South Africa music reviews

My father originally introduced me, and my siblings to the music of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba in the late '60's, early '70's. It is only now, however, that I have developed a true appriciation of their music. After listening to what is being offered on the local radio stations these days, this Hope CD makes my 40 mile drive to work, and home again, a breeze. I cannot keep this CD in my house, because once I play Hugh's music to anyone, they immediately ask to borrow the CD. I find all of Hugh Masekela's music enjoyable, however, this CD especially is a good representation of Hugh Masekela's musical repertoire, and is a must for anyone who has a broad appriciation for great music!

I often play Hugh Masekela for people and ask them "what type of music is this?" People take stabs at it but he is a mixture of so many influences, bebop, varioius African styles, pop, rock that he sounds like Hugh Masekela.

The very best music touchs our souls. Many people can sing about their hard lives or this or that cause. When Hugh Masekela sings his praises of Nelson Mandela, it is being sung by a person who was banned from South Africa and could not visit his dying mother. A person who, because of Nelson Mandela, could return to the home of his youth.

Some of the songs are in African languages, but most in English (on this CD). The song "Marketplace" about meeting a woman in the marketplace and bringing her home is one I recommend as a must have in any music collection.

I have over 3000 LPs and CD's and this is one I do not get tired of no matter how many time I listen to it.

This album was my introduction to Masakelas music. Recalling his name in a jazz frame left me unprepared for the feast that Hope turned out to be. If anyone can listen to Stimela, the albums 12th cut and come out with one unvibrating nerve, I wanna know who they are.From his old hit Grazin In The Grass to Stimela, his crafty mixture of African and jazz rhythms tantalize. And my God, that man's voice!

Stunning

Absolutely love Boy Ge Mendes and his talent/gift. His music is powerful, sensitive & smooth.

Jah bless you,
-Loca

I received this CD as a Christmas gift this year from a friend that I've turned him onto Boy Ge Mendes. I love this CD #5 Lagoa and #7 Pampario are my favorite songs. I love this CD just as much as the Noite de Morabeza CD. I love this man's style...What can I say, I'll say it again...I would love to see him in concert.

I am not normally keen on sweet gentle music. But this music is just so sweet, so gentle, and so healing; yet at the same time, so accomplished and rich. I can think of few people who would not enjoy the music of this little-known Cap Verde artist. The guitar moves along with gentle authority, and it is like lying in a river, being healed and carried to new and lovely lands. As a radio DJ, one of the best albums I have ever heard.

I came across this cd never having heard of the group. Bought it on a chance and did I ever luck out. Every track is great. These guys obviously have been playing together for some time. Just but it.

This band is wonderful. An essential CD. Not a bad cut on the album.

This has been my favorite CD for almost two years. It has great energy, wonderful rhythms and unusual melodies. Despite the apparent open-air location, it also has great intimacy. Highly recommended.

It is unfortunate that Brenda Left the world young, because we have no idea what she might have contributed... But her contributions in her short career were many and this album is an excellent example.
Brenda's rhythms and beats really capture the spirit of Urban Africa. It's highly dancable and energizing to listen to. For anyone who has spent time in Africa, the music pulls at the heart and creates an inexplicable nostalgia for the place.
This album contains many nice rhythms and also the adaptation of a traditional chant in honor of Madela. It's a great introduction to African music that is being listened to by today's modern African people.

this album is just too good;Unbelievable beats. She does an excellent job of mixing african style with the more contemporary club hits. It's off the hook. My heart was just racing from nostalgia listening to this album. good buy.

her latest vulindlela has taken southern africa by stor

This is one of the good album from africa. The numbers are fast and catchy. When i first heard it during my trip in Africa,
I knew I liked it. Songs really go beyond the language.

Memeza- "Vuli Ndlela" is the best song...it's not even the right amount of words to express how much I love this song. It's the best...If you don't have this CD you better hurry up and get it...

I was so impressed when i heard the songs on Brenda's disk.Her musical talent shows the world that Africa has some of the worlds best musicians.I urge you to buy this disk because it is worth the money.Enjoy.

i grew up in nigeria and through 1986 - 1988 i listened to this pioneering south african pop singers songs like, im burning up, mkwombothi(pardon if the spelling is wrong) and "thank u mr. dj for playing my song",these jams had me and my sisters dancing for months without stop. this was and still is when she was in her prime it's like micheal jacson in his billie jean days. i listened to yvonne chaka chaka and majek fashek and still have very fond memories of those times. i am definitely buying the princess of africa collection even though i am not sure of some of the songs. up nigeria and up chaka chaka.GREAT AFRICA. AIGBE CHICAGO

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the question: is this admittedly

intriguing-looking Yvonne Chaka Chaka release an actual, so-

called "studio album" (presumably from the mid- or late 1990s),

all or almost all the songs of which are not repeats or remixes

of earlier-released material...or is it a presumably mid- or

late-Nineties compilation? For one thing, it so often seems that

South African-- if not GENERALLY African-- popular-music

artistes were "volumetrically" unable or unwilling to repeatedly

release albums with more than eight all-new SONGS (not just

"tracks") at a time. Not that quantity equals quality, of

course, but one wonders, you see...

Or is the title "Princess Of Africa" a wearily obvious

"giveaway"?

I used to listen to her music over the Radio, and everywhere in the streets of Africa, she is a house hold song bird, it is like she is telling a story, but then the story turns out into a lullaby that put everyone to sleep in a broad day light. Her style is nostalgic especially when you watch her video " The Best Of Princess of Africa" I would like to order this video in VHS.

Here is one of the very great records by Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim.Just one of the best ones.Just an outstanding moment of music.
I saw and heard Abdullah IBrahim on stage,one month ago in Besan�on,France,playing solo acoustic piano;two hours of the greatest music I've ever heard,and I heard a lot.Abdullah,born Adolph Johannes Brand in Cape Town,1934,is one of the greatest jazz piano players of all times,and one of the last great players still alive,with Hank Jones and Randy Weston.
It's a pity that some of his greatest recorded works are still not available on CD ("live at the Blackhawk with Carlos Ward","Dollar Brand"in Poland with Ward;the immense "autobiography",recorded in Switzerland,1978,is issued now on CD in Europe,but doesn't seem to be available in the USA).
This extremely magnificent album,recorded January 30,.1965,in Copenhagen,will let you listen to Abdullah's african music.Except for "smoke gets in your eyes",the rest of the program is made of african-oriented tunes,even if you can find here Monk's or Elmo Hope's or Herbie Nichols' or Duke's influences.THis south african trio,made of Abdullah,Johnny Gertze on bass and Makaya Ntshoko on drums (the trio which recorded the very great "Duke Ellington presents the Dollar Brand trio",Reprise label),this trio plays here some of the most haunting music ever played.The twenty minutes long suite,which includes "Boulevard East","sunset in blue" and "Easter joy" is a very high moment in the art of jazz,or simply improvised piano playing.Makaya Ntshoko's drive on drums is terrific,you could think of beeing listening to Max Roach or Sam Woodyard.Here is some very great music,by one of the most original jazz piano players.Absolutely essential!!!

soulfull free playing! more than your average composer's jazz, Dollar Brand makes music that brings together the past and the future, leaving behind any pretense or false obedience to obtuseness.

His playing is natural and full of rhythmic variety, mixing familiar melodies and moods with an edgy willingness draw outside of the lines... sort of a cross between Cecil Taylor and Monk.

spooky, groovy, dark, absolutely terrific. unlike anything you've ever heard (unless you've spent time in south-western nigeria).

Honestly, I wasn't a fan of apala when I was growing up in Lagos, Nigeria. However, there's no way anyone could deny the majestic presence of this kind of music-especially Haruna Ishola-in that city in the 60's. Let me tell you something, this compilation takes me back to my childhood. When I was walking back home from my elementary school at Lawanson to Itire. I couldn't believe how much I knew about this music until I (just for the fun of it) bought this CD. I've played it non-stop for 72 hours-at the office,in the car,at home, everywhere. You know what! I don't care if my wife likes it.

This is some of the most incredible African music I have ever heard. Rich and rhythmic and so earthy. It sounds as old and wise as the world. A must have for any serious collector!

...has anybody else noticed that it's categorized under the African section of world music? Since when has Scotland been a part of Africa? lol

Great CD, though. Probably one of the best piping CDs that I've found.

Many "best of the bagpipe" audio cds today are poor recordings. This is one of the few good recordings that have made it to the popular market. I urge everyone interested in piping to buy this cd and I urge Amazon to carry other high quality bagpipe cds. I'll be glad to give you some suggestions.

How great and Marvelous! If you love Jazz, African music, and all of it... this is the CD to buy. Hugh Masekela has the best sounds ever. It't almost as if honey was coming out of his trumpet... it is so good!!! He has old titles like "Ashiko", "the boyz doing it"... You ought to listen to "Strawberries," and enjoy the angelic voices of the chorus of children, and as usual Hugh Masekela's manipulation of the trumpet is just superb. Don't forget to try "Song of Love," a call for love among all nations.
I hope you enjoy this CD, coz I love it!!!

The last time I saw Masekela was over 30 years ago. He still rocks the house with that high energy South African beat. Great highlife dancehall music with a story.