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Amongst the troubled apartheid townships of 1950s and 60s South Africa a vibrant underground music scene was growing. Fusing imported American swing with local Kwela & Marabi, local artists created the sound known as 'township jazz'. Out of this bustling scene sprung the hit musical King Kong which made it to London's West End in 1961 and helped launch the worldwide careers of an array of jazz heroes such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekala and Kippie Moeketsi. This compilation takes us back to those lively days with 24 upbeat and elegant tracks from many of the scene's key artists.
About half the album is instrumental and half with lyrics, such as the sublime vocal harmonies of mbaqanga acts The Skylarks and The Manhattan brothers, who owe a lot to the American r&b and 'doo wop' artists of the time. There is also an original a capella of Solomon Linda's ''Mbube'', which you will certainly recognise when you hear it! Substantially older than the rest of the tracks, ''Mbube'' has a Zulu choral rooting with more subtle imported elements than its 50s & 60s counterparts, many of whom hold more in common with bebop and the up-tempo jump blues sound which had developed across the Atlantic. The superb reed work also really stands out on these tracks, and consistently does its bit to make this compilation sound rather special, not least on dancefloor killer ''Ndenzeni Na?'' by Father Huddleston Band and the alluringly titled ''Beer Club'' by Orlando Six.
This cd is not just a great collection of fun yet classy jazz and swing tunes, it is a doorway into a fascinating part of history which writes the first pages in the astounding back stories of some of today's most respected musicians. --Jamie Fisher
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
great music great value,
By
This review is from: African Jazz 'N Jive (Audio CD)
I love these joyfull South African jazz sound from way back. This CD serves up all the classics, at a very reasonable price. The packaging is not spectacular, but if you're a novice, this is a very good starting point.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bliss -- 4.5 stars,
By Barrett - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: African Jazz 'N Jive (Audio CD)
Flourishing in the townships of apartheid-infected South Africa in the 1950s, small-combo jazz was an anomalous shot of joy. It's a joy that swings just as loud and clear today, on the 24 cuts of this outstanding compilation. Maybe it's their defiance of the government's insistence on their inequality as citizens -- as people -- that gives these musicians the sass driving every number here into your hips and heart. Or maybe they were just responding to each others' delight in making music so straightforward yet so intense.
Played on brass or acoustic guitar, or sung in a fetching blend of jazz and folk inflections, the result has the unshakable bounce of Count Basie's band plus the instant accessibility of pop. And as if that weren't enough, we also get "Mbube," the chanted roundelay that went on to conquer the world as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." This isn't simply some of the best South African music ever made; it's also the most sweet-souled protest music you'll ever hear. 3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
traditional African Jazz,
By D. Karen James "jadaka" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: African Jazz 'N Jive (Audio CD)
This is a compilation of African Jazz, primarily Sout African artists. I was looking for exactly what I received; good African beats and music that contained non-American talented jazz artists.
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