Legendary South African trumpeter and anti-apartheid movement figure, Hugh Masekela has died at aged 78, after a battle with prostate cancer, according to his family and the government.
Born on April 4, 1939, Masekela first picked up a trumpet after seeing the film “Young Man With a Horn” and encouraged by activist Father Trevor Huddleston. Often described as the “father of South African jazz”, Masekela was an icon of South Africa’s Sophiatown, the political and cultural enclave of Johannesburg that was razed by apartheid police but remains a symbol of black freedom.
‘Masekela introducing Hedzoleh Soundz’ is probably one of the most impressive excursions of a jazz trumpeter into the deep heartlands of Africa; Hugh Masekela meets Nigerian band Hedzoleh Soundz.
After his big hit success with ‘Grazing in the grass’, which went to #1 in both the pop and R&B charts in 1968, Masekela joined his former wife Miriam Makeba in Guinea, Africa for a tour. It was there that he met the Ghanian band Hedzoleh Soundz, an extremely talented band known for blending the ancient rhythmic traditions of their native Ghana with American jazz and Latin music.
At the time Fela Kuti was taking Africa and the world by storm with his brand of Nigerian Jazz Funk. The interlocking rhythms over which his saxophone could endlessly groove were reminiscent of the style of funk patterns that James Brown pioneered in the U.S.
Hedzoleh Soundz combines the rhythmic traditions of their native Ghana while Masekela adds the improvisational drive of jazz. The album ‘Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz’ was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria in 1973 and features such tracks as ‘Languta’, an irresistible chunk of infectious Afro beat with an inspired Masekela singing and blowing on top.
‘Masekela introducing Hedzoleh Soundz’ -Languta
Masekela introducing Hedzoleh Soundz
players:
- Hugh Masekela – Trumpet & Vocals
- Stanley Kwesi Todd – Electric Bass & Vocals
- James Kwaku Morton – Congas & Vocals
- Nat “Leepuma” Hammond – Congas, Flute & Vocals
- Richard Neesai “Jagger” Botchway – Guitar
- Isaac Asante – Talking Drum, Percussion & Vocals
- Samuel Nortey – Percussion & Vocals
- Acheampong Welbeck – Drums
tracks;
- Languta
- Kaa Ye Oya
- Adade
- Yei Baa Gbe Wolo
- Patience
- When
- Nye Tamo Ame
- Rekpete
Blue Thumb Chisa BTS 62 USA
Buy the original album here
Soul Safari 