Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band – Skokiaan (1947)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bulawayo-sweet-rhythm-band-skokiaan-1947/
Skokiaan (Tsaba Tsaba Dance) is probably better known in the version recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1954 with the Sy Oliver orchestra, but this track was originally released in Rhodesia in 1947 by the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm(s) Band.
The tune found it’s way to the U.S. and lots of folks covered it. Enjoy!
Somi revisits Pata Pata
https://amf.didiermary.fr/somi-revisits-pata-pata/
This cover of Pata Pata is from "Zenzile, The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba," released, at the end of 2022, in which Somi reinterprets 17 songs of Mama Africa with a jazzy approach. At regular intervals, we hear excerpts from an interview with Mama Africa who explains in no uncertain terms what apartheid is. Somi brought […]
#Jazz #MiriamMakeba #Rwanda #SouthAfrica #Uganda #AfroJazz #Apartheid
One Night in Pelican
https://amf.didiermary.fr/one-night-pelican/
“One Night in Pelican” is a compilation that features all the key groups and players of a special time and place. It captures the musical dreams escaping from Soweto’s first nightclub.
Ten seminal tracks journeying through Jazz, Funk, Fusion and Disco, detailing the incredible story and sounds behind the Soweto nightclub during the height of […]
#70smusic #AfroFunk #Apartheid #Jazz #SoulJazz #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Mafikizolo Feat. Uhuru – Khona
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mafikizolo-uhuru-khona/
Mafikizolo is a South African Afro-pop group formed in 1996.
They have won 14 South African Music Awards and two MTV Africa Music Awards.
They released their first album, ‘Mafikizolo’, in 1997 and ‘Music Revolution’ in 1999. In 2000, their third album, ‘Gate Crashers’, became their best-selling album. In 2003, they released Kwela which featured Hugh […]
Prophets of da City – Never Again
https://amf.didiermary.fr/prophets-of-da-city-never-again/
A track that’s part of (music) history.
PoC (Prophets of da City) was the 1st HipHop group/crew to release in South Africa and the only group to be banned pre and post apartheid!
Prophets of da City (POC) is a socially conscious […]
Tsa Ma Ndebele Kids, Feat. Candy Tsa Mandebele
Extended Remix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVV8ZZMbY3o
"The song celebrates cultural heritage and community spirit, using metaphors of traditional practices and communal activities to convey a sense of unity and shared identity."
Classic Kwaito mixed (duration: 52 minutes).
The Past Is Unpredictable, Only the Future Is Certain
https://amf.didiermary.fr/past-unpredictable-only-future-certain-vuma-levin/
Vuma Levin is a multi-award-winning guitar player and one of the leading talents in South African jazz.
In September 2021, Vuma Levin achieved a major milestone in his career when he was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz, a coveted award […]
Ayanda Sikade – Umakhulu
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ayanda-sikade-umakhulu/
Though he’s been a crucial figure in South African jazz for years, drummer Ayanda Sikade is only now achieving the recognition he’s long deserved—something one could say about the South African scene as a whole, given the increased worldwide profile it’s begun to enjoy in the last few years. His second album as a leader […]
Spirits Rejoice – Electric Chicken
https://amf.didiermary.fr/spirits-rejoice-electric-chicken/
Spirits Rejoice drew together some of South Africa’s most abundantly talented and forward-thinking jazz players and created a complex and challenging jazz fusion that shifted the terms of South Africa’s engagement with jazz towards new music being made by pioneers such as Chick Corea, Weather Report, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny and others. [...]
Zoe Modiga – Inganekwane
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zoe-modiga-lengoma-tubatsi-mpho-moloi/
Inganekwane (“Zulu fairytale”), the second album by Zoe Modiga, released in 2020, is inspired by the theme of self-reflection to reveal messages of identity.
Zoe Modiga born and raised in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, is the quintessential artist who represents the present and future of South African music. Drawing from the human experience, identity and […]
The SN Project – Afrikanization
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sn-project-afrikanization/
Siphephelo Ndlovu (The SN Project) is a pianist and vocalist from South Africa. In 2020, his debut album titled “Afrikanization” was released, incorporating structures of the jazz language, blended with rich harmonies reminiscent of the isiZulu culture of South Africa.
Nobuhle Ashanti – Bait For Steps Forward
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nobuhle-ashanti-bait-for-steps-forward/
Nobuhle Ashanti is a pianist, composer, and recording artist from Cape Town, South Africa. Her debut album – “Bait for Steps Forward” (released in March 2023) – features a wide variety of Cape Town’s leading poets, instrumentalists and vocalists. […]
Shakes & Les, Mbuxx - Hhay wena Maan Feat. Scotts Maphuma, Uncool MC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPIJG5ZctEE
Oratorio of a Forgotten Youth
https://amf.didiermary.fr/oratorio-of-a-forgotten-youth/
Inspiré par le travail de grands musiciens comme Jonas Gwangwa et son Amandla Cultural Ensemble, qui a accompli un travail politique important pendant la longue lutte pour l’autodétermination qu’a connue l’Afrique du Sud, l’Amandla Freedom Ensemble est un jalon important pour la tradition du jazz sud-africain. [...]
Hugh Masekela – Night In Tunisia
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hugh-masekela-night-in-tunisia/
“Night in Tunisia” est l’un des morceaux extraits d’une compilation dédiée à Hugh Masekela “Township Grooves”, qui reprend des compositions datant des années 1965 à 1974.
C’est bien sûr une reprise de Dizzy Gillespie “A Night in Tunisia”, ici en live en 1981. […]
Siya Makuzeni Sextet – Out of This World
https://amf.didiermary.fr/siya-makuzeni-sextet-out-this-world/
Siya Makuzeni is a professional South African trombone player, vocalist, lyricist and songwriter regularly collaborating with other reknown South African musicians. She’s known for her extensive musical range, vocal dexterity, experimental creativity, and passion for symbiotic cross-genre influences.
Thandi Ntuli – Blk Elijah
https://amf.didiermary.fr/thandi-ntuli-blk-elijah/
“Blk Elijah & The Children of Meroë” is the 5th release and 3rd studio album by South African Jazz pianist Thandi Ntuli.
Through her work over a hitherto 13-year career, Thandi has carved space for herself, and others seeking home, to fully exist – thereby firmly situating herself and the contemporary South African generation in […]
Frigid Armadillo – Penga Feat. Njivinator
https://amf.didiermary.fr/frigid-armadillo-penga-feat-njivinator/
The South African duo Frigid Armadillo in 2023 with their EP Penga.
Self-described “pioneers of uncharted house music terrain”, 31-year-old Lebo Lechela and Siyabulela Buhlungu of Frigid Armadillo have been making waves with impressive fusions of tech and mainstream house since meeting at the U. of Johannesburg. A decade of friendship later [...]
Nozinja is a South African producer/DJ and creator of Shangaan Electro.
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nozinja-shangaan-electro-nwa-gezani/
Hugh Masekela – Mace and Grenades / Riot
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mace-grenades-hugh-masekela-riot/
Here’s a 7″ released on Chisa in 1969 “Mace And Grenades / Riot”, directed by Stewart Levine and written by Masekela.
This is the soundtrack of an ongoing revolution.
Yep, Feelin’ it!
#60smusic #Apartheid #HughMasekela #SouthAfrica #Vinyl #AfroJazz
Shangaan goes global…
https://amf.didiermary.fr/shangaan-goes-global/
South Africa has been for many years at the forefront of tradi-modern music, mixing ancient music styles and electro, House music mainly (e.g. Kwaito).
From traditional Shangaan music was born Shangaan Electro with producers like Nozinja, seen in this short documentary…
A dance movement and musical style born from [...]
“Zulu Skywalker” by Muzi comes from his album Afrovision in 2018.
https://amf.didiermary.fr/muzi-zulu-skywalker/
This is the story of Ziphozethu, a 4yo black girl who takes off into space. “There is a substory that flows throughout ‘Afrovision’ about African space travel. The scientific/technologic meets spiritual way. […]
The Jazz Epistles – Verse 1
https://amf.didiermary.fr/the-jazz-epistles-vary-oo-vum/
Verse 1 by the Jazz Epistles in 1960 is “a genuine hard bop session, swinging and persuasive, coming out of South Africa in an era when black musicians weren’t making any recordings, let alone forward-looking modern jazz albums.”
[They] were South Africa’s first important (albeit short-lived) bebop band, inspired by Art Blakey [...]
#60smusic #AbdullahIbrahim #HughMasekela #Jazz #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Group Theory Black Music
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tumi-mogorosi-group-theory-black-music/
“The Group Theory Black Music” documentary follows the creative process, and intentions between drummer Tumi Mogorosi and the many collaborators on the album.
Since his international debut on Jazzman Records in 2014 with Project ELO, Mogorosi has been in the vanguard of the South African creative music scene’s burgeoning outernational dimension, [...]
#Documentary #LiveMusic #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz #AvantGarde #Opera #Jazz
