Oliver Lake / Christian Weber / Dieter Ulrich - Zurich 2007 (Unerhoert 4/4)

Here's the final offering from last year's Unerhört festival. This is by far the best I ever heard of Oliver Lake. I'm not a big fan of his so far... a Trio 3 concert I heard a couple of years ago was very underwhelming, and the few discs I've got haven't won me over completely, either. I give him props for doing his thing though, regardless of trends and fashions. And on this night, I finally was completely happy with his playing. The loose drumming of Ulrich - like the younger bass player Weber a mainstay of the local scene - likely helped a lot. This is good, old-fashioned free-ish playing, lovely executed by all three, with lots of spirit and swing. A beautiful set.

**********************************************************

Oliver Lake / Christian Weber / Dieter Ulrich
Unerhört 2007 - Zürich (Switzerland), Moods - November 25, 2007

Oliver Lake - alto sax
Christian Weber - bass
Dieter Ulrich - drums

1. (7:43)
2. (6:46)
3. Valley Sketch (6:34)
4. (8:30)
5. (10:56)
6. (7:53)
7. (4:26)

TT: 52:49

Sound: A-
Source: audience recording / left from stage (turned out more or less mono)
Lineage: crappy Sony mic > minidisc > analogue to HD > Cool Edit Pro > FLAC (8,asb,verify)
Recorded, transferred & shared by ubu

Note: there was a 1.5sec dropout @ 3:35 into #7 which I removed, a hiccup remains there.

Broetzmann/Pliakas/Wertmueller - Zurich 2007 (Unerhoert (3/4)

Here's the third and penultimate show I'll put up here from last year's Unerhört festival. This was quite an experience... physical as well as... mental? Well, I don't know if it went anywhere (I guess not) and I don't know even if that was the point of this music (I guess not, again).
Also I couldn't tell if I liked it or not... but then again this is not the point, I assume.
What the concert did was put you in a certain "state", it just sort of switched on and off again, and if you let it happen, you were filled with the energy and power that filled the air. It was of glass cracking intensity, in a most literal sense.



**********************************************************

Peter Brötzmann / Marino Pliakas / Michael Wertmüller
Unerhört 2007 - Zürich (Switzerland), Moods - November 25, 2007

Peter Brötzmann - tenor & alto sax, clarinet
Marino Pliakas - electric bass
Michael Wertmüller - drums

1. Stage Intro (1:26)
2. unknown (12:34)
3. unknown (9:53)
4. unknown (23:56)
5. unknown (3:48)

TT: 51:41

Sound: A-/B+ (#1-2 in mono)
Source: audience recording / left from stage (turned out more or less mono)
Lineage: crappy Sony mic > minidisc > analogue to HD > Cool Edit Pro > FLAC (8,asb,verify)
Recorded, transferred & shared by ubu

King Ubu's South African Blindfold Test

I hope this will end the compainin' for good - new links to come, up on Rapidshare, in neat 100MB portions (untagged files though, as they were to be a blindfold test...) - all the info is here and on the covers included in the new files.



1. The Jazz Epistles - Scullery Department (K. Moeketsi) 7:06
2. John Mehegan - Body and Soul (Green-Sour-Heyman-Eyton) 4:15
3. The Blue Notes - Blue Nick (D. Pukwana) 4:06
4. Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi - Yakhal 'Inkomo [Bellowing Bull] (W. Ngozi) 8:55
5. Dollar Brand - Memories of You (Blake-Razaf) 4:50
6. Kippie Moeketsi - Kippie's Prayer (K. Moeketsi) 3:42
7. Joe Malinga's Mandala - Umdrah (J. Malinga) 6:07
8. Dollar Brand - Mannenberg Is Where It's Happening (Cape Town Fringe) (A. Ibrahim) 13:38
9. Dollar Brand - African Sun (A. Ibrahim) 6:13
10. Harry Miller Solo - Homeboy (H. Miller) 5:03
11. Joe Malinga's Mandala - Nina's Dance (J. Malinga) 3:54
12. Dollar Brand - African Marketplace (A. Ibrahim) 7:04
13. African Jazz Pioneers - Yeka Yeka [Let It Be] (Z. Nkosi) 4:07

1 - Recorded in Sophiatown, South Africa, September 1959. Originally released on “Verse 1”; from: “Jazz in Africa, Volume 1 featuring The Jazz Epistles” (Camden CDN 1004).
Hugh Masekela (t), Jonas Gwangwa (tb), Kippie Moeketsi (as), Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) (p), Johnny Gertze (b), Makaya Ntshoko (d).

2 - Recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa, 1959. Originally released on “Jazz in Africa”; from: “Jazz in Africa, Volume 1 featuring The Jazz Epistles” (Camden CDN 1004).
Kippie Moeketsi (as), John Mehegan (p), Claude Shange (b), Gene Latimore (d).

3 - Recorded in Cape Town, South Africa, early 1964. From: “Township Bop” (Proper Records PRP CD 013 - 2002). Mongezi Feza (t), Dudu Pukwana (as), Nick Moyake (ts),
Chris McGregor (p, leader), Johnny Dyani (b), Louis Moholo (d).

4 - Recorded in 1968. Originally released on “Mankunku Quartet - Yakhal 'Inkomo” (1968); from: “Freedom Blues: South African Jazz Under Apartheid” (Nascente NCCD 048, 1999).
Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi (ts) & Early Mabuza Trio: Lionel Pillay (p), Agrippa Magwaza (b), Early Mabuza (d).

5 - Recorded in the early 1970s, first published in 1971. From: "African Sun" (KAZ CD 102, 1988).
Kippie Moeketsi (as), Dollar Brand (p), Victor Ntomo (b), Nelson Magwaza (d).

6 - Recorded in the mid 1970s. Originally released on “Tshona”; from: “Jazz in Africa, Volume Two” (KAZ CD 28, 1992).
Kippie Moeketsi (as), Pat Matshikiza (p).

7 - Recorded at Phonag-Studio, Lindau, Switzerland, 5 & 6 February 1980. From: “Tears for the Children of Soweto” (Canova CA 113).
Joe Malinga (as,fl,voc), Clifford Thornton (vtb, afr. perc), Runo Ericksson (btb), Jürgen “Jux” Seefelder, Walter Gauchel (ts), Johnny “Manhattan” Taylor (p), Mike Guildford (b), Brüning v. Alten (d).

8 - Recorded in the mid 1970s, first published in 1977. From: "Voice of Africa" (KAZ CD 101, 1988).
Robbie Jansen (as), Basil Coetzee (ts), Abdullah Ibrahim (p), Paul Michaels (b), Monty Weber (d).

9 - Recorded in the early 1970s, first published in 1971. From: "African Sun" (KAZ CD 102, 1988).
Kippie Moeketsi (as), Dollar Brand (p), Victor Ntomo (b), Nelson Magwaza (d).

10 - Recorded 1974. Originally released on “Children at Play” (Ogun Stereo OG 200); from: “The Collection” (3CD set, Ogun, 1999).
Harry Miller (b,fl,percussion effects).

11 - Recorded at Phonag-Studio, Lindau, Switzerland, Feabruary 5 & 6, 1980. From: “Tears for the Children of Soweto” (Canova CA 113).
Joe Malinga (as), Runo Ericksson (btb), Chris (foot calabash).

12 - Recorded at Atlantic Studios, NYC, December 1979. Originally released on “African Marketplace” (Elektra 6E-252, 1980); from: “African Marketplace” (Discovery/Elektra/WEA CD, 1980).
Abdullah Ibrahim (ss), Carlos Ward (as), Jeff Jawarrah King (ts), Dwayne Armstrong (ts), Kenny Rogers (bari), Malindi Blyth Mbityana (tb), Craig Harris (tb), Gary Chandler (t), Cecil McBee (b), Miguel Pomier (perc), Andre Strobert (d,perc), Lawrence Lucie (bjo)

13 - Recorded prob. in the 1980s. From: “Freedom Blues: South African Jazz Under Apartheid” (Nascente NCCD 048, 1999); also included on “African Jazz Pioneers” (Camden CDN 1005, 1998).
Edmund “Ntemi” Piliso (as, leader), others unknown (6 horns, 2 g, b, d), but likely including: Stompie Manana (t), Sam Tshabangu (t), Jasper Cook (tb), Albert “Nkaka” Khumalo (g), Madoda Gxabeka (keys), Bheki Buthelezi (b).




1. Dolly Rathebe - Kitty's Blues 2:59
2. Jazz Maniacs - Weekend 2:56
3. Jazz Dazzlers - De Makeba (M. Davashe) 2:47
4. Jimmy Pratt with Lemmy Special and Miriam Makeba - Rockin' in Rhythm (D. Ellington) 2:52
5. Philip Tabane & Malombo - Draakies [Cradle] 3:19
6. Harry Miller Quintet - Orange Groove 9:22
7. Chris Mcgregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – New Year Carnival 10:38
8. Harry Miller's Isipingo - Family Affair (H. Miller) 9:58
9. Dollar Brand & Johnny Dyani - Medley 17:59
10. Kippie Moeketsi - Tshona (P. Matshikiza) 11:44
11. Abdullah Ibrahim - Next Stop Soweto (A. Ibrahim) 4:46

1 - Recorded in South Africa, October 17, 1954 (Language: Sotho). From: “South African Jazz And Jive, 1954-1960” (Line Records MSCD 9.01092 O, 1991).
Dolly Rathebe (voc), Kippie Moeketsi (as), Mackay Davashe (ts), Elijah Nkwanyana (tp), Sam Maile (p), Jacob Lepere (b), Willie Malan (d).

2 - Recorded in South Africa, January 18, 1956. From: “South African Jazz And Jive, 1954-1960” (Line Records MSCD 9.01092 O, 1991).
Probable personnel: Kippie Moeketsi (lead as), Benny "Gwigwi" Mrwebi (2nd as), Wilson Silgee (lead ts), Mackay Davashe (2nd ts), Gray Mbau (lead t), unknown (2nd t), Mickey Vilakazi (tb), Jacob Moeketsi (p), Victor Hamilton (g), Joe "Kitty Joe" Kitty (b), Willie Malan (d).

3 - Recorded November 25, 1958. From: “South African Jazz And Jive, 1954-1960” (Line Records MSCD 9.01092 O, 1991).
Kippie Moeketsi (1st as), Benny "Gwigwi" Mrwebi (2nd as), Mackay Davashe (ts), Kleintjie Rubushe (t), Dugmore "Darkie" Slinger (tb), Sol Klaaste (p), General Duze (g), Jacob Lepere (b), Willie Malan (d).

4 - Recorded in South Africa, c. September 1958. From: “South African Jazz And Jive, 1954-1960” (Line Records MSCD 9.01092 O, 1991).
Miriam Makeba (voc), Lemmy Special Mabaso (pennywh), unknown (p), unknown (g), prob. Mannie Markes (b), Jimmy Pratt (d).

5 - Recorded at “Afrikanischer Sommer” [African Summer – a festival], Hamburg, Germany, 1983 or 1984. Unreleased radio broadcast (Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Germany).
Philip Tabane (g), Mahapi Oupa Monareng (malombo d), Rahoudi Fish Phale (perc).

6 - Recorded in the UK for BBC, broadcast 1977. Unreleased radio broadcast (British Broadcasting Corporation, UK).
Trevor Watts (as,ss), Alan Wakeman (ts,ss), Berni Holland (g), Harry Miller (b), Louis Moholo (d).

7 - Recorded at Ronnie Scott’s, London, UK, December 31, 1967. Unreleased audience recording.
Mongezi Feza (t), Pat Higgs (t), Mick Collins (t), Chris Pine (tb), Malcolm Griffiths (tb), Jimmy Phillips (ss), Mike Osborne (as), Dudu Pukwana (as), Ronnie Beer (ts), John Surman (bari), Chris McGregor (p,leader), Dave Holland (b), Alan Jackson (d).

8 - Recorded in the UK for BBC, broadcast 1976. Unreleased radio broadcast (British Broadcasting Corporation, UK).
Marc Charig (t), Malcolm Griffiths (tb), Mike Osborne (as), Stan Tracey (p), Harry Miller (b), Louis Moholo (d).

9 - Recorded at NDR Jazz Workshop #94 (part 2), Studio 10, Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Hamburg, Germany. Unreleased radio broadcast produced by Michael Naura.
Dollar Brand (p,fl), Johnny Dyani (b).

10 - Recorded in the mid 1970s. Originally released on “Tshona”; from “Jazz in Africa, Volume Two” (KAZ CD 28, 1992); note: this was also reissued on the compilation “African Horns” (KAZ CD8, 1989).
Kippie Moeketsi (as), Dennis Phillips (as), Basil Coetzee (ts), Pat Matshikiza (p), Alec Khaoli (b), Sipho Mabuse (d).

11 - Recording date & original issue unknown. From the compilation “African Horns” (KAZ CD8, 1989).
Abdullah Ibrahim (cello), Basil Coetzee (ts), Sipho Gumede (b), Gilbert Matthews (d), others unknown.

South African jazz - fixed links & contributions

I noticed that some of the links in my big SA-jazz post weren't working any longer. Some of the things linked to just moved elsewhere on the wwww, and here's the place to put those links.

:.:.:.:.:

The general links are still good, and that AAJ site remains one of the best starting points. In the article section, several links aren't working any longer, though - here's a fixed list.

:.:.:.:.:

Another site about Abdullah Ibrahim:
http://junior.apk.net/~hoon/6Mantra_Modes.html

:.:.:.:.:

The Development of South African Jazz (by Hotep Idris Galeta):
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=889
also here: http://www.jazzrendezvous.co.za/special/spe2006062701.php

Forced removals in apartheid South Africa:
http://www.dispatch.co.za/1999/11/05/features/SNAPSHOT.HTM

Bebop and beyond the blues – South African Jazz History:
moved to: http://www.jazzrendezvous.co.za/special/spe2006062705.php

The article on the Drum Magazine has gone. It's the one linked to (dead link!) here:
http://africanhistory.about.com/b/2006/01/31/the-significance-of-drum-magazine-during-apartheid.htm

That site where the Galeta and Bebop and beyond articles are up on is quite interesting by itself, go have a look:
http://www.jazzrendezvous.co.za/index.php

There's an interview with guitar player Jimmy Dludlu up there, too:
http://www.jazzrendezvous.co.za/readarticle.php?artcl=00000031

:.:.:.:.:

I won't double check the musician links, sorry - too much work! But if you find other interesting sites, please do post them in the comments here!

King Kong scans

I somehow freaked up most of the attached photos in the previous South African jazz post. No biggie on the Goldblatt photos, as the link where I took them from is given anyway. The King Kong LP sleeve scans though are my own, and just for the curious, here they are again:

Reggie Workman Solo - Zurich 2007 (Unerhoert 2/4)

Post 1/4: Irene Schweizer + Trio 3

Reggie Workman (born 1937) is one of the diminishing number of jazz giants still trodding the earth. He played with so many of the greats, let me just mention John Coltrane and Art Blakey's best ever edition of the Jazz Messengers, Wayne Shorter and Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron, Andrew Cyrille and Oliver Lake.
For further reading, check out this "fireside chat" from AAJ's Fred Jung:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=264



**********************************************************

Reggie Workman Solo
Unerhört 2007 - Zürich (Switzerland), Moods - November 25, 2007

Reggie Workman - bass

1. Sketch (30:42)

Sound: A- (mono)
Source: audience recording / left from stage (turned out more or less mono)
Lineage: crappy Sony mic > minidisc > analogue to HD > Cool Edit Pro > FLAC (8,asb,verify)
Recorded, transferred & shared by ubu

Notes:
This was recorded in stereo but the left channel wasn't ok (not just low level but also distortion), so I only used the right one (double up to create "stereo" files that can be encoded to FLAC and burned to CDR)
There were quite a few dropouts that I did remove, some hiccups remain, alas.

The joy and pain of South African Jazz

On an afternoon in summer, the farm Quaggasfontein in the Great Karoo. About 200 years ago, after 13 years of work, two slaves are said to have completed the building of this wall which surrounds the farmyard.
Near Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape. December 1966

I realized that the Megaupload way of getting the four files I compiled some time back when doing a blindfold test on the Organissimo board was still working - here are the links:

[links removed, go to this new post to find the new links, eventually - and stop bitchin' around!]

Covers:
http://rapidshare.com/files/112012052/BFT48_JazzSA12.pdf

All infos can be found here:
Disc 1 (first two files): http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34948
Disc 2 (last two files): http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34949

The old discussions can be found here, in case anyone cares to read:
Disc 1: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34529
Disc 2: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34528

**********************************************************

Photographs by David Goldblatt (wiki)
http://www.michaelstevenson.com


A new shack under construction, Lenasia Extension 9, Gauteng
5 May 1990

**********************************************************

Allow me to repeat myself - in case not everyone clicks on the above links, here's some of the info I posted back then:


:: GENERAL LINKS ::

AMG South African Jazz Page: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=1957
Homepage of photographer Jürgen Schadeberg (Drum): http://www.jurgenschadeberg.com/
musig.org.za (tons of info, mainly short artist biographical sketches): http://www.music.org.za/default.asp
The African Music Encyclopedia: http://africanmusic.org/index.html
Afropop Worldwide: http://www.afropop.org/



Graves of the Griquas.
...The Griquas were coloured men and women. They were descendants of early Afrikaner frontiersmen; of the remnants of Khoisan tribes, hunters, gatherers, and pastoralists; of escaped slaves from the wine and wheat farms of the south-west Cape; of Free Blacks from the colony who could find no acceptable place for themselves in it; and of African tribesmen, detached from their tribes by war or by choice. They formed a community which attempted to discover what their role in South Africa was, or if there was none, to create one for themselves. In the end they could not do this ... (Adam Kok's Griquas: A Study in the Development of Stratification in South Africa, by Robert John Ross, Cambridge 1976)
Philippolis, Free State, 27 August 1986


:: ARTICLES ::

The Development of South African Jazz (by Hotep Idris Galeta): http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=889
Forced removals in apartheid South Africa: http://www.dispatch.co.za/1999/11/05/features/SNAPSHOT.HTM
Bebop and beyond the blues – South African Jazz History: http://home.worldonline.co.za/~afribeat/ar..._sa%20jazz.html
Drum Magazine: http://home.worldonline.co.za/%7Eafribeat/archiveafrica.html


Kite-flying, near Phuthaditjhaba, in the Qwa Qwa bantustan, now the Free State.
1 May 1989


:: MUSICIANS ::

Basil Coetzee (1944-1998)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Coetzee
http://www.jazzhouse.org/gone/lastpost2.php3?edit=920482852

Mackay Davashe
great Schadeberg photo here: http://www.jurgenschadeberg.com/jazz14.jpg

Johnny “Mbizo” Dyani (1945-1986)
album listing: http://www.kultur-im-ghetto.de/discographia-johnny.htm

Abdullah Ibrahim (*1934)
http://www.abdullahibrahim.com/ (discography there is pretty incomplete!)

Robbie Jansen (*1949)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Jansen
http://home.worldonline.co.za/~afribeat/cont_robbie.html

Chris McGregor (1936-1990)
Berlin 1969 by Karlheinz Klüter here: http://www.jazzphotography.us/images/musicians/mcgregor.jpg (great site, worth browsing around!)
The Blue Notes (lenghty wiki entry): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Notes
Brotherhood of Breath disco: http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedCon...;threadid=18348
A remembrance by Chris’ brother Tony: http://home.worldonline.co.za/%7Eafribeat/...chris_tony.html
A tribute (introduction to Maxine McGregor’s book): http://home.worldonline.co.za/%7Eafribeat/..._macgregor.html
(Note: a Blue Notes box set is scheduled to appear soon on Ogun records!)

Miriam Makeba (*1932)
Terrific 1955 photo by Schadeberg here: http://www.jurgenschadeberg.com/a09.jpg


Shopping on 14th Street, Pageview, Johannesburg. The suburbs Pageview, which was mainly Indian, and Vrededorp, which was mainly Afrikaner working-class, were next to each other. The Vrededorpers did much of their shopping in Pageview (as did people from many other parts of the city). When the Group Areas Act was enforced in 1977, the Indian population of Pageview was forcibly removed, and their shops and homes were destroyed to make way for Whites.
Pageview, Johannesburg, Gauteng. July 1985

Hugh Masekela (*1939)
Biography & discography by Doug Payne: http://www.dougpayne.com/hmhome.htm
Biography (& more): http://www.ritmoartists.com/Hugh/Masekela.htm
Interview (2002): http://www.afropop.org/multi/interview/ID/37/

Pat Matshikiza (*1938)
Biography (from a recent CD’s liners): http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=231

Harry Miller (1941-1983)
Detailed info on “The Collection”: http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/labels/ogun/ogunhm.html
(Don't by all accounts miss the Isipingo disc released on Cuneiform! It's the best way to get acquainted with Miller these days, as the Ogun box has been out of print for a while now...)

Louis Moholo (*1940)
Biography: http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=144
Article by Gary May (May 2005 of ImproJazz, no. 115): http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/fulltext/ftmoholo.html

Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi
biography: http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=55
Reissue of "Yakhal 'Inkomo" (with Chris Schilder Quintet feat. Mankunku "Spring"): http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=9871

Edmund Ntemi Piliso (1925-2000)
Short bio: http://www.jazzhouse.org/gone/lastpost2.php3?edit=984059354
African Jazz Pioneers: http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=75

Dudu Pukwana (1938-1990)
wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudu_Pukwana

Dolly Rathebe (1928-2004)
another great Jürgen Schadeberg photo here: http://www.jurgenschadeberg.com/a06.jpg
Biography: http://www.afropop.org/explore/artist_info...Dolly%20Rathebe

Lemmy Special
one more by Schadeberg: http://www.jurgenschadeberg.com/jazz24.jpg

Philip Tabane
http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=106



Xhosa man and V N Zote's children, Flagstaff, Transkei, Eastern Cape.
9 October 1975


:: FURTHER LISTENING ::

African Jazz Pioneers – Sip 'n' Fly (Gallo) [Ntemi Piliso & his gang back at the game in 1992]
The Blue Notes – In Concert Vol. 1 (Ogun – OOP) [don’t have this one for real…]
The Blue Notes – Township Bop (Proper) [early sessions (1964) by the group, still in South Africa – I assume this is the one Proper release I really, really love!]
**Pierre Dorge & New Jungle Orchestra – Brikama (Steeplechase) (incl. Johnny Dyani) [great, joyful and crazy small big band stuff, similar vibes in there as you can hear with the Dutch bands of the time]
*Johnny Dyani – Witchdoctor’s Son (Steeplechase) [a classic, I assume, but one I haven’t gotten yet]
Mongezi Feza – Free Jam (Ayler, 2CD) [Feza guesting with Bernt Rosengren’s group]
Anders Gahnold – Flowers for Johnny (Ayler, 2CD) [trio w/Dyani & Gilbert Matthews]
Abdullah Ibrahim – African Space Program (Enja) [one of his best, just look at the line-up: Enrico Rava, Sonny Fortune, Carlos Ward, John Stubblefield, Hamiet Bluiett, Cecil McBee, a.o.]
Abdullah Ibrahim – African Marketplace (WEA) [one of his greatest, Carlos Ward is the main soloist, Craig Harris is there as well, and Cecil McBee anchors it on bass, great blowing, plenty of spirit and soul]
Abdullah Ibrahim – all the “African Recordings” (African Sun, Voice of Africa, Tintinyana, Blues for a Hip King) (KAZ/Camden) [the early/mid 70s material from after Dollar Brand went back to SA, featuring Kippie, Basil Coetzee, Robbie Jansen, Barney Rachabane and others, but also a date with Blue Mitchell, Buster Cooper and Harold Land alongside Coetzee and a few other SA musicians]
Abdullah Ibrahim – African Piano (JAPO) [one of his best, an early solo outing]
Abdullah Ibrahim – Yarona (Enja) [1996 trio set from Sweet Basil in NYC, glorious!]
Abdullah Ibrahim – African River (Enja) [one of the best Ekaya albums]
Abdullah Ibrahim – South Africa (Enja) [a great live set with Carlos Ward]
Abdullah Ibrahim – Africa -Tears and Laughter (Enja) [a meditative set with Talib Kibwe]
Abdullah Ibrahim/Johnny Dyani – Good News from Africa (Enja) [duos, sublime!]
Abdullah Ibrahim/Johnny Dyani – Echoes from Africa (Enja) [more duos, almost as good]
Robbie Jansen – Nomad Jêz (Mountain Records)
The Jazz Epistles – Jazz in Africa, Vol. 1 (KAZ/Camden) [with John Mehegan date, see Masekela disography for details]
Chris McGregor – Very Urgent (Polydor – OOP) (to be reissued by Fledg'ling
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath (self-titled) (just reissued by Fledg'ling)
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – Brotherhood (just reissued by Fledg'ling)
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – Bremen to Bridgewater (Cuneiform. 2CD)
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – Travelling Somewhere (Cuneiform)
Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath – Eclipse at Dawn (Cuneiform) [might be the best of these live releases...]
Chris McGeegor’s Brotherhood of Breath – Country Cooking (Virgin) [one of hist last releases, mostly with UK sidemen, pretty good!]
Hugh Masekela – Still Grazing: The Musical Journey of H.M. (Blue Thumb) [a nice compilation of mostly early material]
Lulu Masilela & Thomas Phale – Cool Down (Gallo) [short - only 26 minutes - but very sweet, contains two lenghty jams]
Harry Miller – The Collection (Ogun, 3CD – OOP) [all his Ogun albums, solo, duo with Radu Malfatti, Isipingo, the album with Breuker, Trevor Watts and the Tippet(t)ses, as well as the Harry Miller Quintet album with Charig, Wolter Wierbos, Han Bennink and Sean Bergin, originally on Varajazz]
Harry Miller’s Isipingo – Which Way Now (Cuneiform) [terrific live recording by this great band!]
*Louis Moholo – Spirits Rejoice (Ogun) [OOP?]
McCoy Mrubata - Face the Music (Sheer Sound) [a lovely 2002 album by some younger musicians, including Zim Ngqawana, Prince Lengoasa, Marcus Wyatt and Paul Hanmer]
*Benny Gwigwi Mrwebi – Mbqanga Songs (Honest Jon’s)
Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi – Yakhal ‘Inkomo (Gallo) [also contains Chris Schilder's Spring]
Zim Ngqawana – Zimphonic Sounds (Sheer Sound) [a younger man’s celebration of the great tradition, the music in all its glory and pain]
Bra Ntemi [Ntemi Piliso] – At Mavuthela Vol. 1 - 1975 (Gallo)
Bra Ntemi [Ntemi Piliso] – At Mavuthela Vol. 2 - 1975 (Gallo)
Bra Ntemi [Ntemi Piliso] – At Teal Records - 1976 (Gallo)

*) albums I don’t own in any form (some of this stuff has been around in the blogosphere…)
**) albums that are not actually “South African jazz,” whatever that is

Compilations
Freedom Blues: South African Jazz Under Apartheid (Nascente) [mostly classics by Mankunku, The Blue Notes, Harry Miller’s Isipingo, The Jazz Epistles, a.o.]
Africa Straight Ahead (Heads Up) [mostly younger musicians, Zim Ngqawana, McCoy Mrubata, Bheki Mseleku, Hotep Idris Galeta, Paul Hammer, a.o.]
African Horns (KAZ/Camden) [a great teaser, including “Thsona” (see below) as well as a few other lenghty jams, plenty of great sax players featured, incl. Kippie, Coetzee, Jansen & Barney Rachabane]
Jazz in Africa, Volume 2 (KAZ/Camden) [includes Kippie’s terrific album “Tshona”, as well as two looooong jams with Dollar Brand]

Further metion: Golden Afrique Vol. 3 (Network), dedicated to the music of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sambia (Volumes 1 & 2 are highly recommended, too - for Europeans, I assume the best place to get them is here: http://www.zweitausendeins.de/suche/?ArticleFocus=3&ord=-1&alpha=1&cat=20&q=golden%20afrique). These aren't jazz releases, of course, but they contain plenty of wonderful music attractive to the jazz audience, too...

And to end things, here's the sleeve of the original King Kong album - the musical which in its cast included many of the luminaries of South African jazz:





Stalled municipal housing scheme, Kwezinaledi, Lady Grey, Eastern Cape.
5 August 2006