpiece, beautifully played from beginning to end - particularly Blues for a Hip King. Abdullah finds new depths of meaning in this piece, even after so many years. It's stunning to hear.</div><div><br /></div><div>Added great news is that he is now regularly touring with a reformed version of his ensemble Ekaya, so we may see a full revival of some of his most creative playing in the months and years to come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fingers crossed...</div>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-1995131400908933262008-09-10T07:05:00.000-07:002008-09-10T07:15:49.467-07:00Rest in Peace, Bheki MselekuThe great pianist Bheki Mseleku passed away today, following complications from diabates. The full story may be found <a href="http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=nw20080910145013591C590453">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>This is a terrible tragedy, as many of you undoubtedly know. For those of you who don't know Bheki's music, his style was heavily influenced by artists like Abdullah Ibrahim and McCoy Tyner, but his style was unquestionably his own. Check out the magnum opus <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Bheki-Mseleku/dp/B0000046SI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1221056079&sr=8-1">Meditations</a></span>. His almost stream-of-consciousness style and pianistic abilities combine for an absolutely breathtaking listening experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>He will be deeply missed.</div>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-47751378599432920512008-05-15T12:21:00.000-07:002011-08-19T10:09:14.155-07:00Minton's Playhouse and South Africa<div>[Editor's note 2009: Following some unfortunate issues with a now-former staff member of Minton's, much of this fell through. We are working to redevelop partnerships, and we hope that we will soon position Minton's as a friend of and collaborator in international jazz. We had some house cleaning to do first.]
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<br />[Editor's note 2011: Man, FUCK Minton's Playhouse]
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<br /></div>I wanted to draw attention to this - Minton's Playhouse in Harlem (with whom I'm working on this project) announced this week a massive expansion in jazz programming and jazz education.
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<br />One of the major components is a partnership with Fort Hare University in South Africa, which will be led by Hotep Idris Galeta. This is a very exciting new project - I'm hoping that through it, we'll get South African musicians performing here more regularly, and also that we'll be able to increase the presence of South African jazz within the United States.
<br /><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/05/prweb939164.htm">
<br />Here's the release</a>.
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<br />You can download the full press kit <a href="http://www.mintonsmentors.org/mmf/mentorspress.pdf">here</a>.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-63202963615957701532008-05-01T12:48:00.001-07:002008-05-01T12:51:25.888-07:00Sathima Bea Benjamin in AllAboutJazzSathima Bea Benjamin was interviewed by Maxwell Chandler at allaboutjazz.com.<br /><br />I knew the interview was going on, but I didn't expect such a long, sweeping article. Needless to say, wonderful!<br /><br />Read it <a href="http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=28958">here </a>- it really gives a fantastic picture of Sathima.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-25358700291681608242008-05-01T12:29:00.001-07:002008-05-01T12:34:52.867-07:00Idiocy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HGHBP0W8L._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HGHBP0W8L._SS500_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Don't get me wrong. I like the Jazz Crusaders. I also like that they worked extensively with Hugh Masekela, and have ties to South Africa. I think it's all great.<br /><br />What I am not clear on, is the artwork for this album.<br /><br />Why, precisely, does an album entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">Live in South Africa</span> feature what appears to be a Siberian Tiger on its cover? More generally why in the hell does any album related to Africa feature a Tiger?<br /><br />It's bad enough, thanks to The Weavers' decision to steal/shit upon the fine song "Mbube" with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," that now a large portion of the population believes that lions are jungle creatures. But c'mon, at least they got the general CONTINENT right.<br /><br />The music is pretty good though.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-58574130769717839402008-04-18T06:49:00.000-07:002008-04-18T07:01:20.645-07:00Returning<p class="MsoNormal">I'll be updating my blog more regularly now (long story), which makes me so darn happy.<br /><br />Brief update - Sathima did a performance this past January at Sweet Rhythm, and her daughter Tsidi (a.k.a. Jean Grae) joined her onstage to rap on Sathima's tune "<st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>." Someone caught this bit on camera (not the whole song, sadly), and it's worth having a look. Here it is:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x0UBAILxr3w&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x0UBAILxr3w&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I move that Buster Williams becomes the bassist for every hip hop album created here on out.<br /><br />Might be some exciting news with an uptown jazz club, and a South African university. Not saying anything more until we have confirmation!<br /><br />Closing out, I know I talk of this guy a lot, but he's just so fantastic. I'm speaking of Louis Mhlanga, the guitarist. On his marvellous album <a href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=SSCD102&OrderID=&AffiliateID="><i>Tinganekwane</i></a>, he opens with a bouncy, Mali-esque track called "Mari Hakuna." And, bonus, there is a music video! <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=MUNfZoDttNg">Have a look/listen!</a></p>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-42109534827644677342007-12-27T12:13:00.001-08:002007-12-27T12:17:33.232-08:00A second blogHello random people who stumble upon this blog through means I cannot discern!<br /><br />I have added a second blog to my profile - called "Musical Nerdery." You can find it at <a href="http://geekmytunes.blogspot.com">geekmytunes.blogspot.com</a>. I'm keeping this blog too, but I also wanted to blog about non-South African stuff as well, and having safro-jazz in the URL and concept somewhat limits that.<br /><br />Horribly self-indulgent, I know. Please don't stab me.<br /><br />I'll have a new post on this blog shortly - in the meantime, amuse yourselves with this lovely music video starring the excellent guitarist <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=MUNfZoDttNg">Louis Mhlanga</a>!<br /><br />And here's a <a href="http://www.puppydogweb.com/gallery/puggles/puggle_p001.jpg">puppy</a>. Please buy it for me.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-46067327377872985392007-12-26T10:50:00.001-08:002007-12-26T10:58:16.473-08:00Moses Molelekwa Review in The Citizen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/images/CDImages/large/MZA0092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.oneworld.co.za/images/CDImages/large/MZA0092.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Citizen</span>, which appears to be Joburg's answer to the <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Post</span> (for better or worse), ran a lovely (and fitting) review of the late pianist Moses Taiwa Molelekwa's double CD album <span style="font-style: italic;">Darkness Pass</span>. <a href="http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=54573,1,22">You can read it here</a>.<br /><br />Molelekwa might be the greatest pianist you have never heard. Hotep, while he was here, listened to <span style="font-style: italic;">Darkness Pass</span> and described him as the "Sotho Keith Jarrett," which I thought was an interesting insight.<br /><br />The album is solo piano, and filled with languid, slowly unfolding melodic masterworks. Some might feel the album lacks fire and power (a la Molelekwa's masterwork <span style="font-style: italic;">Genes and Spirits</span>), but I find that point irrelevant. It is such rich music, so beautifully understated, that I don't find myself wanting for pianistic fireworks on this album.<br /><br />You can buy it <a href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=MZA0092&OrderID=&AffiliateID=">here</a>.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-22425782612202273882007-12-19T08:06:00.000-08:002007-12-19T08:08:10.229-08:00Oh god...<a href="http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=55136,1,22">Why....just...why</a>?<br /><br />.........I don't understand. Why...the...hell?smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-23062421399425927582007-12-19T07:34:00.000-08:002007-12-19T07:45:01.096-08:00Hotep Idris GaletaWe had the SA pianist Hotep Idris Galeta in town this past week at my place (til my landlords decided that I can't have guests for extended periods...stupid damn lease), as he did a duo piano concert at Shutters Cafe with Onaje Allan Gumbs. Turn-out was a bit weak, but the weather was terrifying, so I suppose that's understandable.<br /><br />The fine news was that we recorded one of the nights of music, and will be releasing it in the next year or two. As you know, duo piano recordings are fairly rare, and this one is particularly special. I have high hopes for the album.<br /><br />If you haven't heard Hotep, he's worth tracking down. He has a solo album out on Sheer Sound called <a href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=SSCD083&OrderID=&AffiliateID="><span style="font-style: italic;">Malay Tone Poem</span></a>. It features fine musicians like Marcus Wyatt and Zim Ngqawana, and is a tremendously underrated album.<br /><br />Stateside, you may know Hotep from his work with Jackie McLean, notably on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dynasty-Jackie-McLean/dp/B00004S538/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1198078714&sr=1-4"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dynasty</span></a> and on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rites-Passage-Jackie-McLean-Quintet/dp/B000069CIJ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1198078768&sr=1-3"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rites of Passage</span></a>. He's also with Hotep's son, Rene, on the album <a href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/renemclean"><span style="font-style: italic;">Live in South Africa</span></a>. Then he played with Hugh Masekela, Hadley Caliman, David Crosby, etc etc etc.<br /><br />What had been interesting for me, having him in town, was the span of his music. I had known him from <span style="font-style: italic;">Malay Tone Poems</span> and his albums with Jackie, primarily, so I always thought of him as a highly creative, Cape-style straight-ahead musician. And I was proven very, very, very wrong. His demo tape for his next album incorporates some mbaqanga, some smooth jazz, some Take 6 style gospel harmonizing...the whole gamut. It might annoy purists, but the music is excellent, and man, does Hotep have his ear to the ground for new styles.<br /><br />So do check him out - he is crazy hip.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-62753200458397162302007-12-19T07:30:00.000-08:002007-12-19T07:33:27.465-08:00Sathima's DaughterFor those of you who do not know, Sathima's daughter is the New York-based hip hop artist Jean Grae. Who, might we add, is awesome and whose CDs should be in your collection (I'm told her major label debut is forthcoming in 2008, so keep an eye out...)<br /><br />Anyways, she wrote a blog entry on her MySpace about Sathima that I wanted to re-print...<br /><br />Here it is:<br /><br /><p class="blogTimeStamp"> Sunday, December 16, 2007 </p> <table class="blog" id="blog" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="10"> </td> <td> <p class="blogSubject">My Mama, The AMAZING.... </p> <p class="blogContent">.....Sathima Bea Benjamin.<br /><br /><br />I'm taking this week to introduce to those of you who do not know, the beautiful spirit and song of Sathima Bea Benjamin.<br />Thankfully to the universe, it was decided that I was born to this amazing woman.<br /><br />Beyond being the greatest, coolest, most understanding, FUNNY AS ALL HELL, learned, vulnerable, inspiring, sensitive, spiritual, potty mouthed, dependable, independent, brave, innocent, determined and 1 in the world MOM..... she is the most creative and musical inspiring spirit through the gentle vibrato of honest notes.<br /><br />I hate hearing people play cd 101.9 and thinking that Najee is jazz.<br /><br />Or having to grown up watching her being overlooked, under appreciated and mis-categorized.<br /><br />Critically acclaimed and grammy nominated.<br /><br />Understood and praised by jazz purists and scholars, those of us who believe in honest and beautiful music and weep at the moment a note pulls at our heartstrings.<br /><br />This woman is a force and the reason I do what I do. Even when I want to stop. The only reason I exist and the music that I make exists.<br /><br />I understand her struggle and her ambition because I have made it mine. Because she is such a warrior and fighter for things that are honest and true to her being and love and family.<br /><br />A hopeless romantic and an inexplicable grace in being.<br /><br />I am only a mirror of everything I have learned from her.<br /><br />She has not quit nor given up, so if the small recognition that I have fought for like she taught me to can allow anyone else to glimpse and experience her fight for love...it is<br />all worth it.<br /><br />I am keeping up and adding pictures, photos and music all week.<br /><br />She has always believed in me, unconditionally.. as a daughter and as an artist. Given me the utmost respect and love.<br /><br />I would like to now return the favor.<br /><br />Please, purchase a CD, spread the word, add her into your top. Google her, search for her, request her in your record stores. She is 1 in my top friends list, visit the page and purchase music directly from there as well.<br /><br />My friends and I all have her current re-issue in heavy rotation.. Not because she's my mom, because she is Sathima.. and she is amazing.<br /><br />My life has and does mimic hers in so many ways. As It's amazing to be getting some due after 15 years, she has been doing it for 40+ and has yet to receive a real and true acceptance from the jazz and music community as a living legend and the one and only true jazz singer from Cape Town, South Africa...In addition to owning her own label and releasing her music independently..<br />also, shes a hot hot hot lady.. lol.<br /><br />Yes mama.. you cutie you.<br /><br />Love ya'll..<br /><br />Ride with us.<br /><br />Support honest music.<br /><br />www.myspace.com/sathimabeabenjamin<br />www.sathimabeabenjamin.com</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />To which I say.....amen. Everyone who knows Sathima knows this. A very wonderful person - working for her is a real pleasure.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-90055459772576075252007-11-13T11:39:00.001-08:002007-11-13T11:40:41.285-08:00FINALLY!A South African wine bar has opened up in New York!<br /><br />FINALLY! It only took years and years and years and years, but, unless this website is playing a brutally mean joke on me, here it is!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.xaixaiwinebar.com/">Xai Xai Winebar</a><br /><br />Oh thank you thank you thank you you lovely owners of Xai Xai. I will be there tomorrow evening.<br /><br />Oh joy!smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-4995946037103280412007-10-29T13:35:00.000-07:002007-10-29T14:00:54.086-07:00Gwen Ansell's "Soweto Blues"I assume most people who'd read a blog like this, are familiar with the above book...but maybe not.<br /><br />If you have not purchased/read Gwen Ansell's <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soweto-Blues-Popular-Apolitics-Africa/dp/0826417531/ref=sr_1_1/102-8659864-3588144?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193690160&sr=1-1">Soweto Blues</a>, </span>then you are missing out on one of the only commercially available books easily found in the US that chronicles this music.<br /><br />Yes, there is Louise Meintjes' <span style="font-style: italic;">Sound of Africa</span>, but that focuses on mbaqanga. Also, if you are super-nerdy/diligent/working-on-a-thesis/OCD/suffer-from-Asperger's-and-<br />it-manifests-itself in-the-collection-of-obscure-books, then you may also know of David Coplan's <span style="font-style: italic;">In Township Tonight</span> (excellent, but 25 years old and out-of-print), Charles Hamm's <span style="font-style: italic;">Afro-American Music, South Africa, and Apartheid</span> (20 years old and out-of-print), or Veit Erlmann's <span style="font-style: italic;">Music, Modernity, and the Global Imagination</span> (so densely impenetrable in its language and thought process that you may find punching a hole in concrete to be a bit quicker). And there's the Rough Guide, and so on...<br /><br />But back to Ansell's book - this was written as a compilation of interviews she conducted with South African jazz artists, for a radio program she was working on. The lovely result of that sort of origin for this book is that a vast portion of the story is told from the musicians themselves, with Ansell at times merely acting as a catalyst. Yes, she fills in details, adds some context, but the increased first-person narrative makes for both a more interesting, and ultimately more enjoyable read.<br /><br />Some people may be slightly annoyed by the lack of attention paid to the exiles - Abdullah, Hugh, Miriam, Blue Notes, etc - but I'm of the view that they have gotten their stories told a fair amount. Folks like Basil Coetzee, Chris Ngcukana, Henry February, et al, do not have their stories told. Or rather did not. The book does a superb job of addressing that.<br /><br />There is a <a href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=SSPCD063&OrderID=&AffiliateID=">companion compilation CD </a>you can buy which, somewhat infuriatingly, only seems to be available in South Africa. It's worth ordering though, as it contains some otherwise hard to find stuff. It has some flaws - due to licensing issues, they weren't able to put on the Jazz Epistles' recording of "Scullery Department," and instead put on the newer version done by Voice (if that didn't make an ounce of sense...don't worry...read the book and it will!). The CD should also be two CDs...but that's just not possible.<br /><br />So pick it up. Enjoy it. Love it. And thank Gwen Ansell. She's super super cool<br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td align="center" width="115"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Afro-American-Music-Africa-Apartheid-Monographs/dp/0914678310/ref=sr_1_8/102-8659864-3588144?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193690410&sr=1-8"><br /></a></td><td width="8"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Afro-American-Music-Africa-Apartheid-Monographs/dp/0914678310/ref=sr_1_8/102-8659864-3588144?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193690410&sr=1-8"><span class="srTitle"></span></a>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-28884904554306591422007-10-29T12:45:00.000-07:002007-10-29T13:01:07.998-07:00Classical Music BitchSorry - not South African music, but still...bears asking<br /><br />Why is it that EVERY friggin year, every orchestra in the United States and Europe finds it absolutely necessary to perform Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks?<br /><br />Every. Damn. Year.<br /><br />Are there REALLY that many people who sit around thinking, "<span style="font-style: italic;">You know, I'd love to go to see the orchestra...but instead of the standard overplayed pieces, I wish they'd play some really shitty music year in and year out. I mean, some real masturbatory garbage that makes me feel nauseated after 3 minutes. But not Puccini...maybe something more...Teutonic? But still god-awful. How about that?</span>"<br /><br />Who the hell are these people? And why are they reproducing?smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-59307566773021697942007-10-22T14:15:00.000-07:002007-10-22T14:17:05.015-07:00Hahaha, we winUnrelated to music.<br /><br />Nevertheless, my rugby team kicked your rugby team's ass.<br /><br />That is all.<br /><br />Will blog on actual music things later.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-19544509749770376382007-09-19T08:30:00.000-07:002007-09-20T05:32:10.462-07:00Sathima Turns 71, Duke Ellington ReturnsSathima turns 71 on October 17, and we'll be giving her a birthday party/concert at Sweet Rhythm. Onaje Allan Gumbs, Marcus McLaurine, and George Gray are going to perform with her, and you can reserve your table/seats/peace of mind by calling Sweet Rhythm at 212-255-3626, or going to <a href="http://www.sweetrhythmny.com/">their website</a>.<br /><br />Also, on October 16, we will make available for download (FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!! WHOO!!!) Sathima's album with Duke Ellington, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Billy Strayhorn...called <span style="font-style: italic;">A Morning in Paris</span>. It was recorded in 1963, thought to be lost, and then resurfaced in the 90s. We are reissuing it with new artwork, new liner notes (featuring the writing stylings of Sathima, of Professor Sherrie Tucker, and of me), etc...the CD itself will be available on January 22.<br /><br />However, for those of you who don't want to wait (which should be all of you, as a side note), come to Sathima's show on October 17, because we will have advance copies available for sale. It will be that magical. Really.<br /><br /><a href="http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1052185">Here</a> is the story of how <span style="font-style: italic;">A Morning in Paris</span> came to be, for the interested.<br /><br />I could keep talking (writing), but instead, we'll turn things over to Sathima. She wrote this piece for the album, discussing that day in 1963.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">'My first thoughts on writing this were how impossible it would be to describe the experience of recording "A Morning in Paris" in February 1963 with the three most magnificent pianists a singer could ever dream of working with. I will try to convey my thoughts, forty-four years later on this, my most magical musical moment of my career as a jazz singer. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To be in the studio with Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and Abdullah Ibrahim at the young age of 23, was absolutely awesome and thrilling. To say I was nervous is an understatement. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Billy Strayhorn (it was my first time meeting him that morning) was the sweetest person you could ever meet. No wonder he was called "</span><span style="font-style: italic;" id="st" name="st" class="st">Sweet</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;" id="st" name="st" class="st">Pea</span><span style="font-style: italic;">." Ellington looked happy and relaxed, walked straight into the recording booth with the wonderful engineer Gerhard Lehner, and let us know that he was "the producer." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Me, being shy and introverted was lovingly and gently coaxed by Duke's generosity and enthusiasm to be the best </span><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/gl.link.gif" alt="Link" border="0" /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">I could be. I know I shall never, ever again have such a positively wonderful and ecstatic musical experience. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I have been blessed beyond words, to have Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and Abdullah Ibrahim as my accompanists that "Morning in Paris." Their input in my musical career empowers me forever. I must continue to improve and excel in my career as a jazz singer. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">When Ellington brought me to New York City he said to me, "You have talent and imagination - use it in your song and survive." I remember those words and continue to fly under his protective musical wings.'<br /></span><span><br />Sathima's website is <a href="http://www.sathimabeabenjamin.com">here</a>.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-64471540913820848012007-09-11T07:35:00.000-07:002007-09-11T11:36:47.011-07:00RIP Johnny FourieMy god, it's starting to feel like my blog only gets updated when people pass away.<br /><br />However, given all the attention around the passing of Joe Zawinul, I wanted to commemorate the passing of another stunning jazz musician.<br /><br />This was Johnny Fourie, the guitarist. From South Africa, spent a great deal of time performing in England, and also in the US, before returning to South Africa. He passed away about two weeks ago (I should have blogged this earlier, I know)<br /><br />He did a lot of fusion work, and you can hear it on Charles Earland's "Intensity" album (a great listen), and also Wessel van Rensburg's "So Fine" (also wonderful, if quite smooth).<br /><br />As a leader, I've heard two albums of his. One is a solo guitar album that came out about a year ago. I can't find a buy link for it (I did a quick search), but it is worth tracking down with a bit of effort.<br /><br />The easier album to find is "Solo, Duet & Trio". In fact, here's the link! http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=SLCD026&OrderID=&AffiliateID=<br /><br />It's a stunning piece of work - brilliantly reimagined standards, and as an added bonus, features the ever amazing Carlo Mombelli on bass.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-30825867315159325502007-08-31T15:58:00.000-07:002007-08-31T16:03:47.510-07:00Rest In Peace, Jerry MasolengI found out today that my friend, the artist Jerry Masoleng, was murdered last Saturday night. This was a man who worked for the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre in Sophiatown, who taught kids literacy and art, whose artistic abilities were absolutely incredible. And he was killed by a bunch of thugs. I am so goddamn sick of having friends and relatives injured, or killed by the out-of-control Johannesburg crime. It's sickening.<br /><br />Please take a look at the centre's <a href="http://www.trevorhuddleston.org/History.html">website</a>. It's a remarkable institution with a fantastic mission. It was lucky to have someone like Jerry working for it.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35320358.post-43951022414335954642007-08-16T13:41:00.000-07:002007-08-16T13:49:59.544-07:00Bala Brothers - B3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=CDBALA105&OrderID=&AffiliateID="><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 83px; height: 81px;" src="http://www.oneworld.co.za/images/CDImages/large/CDBALA105.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I am about to feel horribly ashamed here...bits of self-loathing.<br /><br />Not too long ago, I ordered a CD by the Bala Brothers entitled "<a href="http://www.oneworld.co.za/ProductSpecific.asp?uref=&ProductCode=CDBALA105&amp;OrderID=&AffiliateID=">B3</a>" - not totally sure what to expect.<br /><br />The album is a trio of brothers (as the group name helpfully clarifies), performing what I can only describe as unabashed crossover. Josh Grobin, music from the Lion King, Andrew [Fuckwad] Lloyd Weber, Norah Jones, et al.<br /><br />With an orchestra, mind you.<br /><br />Needless to say, popping it in, I had low expectations. This is not musical territory I'm terribly keen to enter...well, ever.<br /><br />However, I find it oddly addicting. I am not prepared to say I like this CD, or that I think it's good music. I will say, however, that "You Raise Me Up" does manage to tug at my heart-strings when they go into full harmony. I will also concede they do an admirable job covering Norah Jones and, to a certain extent, Queen.<br /><br />Perhaps my refusal to say I like this album is a subconscious attempt to hold onto what little remains of my masculinity. Regardless, I'm not going to admit it, damn it. I am not a pop-classical crossover fan (classipop? plossical? possi?). Just no.<br /><br />It looks like One World provides a few listening links, if you're curious...see the above link.<br /><br />I was in South Africa recently, and heard some fantastic albums, which I'll eventually get around to blogging.smhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09481790941963716793noreply@blogger.com0