Another wonderful piece Michael. At times I look at the world around me and feel a sense of hopeless frustration. It feels like we are going backwards in so many areas. The level of vitriol increases, the level of kindness decreases and respectful discourse disappears.
But like you, I try to focus on what I can change. How I treat others and where I can inject positivity within my sphere of influence. Despair, for me, needs to be fleeting. I can’t sit in that space. It’s not productive.
And then there’s music, that safe refuge, where, no matter what’s going on in the world around me, I can find peace.
My knowledge of jazz is limited, an area ripe for further exploration. I’ve heard of Hugh Masekela but never listened to much of his music. I’ve added your favorite album to my listening queue. I enjoyed the Dudu track and am listening to Diamond Express right now.
Thanks for writing about this important recording, Michael. That whole South African jazz scene (whether in SA or in exile) is so fascinating and produced some amazing music. It's a tragedy that, aside from Louis Moholo, the members of the definitive Blue Notes line-up all died young.
There's a connection with Robert Wyatt, who I wrote about the other day, in that Wyatt moved in the same musical circles as Pukwana and Feza in London, though he was closest to Feza (who appears on Rock Bottom). Are you familiar with the Centipede album, Keith Tippett's project that included over fifty musicians, among them Pukwana, Feza and Wyatt?
I don't own it, but I am familiar with the Centipede album (very difficult LP to find in the States, but even when I was in the UK, it was rare). I also own Dudu's 'Diamond Express' album, and both Tippett and Elton Dean are players on it, and sadly, Feza died shortly after its recording (the LP is dedicated to him).
Going back to the South African music scene in the UK, I also love Assagai, especially their 'Zimbabwe' LP, which probably owes more influence to the utterly brilliant Osibisa.
Another wonderful piece Michael. At times I look at the world around me and feel a sense of hopeless frustration. It feels like we are going backwards in so many areas. The level of vitriol increases, the level of kindness decreases and respectful discourse disappears.
But like you, I try to focus on what I can change. How I treat others and where I can inject positivity within my sphere of influence. Despair, for me, needs to be fleeting. I can’t sit in that space. It’s not productive.
And then there’s music, that safe refuge, where, no matter what’s going on in the world around me, I can find peace.
My knowledge of jazz is limited, an area ripe for further exploration. I’ve heard of Hugh Masekela but never listened to much of his music. I’ve added your favorite album to my listening queue. I enjoyed the Dudu track and am listening to Diamond Express right now.
Thanks for pointing me in this musical direction!
This track is just unbelievably cool.
I know, right? The whole album is killer!
Thanks for writing about this important recording, Michael. That whole South African jazz scene (whether in SA or in exile) is so fascinating and produced some amazing music. It's a tragedy that, aside from Louis Moholo, the members of the definitive Blue Notes line-up all died young.
There's a connection with Robert Wyatt, who I wrote about the other day, in that Wyatt moved in the same musical circles as Pukwana and Feza in London, though he was closest to Feza (who appears on Rock Bottom). Are you familiar with the Centipede album, Keith Tippett's project that included over fifty musicians, among them Pukwana, Feza and Wyatt?
Thank you, Richard!
I don't own it, but I am familiar with the Centipede album (very difficult LP to find in the States, but even when I was in the UK, it was rare). I also own Dudu's 'Diamond Express' album, and both Tippett and Elton Dean are players on it, and sadly, Feza died shortly after its recording (the LP is dedicated to him).
Going back to the South African music scene in the UK, I also love Assagai, especially their 'Zimbabwe' LP, which probably owes more influence to the utterly brilliant Osibisa.