HUGH MASEKELA – MASEKELA ’66 – ‘76
A fantastic collection – way more than just a greatest hits
set of work by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela – and instead a special
package put together by Hugh himself, shortly before his death – featuring an
album-by-album selection of the best cuts from his Chisa Records releases,
including the complete tracks of the albums Hedzohleh Sounds and I Am Not
Afraid! During his Chisa years, Hugh really opened up his groove – taking the
mix of jazz and South African soul of the early days, and fusing it with all
the new influences he was picking up on the LA scene – then finding a way to go
backwards, and open up new channels for African inspiration in his music – as
he worked with a trans-Atlantic blend of musicians that also included help from
members of The Crusaders too! The music here just gets hipper and hipper as the
years go on – and the whole thing comes in a book-like package that also
features great notes on every period of music – spread out over 3CDs, with a
total of 47 tracks that include "Ha Lese Le Di Khana", "You Keep
Me Hangin On", "Hush", "Stimela", "In The Market
Place", "Jungle Jim", "Whitch Doctor", "Colonial
Man", "Been Such A Long Time Gone", "African Secret
Society", "If There's Anybody Out There",
"Boermusiek", "Bajabula Bonke", "Child Of The
Earth", "Woza", "Salele Mane", "Caution",
"Yei Baa Gbe Wolo", "Mace & Grenades", "Blues For
Huey", and "Son Of Ice Bag". ~ Dusty Groove
JESSICA LAUREN - ALMERIA
When Jessica Lauren first grabbed our ears 20 years ago, she
was a keyboardist on the London contemporary scene – but with a much deeper
jazz vision than most – an artist whose appearances on record always made any
sort of song come across with a spiritual sound that was unique for the time!
Move forward to the present, when so many others have finally hit Jessica's
territory – and the pianist has stepped far forward again – to open up this
rich flow of ideas that's overflowing with global elements as well! The album's
easily Jessica's deepest work to date – and not only features her own great
keyboards and percussion, but also this very cool wordless vocal style –
borrowed a bit from Brazilian fusion of the 70s, but given a fresh spin here –
and combined with instrumentation that includes woodwinds, marimba, percussion,
flugelhorn, and drums. The whole thing's wonderful – with echoes and elements
that evoke the special genre-crossing space of Bobby Hutcherson in the mid 70s,
the work of Flora Purim and Airto, the 70s South African recordings of Dollar
Brand – and some of the hippest sides of some of Lauren's London
contemporaries. Titles include "Simba Jike", "Amalfi",
"Kofi Nomad", "Teck Et Bambou", "Chocolate Con
Churros", "Argentina", and "Beija Flor". ~ Dusty
Groove
ED JONES – FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
Beautiful work from reedman Ed Jones – a key force on the
London jazz scene for decades, but an artist who also seems to be completely
reborn into a new setting with this album! Jones blows here in the company of
younger musicians – including the great Riaan Vosloo on bass, whose work we
loved with Nostalgia 77 – whose Benjamin Lamdin recorded the album, and really
helps shape its soulful spirit! Yet the real star is Jones throughout – as most
songs are his, and his tenor and soprano solos are more powerful than we ever
remember – showing a depth in his talents that might have been lost forever,
had he not gotten this chance to shine for Impossible Ark. Brigitte Beraha
contributes vocals on one track – a tribute to Wayne Shorter – and titles
include "Nomadology", "Pandora's Box", "Ebb &
Flow", " Marielyst", "Solstice", and
"Starbright". ~ Dusty Groove
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