More South African jive

You may remember my posts (here and here) about the "South African Jive" series of cassettes which I bought in London in the mid-1980's.

Following the last of these two posts one of the followers of this blog emailed me to inform me that his friend Keith had created and sold those cassettes from his African/Latin records stall in Camden Market. "They were naturally very popular and sold well, and now seem to be doing the collector's rounds via the web. None of this was sold as CDs because it was all before CDs were easy to home-copy, and long before the web and mp3s", he added. In a later mail he recalled that Keith moved to teach Economics in Botswana University.

I promised to share the other three cassettes with you, and am doing so in this post.

I know Volume 3 has been posted on the ElectricJive blog, but I am still posting it again. Although on principal I have no objections to removing noise from noisy, crackly or hissy analog recordings, I am inclined to be cautious when it comes to older recordings. And in my humble opinion some of the character of the originals has been lost in the version posted by ElectricJive.

My favourite tracks on the first volume were the two tracks by the Transvaal Rocking Jazz Stars accompanying the Dark City Sisters. On the third volume they have been my favourites too for a long time, until I visited South Africa in the late 1990's and began to understand the atmosphere which must have led to the other of these instrumental tracks. Since then my favourites have broadened, to include guitarist Rex Ntuli and the remarkable Boy Masaka (I hope you haven't missed the special at ElectricJive).

Volume 4 has perhaps the most varied selection in the series. It has instrumental tracks, including the lovely "Matcheketcheke" by Steven & His Twisters, some by illustrious vocal groups like the Dark City Sisters (with a version of "Langa More" without the "tap tap"), Black Mambazo (not to be confused with Ladysmith B.M.) and the Killingstone Stars, plus some brilliant more 'ethnic' (for lack of a more appropriate description) songs. Especially the latter stand out, like the soulful "Udokotela" by Mekuyise Maphumulo & Party and Alfred Muchunu's "Umakhlehlana", which - most of the time - is my favourite on this cassette.

Volume 5, titled "Soweto Special", has a whopping 20 tracks, including (oh bliss!) seven by the Flying Jazz Queens and five very diverse tracks by Black Mambazo. Top favourites are the three tracks by the Flying Jazz Queens on the B-side, which to me have a wonderful feeling of decisiveness. These ladies are not kidding, and know what they want!
I would also like to mention the two tracks by Frans Mdau, - and in case you are wondering: I didn't 'accidently' remove the beginning of "Hey Cherrie", this is the way it is on the cassette...

South African Jive Vol. 3 or (MF) Vol. 3
South African Jive Vol. 4 or (MF) Vol. 4
South African Jive Vol. 5 or (MF) Vol. 5

Thumb piano

One of my resolutions for the new year is to post more traditional music. I am well aware that the distinction between modern and so-called 'traditional' music is at times not as clear as it may seem. A lot of modern music is at the very least inspired by themes, topic and tunes handed over from one generation to another, - or in other words by tradition.

So to start off the year I would like to share with you this cassette which I bought years and years ago in the early 1980s, - and long before these historic recordings made by Hugh Tracey between 1948 and 1963 were remastered and digitised. Although some, most, or possibly all (sorting this out is complicated by the fact that some of the titles have been changed - see my first attempt here*) of these recordings are probably available on cd, I still feel there is a case for posting this cassette. For I would like to put it to you that the sound of this cassette is in most cases better, or preferable if you like, to that of the cd's. Listen and compare...

The production of this cassette betrayes the pure amateur love for the music by the people at Folktracks (who don't seem in any way related to Folkways), with pre-computer printing and tightly folded, but extensive sleeve notes. From the archives of the International Library of African Music (ILAM) they have compiled 20 songs featuring the mbira, or sanza, or likembe, or thumb piano. The artists in these recordings have been fully credited. And there are some legends among these. Like Zimbabwean mbira legend Simon Mashoko ("Saimoni Mashoko" in the notes - photo on left). For others these recordings are possibly the only ones that were ever made of them.

I particularly like the tracks by Ngaina Lolo (A2 - love the resonance), the one by Simon Sitale (A8 - the mbira like a blanket for cold ears), the storybook-like "Kemai" by Kayoka Ladislas & Beya Marcel (A10), the very Zimbabwean sounding track by Baranganani Mudzanani from South Africa (B3) and the soulful song for the chief by Chabarwa Musanda Mayo Sinyoro** (B4).

Folktracks AFR-45-802 (new link May 3, 2012)

* And please feel free to suggest additions.
** one person or two?

Sax & flute jive

Called it synchronicity, call it a coincidence, call it whatever you like: I was busy uploading this cassette when I saw ElectricJive had posted the next volume in this series.

I gladly refer you to ElectricJive's post, and not just for this post.

I can confirm that there are five volumes in this series, and I will post them all, if you are patient. If I remember correctly I bought these cassettes in the early 1980s in a small shop in Soho, London, together with two volumes of Congolese music from the 1950s. Later on I also found a cassette by Monguito El Unico from the (probably) same source. The rest you can read in my earlier post of the first volume.

Even more than the first volume it has taken a while for me to grasp this music. I think it was after my visit to SA in the late 1990s that I could ´translate´ the atmosphere and feel of these recordings, and connect it to the people. Not that could find a lot of this music when I was there, by the way. But that´s another story....

South African Jive Vol.2: Sax & flute jive

Vocal jive

If I remember correctly, it was some time during the mid-1980s that I found the "South African Jive" series of cassettes of which this is the first (of five). I admit it took me a while to get a taste for the music. But over the years it has grown, not just because of the music itself, but also because of (my understanding of) its historic value.

I was under the impression that we were going to be flooded with South African music from the 1950s and 1960s after the demise of the rule of apartheid. But a decade and a half later, I think I can safely say that instead of a tsunami we have seen no more than a trickle.
And that's a pity.

Of the Dark City Sisters nearly a full CD has been released (Earthworks - CDEWV 31). This vocal quartet from the township of Alexandra (nicknamed "Dark City" because of the absence of electricity and street lighting - more here) was led -from the start in 1958- by Joyce Mogatusi, who was originally from Botswana. The Dark City Sisters feature in seven of the eighteen tracks of this cassette (two of which are also on the Earthworks CD), and Joyce Mogatusi has two more tracks with saxophonist Boy Masaka.

The other half of this cassette features four tracks by the Flying Jazz Queens, who also have two tracks on the Earthworks compilation (one of which is also on this cassette), two by Intombi Zodwa (Xhosa for "girls only") and one each by the Travelling Sisters, the New Farm Sisters and (Alexandra?) Black Mambazo.

My favourite tracks are the two by the Dark City Sisters backed by the wonderful swinging Transvaal Rocking Jazz Stars. Especially "Tomati Yo Yo No.3" is a track which is rooted in my memory forever. "Ulwandhle" by the Flying Jazz Queens is another qualifier for the catalogue of all-time African classics, as is - of course - the great "Langa More (Tap Tap)", which features (the late) Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde.

South African Jive Vol. 1 - Zulu Vocal Jive

PS: much more about South African music can be read in Matt's blog. And I see Likembe also has a post about South African music.

Sangoma

I met Miriam Makeba for the first time at the Angoulême festival in France in 1986; I think it was on May 10.
I admit I was overawed by the entrance she made into the backstage area, with a large entourage of people hovering around her, people wanting to shake her hand, musicians trying to get a glimpse of this legend and security heavies trying to keep them at bay.

While Cuban orchestra Los Van Van were preparing to go on stage, I was introduced to Ms. Makeba by a mutual friend whom she knew from her Guinean period. The warmth of her approach immediately put me at ease. She struck me as a very good listener. We talked about various subjects, until some very nervous people from the organisation rushed in and announced that Jack Lang (who at that time was the former 'ministre de la Culture') was there and wanted to see her. "I am talking with this man", was her reply. M. Lang was left waiting....

I would be lying if I would claim to be a big fan of Ms. Makeba's music. Personally I blame this on the influence of her US period, and the overproduction that is a side effect of this influence.
To demonstrate this I am posting a pre-mix recording of the album "Sangoma", which I am told is one of her more personal albums. I obtained this through South African guitarist and flautist Russell Herman (who died far too young in 1998), who had copied it from fellow Kintone member Tony Cedras, who plays the piano in this recording.

Whenever I feel down I play this and remember the humanity of this great African sangoma.

Sangoma (pre-mix)