Africa music reviews

The best way to describe this tremendous work (which i had to buy as an lp because the cd edition is completely gone) is to imagine a group of free-ish jazz players coming down the mountain and meeting with their more folk oriented partners in Capetown and having a blast playing together. This has Harry Miller (bass) , Mongezi Feza (trumpet), louis Moholo (drums) and Pukwana (Sax) playing south african jazz and it just fills the air with joy and freedom. Great stuff!!

In the Townships is one of my all-time favorite jazz albums--and with a collection of more than 1,000 recordings, that's saying a lot! The compositions are often riff-based, with layers of polyrhythms and melodic complexity added on top. There's outstanding improvising by tenor saxophonist Pukwana, the great trumpeter Mongezi Feza, and others associated with the Chris MacGregor/Brotherhood of Breath contingent. It's amazing to think that this album was released in 1973. It still sounds so fresh and exciting that it will always be brand-new in my ears. When I moved, this CD was mysteriously lost. I can't live without it, so I'm ordering another one!

Very original. Yet the messages are more human than any songs I have ever heard.

For example, the song Paulina
"..get away from those who want to
touch touch
kiss kiss
and then they leave you.."

Or in That's Why I choose you
"..Everybody is free,
You can do what you like.."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo encourage freedom, democracy. They revere their free South Africa. I belive the one who created the band has won a Nobel Peace prize. I am not well versed in music. But seems like a combination of styles. The most striking feature is the lack of instruments, it is music made of pure voices. They sing in a lot of languages, and in English. Most of their songs are religious though, rooted in the cristian or african morality.

I think that thi is the best CD the have ever released.

I bought this cd used from here for the song "Nwahulwana" from the movie "The Pledge".

What a surprise !! I loved every song beginning from the first track. Anyone tired of mainstream rock should look to alternative music like this artist. Not a bad track on this cd. I just ordered all cd's from this group of musicians.

Very refreshing music. A must for all music enthusiasts.

mrdouble

This CD is nice. It features Brenda Fassie songs "Vuli Ndlela" and "Sum' Bulala". That's the party song...The Soul Brothers did a good job and especially Papa Wemba...

This CD is nice. It features Brenda Fassie songs "Vuli Ndlela" and "Sum' Bulala". That's the party song...The Soul Brothers did a good job and especially Papa Wemba...

I picked up a used tape of this album on a class field trip in the 11th grade many years ago. I had no idea what I was buying... but the passion, longing, joy and sorrow that poured out of my old walkman made me a life-long devotee to searching out the best of what the world has to offer musically. Imagine a 16 year old girl dancing along to this with headphones on in the Smithsonian more than 10 years ago... you really can't ask for a better recommendation.

Since I heard N� la thiass a couple of years ago Cheikh L� has been one of my absolute favorites... Especially the brilliant playing with those deliciously complex mbalax rhythms in Africa Den renders me speechless and breathless... A must for friends of African music.

This album has a fine recording quality. The songs are longer than many of Youssou's recent works. In some of the tracks the instrumental parts are long and enjoyable. The "Xale Yi Rew Mi" in this album is a fast-paced dance music in contrast to the one in SET. "Badou" is also very different from that in IMMIGRES and recording is better. As with other Youssou's albums this one has a unique atmosphere. 7 tracks in 45 minutes.

I've always enjoyed Bau's musicianship on Cesaria Evora's albums. It is wonderful to be able to focus on his fretwork and enjoy it's crystalline purity. His playing here is even crisper and more fluid than when he is adorning vocals. He meets the challenge of stepping out as the lead voice.This is a very enjoyable album.

Son of Africa is a great record. I knew of U-Roy before I bought this title on vinyl a couple of days ago, but had never heard his stuff before. The sound is unique and much different than the Marley or Tosh style, but I like the style equally. I am a fan of this reissue and am thankful there are those out there that still appreciate good music like this title here. Go out and buy it. Its worth the money.

Of all the Jajouka albums, this one either my first or second favorite. I like first of all the chance to hear the compositions in fuller, more fleshed out, form. Each is around 20 minutes long and includes an introduction, the main composition (usually with a sung text) and a section where the Musicians attempt to outdo each other with their variations and melodic/rhythmic inventions. Each of the three tracks is also in a different style, the first featuring stringed instruments, the second the flutes, and the third the raitas (oboe-like instruments). Each style articulates its melodies in different ways.

But none of that would matter if the Musicians weren't feeling it, and they are feeling it very deeply here. You can tell that they are presenting the audience witnessing this concert with a true gift. At very least, it's their most joyful recording.

The Master Musicians of Jajouka are planning a new release for later in 2004. Be sure to look for it.