"Zim Ngqawana, born in Port Elizabeth in 1959, was studying music at 21 when he took up the flute (and saxophone). Working his way through the University of Natal and onto scholarships in the U.S., he studied with Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef at the University of Massachusetts.He’s been on tour in America, Africa and Europe with the likes of Max Roach, Keith Tippett, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela and his own projects, Ingoma and the 100 strong, Drums For Peace Orchestra.
Zim has used all experience in Vadzimu as it mixes up South African folk traditions and world music with classical western music and jazz avant-garde with varying amounts of horns, strings and djembe.
Set out in four parts called ‘Satire’, ‘Diaspora’, ‘Liberation Suite’ and ‘Nocturnes’ it was originally recorded in 2002. It must have been frustrating that he’s had to wait until now for its international release but in many ways this is timeless global music.
As the tribal chants of ‘Umthakathi’ melt in the harp intro of ‘Kubi’ (very Alice Coltrane, RIP) you just know this is a special album. Zim’s sax is very smooth and you get the impression Lateef was very influential.
Unsurprisingly, the ‘Diaspora’ suite wanders around the globe a bit but it’s worth it for the trombone on the Cuban-influenced ‘Mozambique’.
I can imagine the variation of styles might be too much for some, like the New Orleans funeral march tango called ‘Dirge’ followed shortly by the St. Thomas’ style ‘Carnival Samba’ but if you approach it more like a compilation album, I think you’ll love it, especially, the flute-dominated Afro-modal ‘Unamaquinga Na’ and the avant-jazz dancer, ‘Anthem’." Fly Global Music
7 comments:
http://www.embedupload.com/?d=2JJOSSKQOJ
I had heard about this project quite a while back, I am pretty certain, but never got to hear it.
I think it is this one.... all South African cast of players? young and eclectically modern?
As soon as it's safe to cross the picket-line, I will be back to download this one.
Thanks for the great temptation.
Oh Boy !!
This is a fabulously wondrous piece of work, everybody.
I recommend you take a chance on this little offering.
It is very special, beautiful, soulful.
Thanks for taking the trouble to share.
This is magical. Many thanks, KC.
This is simply exquisite and so moving. Then again I am predisposed to love it because I have almost everything Alice Coltrane and Dollar Brand//Abdullah Ibrahim recorded and have been listening to South African music and jazz for years. Still, my prejudices notwithstanding, it is a beautiful album and I am grateful you posted it. It has made my evening and erased the chilly scenes of Winter outside my window!!!
If one listens to nothing else on this, the song Anthem in which Ngqawana melds 'Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika' with modern jazz is superb. Thanks, Le Roi, for posting something so extraordinary.
Very good and surprising music. High spirit blows here. I love it. Thanks a lot !
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