Saturday, June 13, 2009

TETE MEETS DUKU AT THE BLUE BERRY


Here's a real treat for South African jazz fans. Tete Mbambisa and Duku Makasi in this 1969 studio recording. Very rarely seen on eBay and mostly only gathering dust on collectors shelves. Enjoy!
It's hardly news anymore that Cape musicians are the best in the Republic of South Africa. It goes without saying that they are still the originals from who almost every group draws more inspiriation. Still it may help silence the jazz diehards who have been doing the 'Cape artists are not that great bit' all year. In this disc they have come out with a very impresive package that will knock you out. The title tune Inhlupheko (Distress) a ditty that wraps around you with infiinite sadness was born at the 'Blue Berry', home of iimpressario Ray Nkwe and Soweto's jazz workshop where entertainers meet to share ideas and knock tunes into shape. It happened during the festive season in 1968. Four gawky figures, their limbs ached and their faces were masks of dejection. They were from Port Elizabeth and had come to the Golden City to perform at shows. The concerts were financial flops and the four musicians were left stranded. When they finally reached the Blue Berry their lonely desperation flooded into Rays heart and he fed the four hungry men. With their tummies full the four jazzmen controbuted towards a drink work fifty cents and it gurgled happily down their throats.They picked up their instruments and started to blow. They blew into the night and temporarily forgot their distress. Thats how Inhupeko was born. The composer of the song, Duku Makasi has been called the new tenor-sax voice of 1969 and this recording proves he is also the sound of '69. He has that hard core of progressive jazz and tears up with a fine rhythm backing of Tete Mbambisa on piano, drummer Mafufu Jama and the thudding bass of "Big T"Ntshele. The other tunes on this LP record illustrates the group's fine voice. And the musical mind behind the success story of the Soul Jazzmen is Duku Makasi. Just one more treat for jazz fans. (From the original liner notes)

THE SOUL JAZZMEN - INHLUPEKO (City Special, CYL1000, 1969)
1. Inhlupeko
2. Relaxin'
3. Mr Mecca
4. How Old is the World
5. Love For Sale
6. Dollar the Great
The Soul Jazzmen: Tete Mbambisa (Piano), Duku Makasi (Tenor Sax), Psch "Big T" Ntsele (Bass) and Mafufu Jama (Drums)
Recorded 6th January 1969. Produced by Ray Nkwe. Cover photos by Alf Khumalo
LINK

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Matt,

What a gem! I did not know this LP at all. Yet, the LPs where Tete plays are very few. We are waiting for your Tete Mbambisa discography...

Thanks very much

Olivier

Anonymous said...

This rocks. Wouldn't u by any chance have the Makasi & Mankunku - The Lion & The Bull for sharing?

matt said...

Soon come....and much much more

corvimax said...

great jazz in south africa! mostly unknown i think

guijira said...

Thanks so much for this. I just found your blog and we are off to a good start!

Anonymous said...

Thankyou for this gem!

Anonymous said...

if you ever decide to do a few reups for us late-risers, this would be high on my list

umlungu eUK said...

i'm a late arrival at your blog - but great to see this info on the soul jazzmen. any chance of listening to it again?

(and for the person looking for the lion and the bull, try http://electricjive.blogspot.com/)

Andrea said...

Please reupload, thanks!

Carmine said...

Yes, please re-upload, I'd love to hear this!

matt said...

Carmine...it has been reloaded by my friends at electricjive:
http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2009/10/makasi-and-mbambisa-ride-again.html