Thursday, May 03, 2007
Strings 'an Skins from Africa
Greg Georgiades & Ashish Joshi have a group called Strings ‘an Skins, and when they teamed up with Madala Kunene & Bernard Mdaweni, you were guaranteed that some amazing music was made!Strings ‘an Skins play rhythmical interpretations of North African and South African improvisational styles. Their Afro-Asian hybrid beats are played on traditional instruments, such as the Indian percussive drums (Tabla & Dhol), Egyptian (Darbukah) and African (Djembe), played by Ashish, and the North African fretless lute (Oud), Bouzouki and nylon string Flamenco guitar, played by Greg.
Their CD “Strings ‘an Skins”, was voted ‘Best CD of the year’ by Pretoria News readers. They have played extensively around South Africa from Swartruggens to Rustlers Valley, Splashy Fenn and Oppikoppi, where audiences have been thrilled by their driving rhythms and catchy melodies.Their collaborations have included shows with metal-rap group Not My Dog, the Tony Cox band, Madala (pictured left) and DJ’s Not My Dog and Hyser, as well as the acclaimed Aquarian Quartet show “The World in a Guitar”.
Here is a track that was recorded at Tings & Times, and given to me recently by Robert from MELT (don’t be jealous – I always share with you!), and then this morning Ashish sent me a couple of extra pics. So all I can really say is… enjoy!
Labels: Ashish Joshi, Greg Georgiades, Madala Kunene, music, Strings 'an Skins
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Umshika Shika Qabe - Zulu Maskandi live!
Maskanda, or maskandi, is a unique style of South African music. Traditionally it is a Zulu style that has been the domain of mainly men, but in this exciting new time we live in, anything and everything is possible!
So how would you describe it? Maskanda is distinguished by an instrumental flourish that sets the tone at the beginning of each song, picked guitar style, and rapidly spoken sections of Zulu praise poetry, called "izibongo". The content isn't always praise, though, and with pop, house and other influences colouring maskanda, it has become more about the storytelling ethic and the modern migrant culture, than simply about the musical style. (Answers.com)
One of South Africa’s biggest exports of maskanda is Busi Mhlongo (pictured right) – whose album Urbanzulu reached and stayed at the top of the World Music Charts for some 16 weeks! But other names that have made a big impact include Amashayina Amahle, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Shiyani Ngcobo and my favourite, Madala Kunene.
The artist I would like to present is Umshika Shika Qabe who was first discovered by Madala Kunene and recorded by MELT during a visit by Airto Moreira to Durban in 1996. The recording lay dormant until 2005 when MELT released one of his tracks on Madala's album UXOLO.
The launch of the UXOLO (Peace) album was at the Bassline in Johannesburg's Newtown district and featured maskandi guitarist Umshika Shika Quabe (pictured left) who preformed with Mabi Thobejane and members of L.A.P. and Kwani Experience.
A full version DVD of the 2005 UXOLO launch is being released in the first half of 2007, including groups like Umshika Shika Quabe, Cameroonian Della Tamin (that I'll be featuring soon!), L.A.P., Greg Georgiades with Madala Kunene, Ashish Joshi & Bernard Mndaweni plus Madala Kunene's traditional group with Bernard Mndaweni, Mabi Thobejane, Gontse Makhene and Bafana Nhlapo from L.A.P.
So here is a small clip to whet your appetite! Umshika Shika Qabe live at the Bassline!
So how would you describe it? Maskanda is distinguished by an instrumental flourish that sets the tone at the beginning of each song, picked guitar style, and rapidly spoken sections of Zulu praise poetry, called "izibongo". The content isn't always praise, though, and with pop, house and other influences colouring maskanda, it has become more about the storytelling ethic and the modern migrant culture, than simply about the musical style. (Answers.com)One of South Africa’s biggest exports of maskanda is Busi Mhlongo (pictured right) – whose album Urbanzulu reached and stayed at the top of the World Music Charts for some 16 weeks! But other names that have made a big impact include Amashayina Amahle, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Shiyani Ngcobo and my favourite, Madala Kunene.
The artist I would like to present is Umshika Shika Qabe who was first discovered by Madala Kunene and recorded by MELT during a visit by Airto Moreira to Durban in 1996. The recording lay dormant until 2005 when MELT released one of his tracks on Madala's album UXOLO.
The launch of the UXOLO (Peace) album was at the Bassline in Johannesburg's Newtown district and featured maskandi guitarist Umshika Shika Quabe (pictured left) who preformed with Mabi Thobejane and members of L.A.P. and Kwani Experience.A full version DVD of the 2005 UXOLO launch is being released in the first half of 2007, including groups like Umshika Shika Quabe, Cameroonian Della Tamin (that I'll be featuring soon!), L.A.P., Greg Georgiades with Madala Kunene, Ashish Joshi & Bernard Mndaweni plus Madala Kunene's traditional group with Bernard Mndaweni, Mabi Thobejane, Gontse Makhene and Bafana Nhlapo from L.A.P.
So here is a small clip to whet your appetite! Umshika Shika Qabe live at the Bassline!
Labels: Busi Mhlongo, Madala Kunene, maskanda, music, Umshika Shika Qabe, Zulu
Monday, April 02, 2007
CTIJF - 4th best in the world!
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is finished, but having been one of the most successful of the past 8-years, it won’t be forgotten for awhile yet! All the hype and excitement is over; the artists have headed home; and I am sure that the espAfrica staff and their affiliates are needing a well deserved break!Wolfgang Koenig, our world music journalist friend from Radio Multikulti in Berlin, Germany, told us that the CTIJF has been ranked as the 4th best jazz festival in the world (wow people, can I hear some applause for that please?), and that it has been positioned in the top 40 of the best events of any kind. After having enjoyed my weekend there, I can well imagine it; the timing was perfect; the organization was evident to the smallest of details; and the music this year represented one of the biggest collection of South African artists that I have seen in years.
Saturday night even showed that ESP are concerned about the health of their visitors, by once again giving us such a variety of world-class shows, that we had to run from one venue to the next! The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band, Stimela & the Bheki Khosa Quartet started the excitement, with Tucan Tucan and the Ernest Mothle Quartet (left) catching my ear.Then there was a rush for the Basil “Mannenberg”Coetzee outdoor stage where Jack DeJohnette and our star diva, Sibongile Khumalo, were appearing. Lenny & I were very chuffed to see internationally renowned musician Byron Wallen, who we worked closely with at the Arts Alive Festival in JHB when he blew our minds away as a member of the muliti-cultural group PedXulu (made of the Pedi, Xhosa & Zulu clans, with international guest stars).
In one track he showed his skill by launching into an amazing duo with Sibongile playing a conch shell, instead of his trumpet, and even President Thabo Mbeki, who was ushered to the front of the stage, stood transfixed amid a writhing mass of bodyguards and police. Ministers Aziz Pahad and Trevor Manual, I noticed, had far more freedom to move – if I were Mbeki, I would have sent the guards for a beer and chilled awhile longer – because the fun had just started!
Lenny is crazy about Ismael Lo, and I couldn’t have dragged her out of the concert, if I had tried. I had been caught for the 2nd time taking photos without a Photographer badge, and felt like leaving for some fresh air. After all – if I can’t take pictures, how else are my Peak People going to see what all happened. I do this for you!Ismael did some of his greatest tracks, and Len was especially blown away by his percussionist (who she complimented later in the new morning). It is great that the festival was able to secure Ismael, and I think, let this festival represent the African continents different styles of music coupled with international jazz – we have no other platform of the same magnitude, and we need to be able to learn more about these artists that have made such huge impact in Europe and America.
My highlight was always going to be standing in the press pit in front of Zulu maskanda master, bafo Madala Kunene, taking pics. Here my MELT 2000 Record Label pass was like a UN passport! No-one could stop me!There were quite a number of Durbanites in the audience, and they quickly loosened up the audience by whooping, ululating and dancing every time Madala looked up, never mind play some awesome tracks with his new young band. The Sangoma who burnt offerings before the show started, obviously brought the most powerful ancestors to the party, because even Robert said that this was quite possibly one of the best outdoor concerts by Madala, that he had seen in a long time.
By 1am we found ourselves at the after party at the Cape Sun Hotel, mingling and chatting to all our artists (left - fancy bumping into Fancy Galada exAmampondo in front of her pic!), and meeting new ones. The after party is traditionally known to become one huge jam session, and I hear that it continued until well after five in the morning – by which time I was long tucked away in bed.Looking back today, I think Cape Town should be very proud of being host to such a successful gathering of world artists. Bigger and richer cities try the same and don’t meet the standard that we are setting – I just wish that we had more throughout the year, because you can just never have enough music!
Have a great week folks!
Labels: Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Madala Kunene, music
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
There's sexy Jazz in the air!
Robert Trunz and his son Nico arrive tomorrow evening in preparation for this weekend’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival.He has a couple of our favourite artists on the billing (like Vivid Africa right), which is awesome as it is a high profile international festival. People do come from not only all over our country, but from all over the world. Even my father-in-law has made the trip in the past, being a big fan of the original North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. And we often host music journalist Wolfgang Koenig from Berlin, Germany, on the couch in our lounge.
They all come for the music. And a little bit of the mountain, the city, the weather, the people… but mostly the music!
Some of the artists we’re excited about are Madala Kunene, the Zulu guitarist whose CD we played in the theatre when Jasper was born; Vivid Africa with McCoy, Greg Georgiades, Ashish Joshi and that sassy vocalist Siya Makuzani; Concord Nkabinde the bass guitarist on Arno Carstens Another Universe; Ernest Mothle was has been a jazz man since the ‘60s; Sibongile Khumalo will be joining voices with Jack De Johnette in Intercontinental; Ladysmith Black Mambazo; the (Bruce) Muirhead Quartet; Shannon Mowday who is the current Standard Bank Young Jazz Artist of 2007; The Rudimentals; and Bev Scott-Brown.But first tonight I am going to my first 27 Dinner… which means as of 18h30 tonight, I will officially be a Geek. (Angie loves that!)
Hope your day is as good as ours has been here in sunny Cape Town! It’s got a hot, sexy, jazzy energy about it! So get out there and enjoy!
Labels: Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Concord Nkabinde, Madala Kunene, Shannon Mowday, Vivid Africa
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Vivid Africa - McCoy & Georgiades Jazz
I first heard of Greg Georgiades, an awesome guitarist & oud player from Johannesburg, a few years back from Robert Trunz of MELT, with his collaboration with one of my firm favourites, Zulu guitarist Madala Kunene. Since then we have had more contact with him and are looking at international gigs for his various ensembles.Robert had contact last week to say that he is coming down for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, and he needed me to rip some material from a promotional DVD of Vivid Africa – a really exciting World music ensemble that we have had on our books for awhile. I hadn’t seen them live before the DVD arrived, and was very surprised at how much seeing them live made the music more real.
With it’s very impressive line-up I shouldn’t have been; McCoy Mrubata plays the Saxello, alto & tenor saxophones and the flute; Greg Hadijyorki Georgiades is on Vocals, oud and flamenco guitar; Ashish Joshi is a master of the tabla, the darbuka and dhol; Mlungisi Gegana is on acoustic & electric bass; Wynand van der Walt on Drums & percussion; and finally, but certainly not least, have a listen to the wonderful warm vocals of Siya Makuzani – and she also plays the trombone!
It’s this kind of exciting hybrid jazz that we should hearing more of, as I have also mentioned with Shannon Mowday. Music from South Africa, made by South Africans, reflecting who we are, where we come from, and definitely where we are going.
It is amazing how music brings people together, no matter what their culture, language or race; just the desire to be able to create an energy together using instruments is communication at its simplest. And these artists have a lot to say it seems!Greg and Ashish have been playing together for many years in the east and north African ensemble Avaaz (together with Priyesh Bhana on bansuri), after which they also collaborated very successfully in the group Strings & Skins. Greg has also played closely with Wynand as part of the Mutant Harmony Trio (with Marc Duby on bass), and two of South Africa’s most well known guitarists Steve Newman and Tony Cox in the Aquarian Quartet.
South African Music Award winner McCoy Mrubata has played with the best of the best; Ringo Madlingozi, the late Sipho Gumede, Errol Dyers and Tucan Tucan’s Frank Paco to name a few. His SAMA’s have come for his 2003 album Face the Music (Best Traditional), and the 2005 album, Icamagu Livumile.
But as can be seen in the video I am featuring below, Siya Makuzeni, from the Eastern Cape, on vocals is a breath of fresh air! Enjoy it!
07/02/19 UPDATE: I just wanted to confirm that Vivid Africa will be appearing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Once the program has been released I will have more info, but I do know they will be appearing on Rosies Stage, which has a capacity of 1500 - so let's fill it Cape Town!
Labels: Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Frank Paco, Greg Georgiades, jazz, Madala Kunene, McCoy Mrubata, MELT, Ringo Madlingozi, Shannon Mowday, Tony Cox, Vivid Africa, Zulu
Saturday, September 16, 2006
L.A.P. (Live African Percussion)
I have been very busy last few days, flying around the country for all kinds of exciting meetings and events.Louis Fourie, from the Canyon Nature Park in Namibia, called to tell me that he was going up to see Robert Trunz from MELT at his farm (pictured left) in Cullinan Gauteng, and he really wanted me to be there with him at this first meeting and jam session with some artists.
Louis' world has opened up since he and I first met, as he says,"It's amazing what one click to a website can do to your life". After that first enthusiastic meeting where I almost over-whelmed him with new music and exciting musicians, his vision for a music festival suddenly became something more than just a dream (more about that in the future!).
Robert, is still one of the most important producers of music from Southern Africa, and apart from being my music 'guru', he also knows how to put together the most incredible combinations of artists for festival events. Having worked with PedXulu at the Johannesburg Arts Alive Festival, I can say this with confidence!
So Monday morning Louis and I jetted out of Cape Town to Jo'burg on a 1Time flight - my first with the airline, and it was pretty cool - hired a car and negotiated our way to our first meeting with South Africa's ambassador of music, the famous Pops Mohamed (pictured with Louis).Pops took us to a Woolworths cafe for lunch where we spoke about lots of exciting projects that he is involved in, collaborations, his new album (which I'll review as soon as I get it!), and of course his associations with the San of the Kalahari.
Pops is such a special man; a man of great understanding of other cultures, their ancient memories, and as a musician, he has spread this knowledge across the globe by performing with the most simple instruments, to electronic-jazz-traditional styles of music that are really going to get the clubs of Europe dancing to the African beat!
Pressed for time, Louis, the desert man, and I headed off past Tswane (Pretoria), to the MELT farm, which is some 17 km's outside Cullinan, which is the name of the world's largest diamond found there and now part of the British Crown Jewels... Hmmm. Makes me think of Saartjie Baartman.
Set in the low hills, of the most beautiful ochre coloured soil, the MELT farm is a place of creativity. The Music With No Name Studio, which is attached to the main house, is filled with all the instruments and goodies that no musician can walk by without wanting to play. And it's relaxed
Greg Georgiades, Ashish Joshi and the L.A.P. guys (pictured left), Gontse Mkhene, Bafana Nhlapo, Ragga and Frank were meeting up for an evening jam-session, and to study AshishÂs style of playing the Tabla more closely.Louis immediately sat down got stuck in with his guitar and joined in; Bafana on percussion, Gontse on drums, Frank on electric bass and Ragga on Djembe. Louis' blues style of playing caused some cool reactions and eventually all styles of music flowed out into the night sky.
L.A.P. is releasing a new album soon, and I have been promised a copy! These guys can really play! They are also part of Jozi's new wondergroup of motherland funk Kwani Experience, and have collaborated with Madala Kunene and Bernard Mndaweni for MELT last year. And now they've jammed with Louis Fourie!
On Tuesday Louis and I went on a tour of the farm, and some of the awesome renovations that have been done to create some stunning works of art; like having a steaming shower in a mosaic bathroom looking out over the African bush; dining and lounging areas with different moods and flavours; the kitchen that opens up to a cooking area out under the sky.And all the rooms are kitted out with different versions of Robert’s amazing Blue Room speakers… So theres always music in the air!
I was also lucky enough that Robert added to my own collection, and I got another set of translucent Minipods and a blue Minipod Bass Station (check it out on the right)… I think I am going to have to write a letter of apology to the neighbours.
I’ve included a short piece of video from the Various Artists Acoustic Africa DVD (MZADV002) of L.A.P. recorded during their sessions at the Music With No Name studio. You’re going to hear more about these guys!
Friday, August 11, 2006
Juno Reactor - Behind the Beat
I'm very excited to day to be able to present this interview with Ben Watkins from Juno Reactor. I heard this morning from Ben that it is cool, and so have been rushing to get it edited and uploaded.We are currently working with Ben's Japanese promoter to get all the flights and travel details arranged for Amampondo and Mabi Thobejane tour in October this year.
What is really great about this clip - and that which got me so excited - is that Ben explains the mind-set behind some of his work, the way he has made use of African spiritualism to create, what is still, ground-breaking music mixing Electronica and traditional African instruments and vocals.
He explains how even in the recording of his tracks, his special guests would arrive in full Shamanic dress so as to be able to connect with the spirits, and one example of how the hair stood up on the back of his neck when Busi Mhlongo and Madala Kunene were in the studio singing to eachother, and drawing on the power of their ancestors...So this is the story Behind the Beat, a slightly larger video than I normally upload, as create by The Sleep Lab Kid... thanks Ben!
Labels: Amampondo, Busi Mhlongo, Juno Reactor, Mabi Thobejane, Madala Kunene
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Madala & Mabi - Guitar and Drums
I got to know Mabi Gabriel Thobejane in 2002 when Lenny was assisting Robert & MELT put together a HUGE project for the Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg that year.Robert created the international jazz band PedXulu, comprising a core of Pedi, Xhosa & Zulu musicians collaborating with trumpeter Byron Wallen from the U.K. and vocalist & percussionist Rikki Randimbiarson Madagascar.
All the artists arrived in Cape Town for rehearsals two weeks before the gig, and we were at the sessions every day with Mama Lenny cooking and providing food for all 18 people. It's a very rewarding experience to see a bunch of musicians creating together, taunting eachother to coax that something special out of each talent, and how it finally all comes together. You get to know one another during this time.
Mabi was one of the main characters; always smiling and laughing, making jokes, and most of all giving us private performances of excellence on the drums and percussion. And by the time we drove to Jo'burg in convoy, Jasper, who was then only 2, wasn't frightened of Mabi's raspy voice and impish nature.As I have mentioned before, Mabi continues to be a world force with his collaboration with Ben from Juno Reactor - and that is especially important with their live shows.
Mabi appears in the video below, with spiritual guitarist Madala Kunene, at their performance at the Fort Festival Village Foundation, and the inter-play between the two is awesome. 'Talking' guitar to 'talking' drums, from whispers to joyous shouts of celebration! The two of them take you on a journey.
Another highlight from MELT 2000's Acoustic Africa DVD (MZADV002), and of course on the books of Peak. But also friends of the family.
Labels: Byron Wallen, Juno Reactor, Mabi Thobejane, Madala Kunene, MELT, PedXulu, Rikki Randimbiarson
Friday, July 21, 2006
Acoustic Africa - Madala & Greg
Robert was once again a brearer of gift's! New MELT releases are always very exciting, and this trip to the Cape is no different. It's going to take me some time to work through them - I do have a day job - but I guarantee that the samples that I will feature will be awesome pieces of South African talent.
One of Roberts gift's to the Peak'ers is the Acoustic Africa DVD (MZADV 002) featuring Madala Kunene on steel string guitar & vocals; Greg Hajiyorki Georgiades on guitar, oud & bouzouki; Ashish Joshi on tabla & percussion and Ernest Mothle on double bass.
It has live performance footage from the 2004 Fort West Village Heritage & Cultural Festival that was sponsored by the Alliance Francaise in Pretoria, and recorded by MELT. The DVD also has a host of other artists such as L.A.P. (Live African Percussion), Carlo Mombelli & The Prisoners of Strange and the Thongo African Band - an awesome traditional dance band from the Mtambalala hills above Port St. Johns in Pondoland (it's coming!!!).
Greg plays a hybrid of North and South African ethno grooves and melodies, and combined with Madala's 'Madalaline' style of guitar, which is a combination of blues & soul with African folk, the result is beautiful. Madala's singing just add's that trance-like quality to some of the tracks, like the video Robert let me feature here.
So this is "Martha Gotta Free", composed by Madala, published by MELT 2000 Publishing cc and available for bookings through Peak!
Labels: Ashish Joshi, Greg Georgiades, L.A.P., Madala Kunene, MELT
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Madala Kunene and the ancestors
Yesterday was our eldest sons birthday – Jasper turned 6 and the day was filled with fun things for him, lots of presents and lunch with the family and some of his friends.
Madala has some other very powerful albums under his belt, as Maskanda’s popularity grows world-wide; he has released Uxolo, Kon’ko Man, and First Double One and Two with Madala & Baba Makoena Serakoeng featuring Sibusiso Bernard Mndaweni, and some other very powerful albums through Musical Energy Loud Truth.
This is listening music, music for the soul.
Labels: Lungiswa Plaatjies, Mabi Thobejane, Madala Kunene, Max Lasser, MELT
