Book - "JAZZ, BLUES & SWING - SIX DECADES OF MUSIC IN SOUTH AFRICA"

Jürgen Schadeberg is no stranger to South Africa. He captured some of most important moments in South African history. At a very important time in our history, he became chief photographer, picture editor and art director of Drum magazine.

The book, "JAZZ, BLUES & SWING SIX DECADES OF MUSIC IN SOUTH AFRICA" was published in 2007. It contains some of Jürgen's most amazing black and white photographs of South African jazz musicians.

The essays in the book were done by Don Albert, Gwen Ansell, Darius Brubeck and Hotep Idris Galeta.

This book should definitely be in all music lovers book collection.

I just wish that this book will one day be republished with recorded music of all the artists featured in the book on CD or DVD.

I got my copy from Readers Warehouse.

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CINDY BLACKMAN QUARTET

When I heard that drummer Cindy Blackman was going to be in town, I bought my ticket to go see her perform, within the next few hours. This was one act that I was not going to miss.

The Cindy Blackman Quartet performed as part of the music happenings of the PAN AFRICAN SPACE STATION. The quartet featuring Cindy on drums, Antione Roney(tenor saxophone); Carlton Holmes (piano/fender rhodes); George Mitchell (bass) had two stunning performances on 1 October 2008 and 3 October 2008 at the Slave Church Museum in Long Street, Cape Town. If it was not for another "had to attend" music event (Marimba Extravaganza), I probably would have attended both her performances.

Cindy is well known for touring and recording with Lenny Kravitz, but these two performances were very appreciative straight-ahead jazz.

She is given credit as one of a few drummers who can easily move from straight-ahead jazz to rock to funk and back again. Of her album Woks on Canvas, jazz critic Mike Zwerin said: "Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. Cindy Blackman is among the few who can..." Cindy Blackman has also released an acclaimed drumming instructional video entitled Multiplicity.

Cindy and her band members are an easily approachable bunch of people. After their performances they mixed and chatted freely with the crowd. I had a good chat with Cindy and Antoine. Both of them are great buddies of one of our greats, Hotep Galeta and are very eager to return to South Africa to have a more extensive tour. Antoine mentioned that on his next visit he wanted to take a trip to the Eastern Cape to go see Hotep. His big concern was how is he going to get there from Cape Town. He was very surprised when I told him that he has a big choice - airplane, train, bus, car or boat.

Hey Cindy, you guys will always be welcome here.

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The South African Jazz Network is growing...

I got an email followed by a phone call from Hotep Idris Galeta last Saturday, inviting me to join the South African Jazz Network. At first, I know many people are sceptical.

Looking back, he started this network on 28 May 2008, I am so amazed on how fast this network is growing. There are musicians and people that I never heard of before.

If you really into jazz, please go check out and join the South African Jazz Network.


Visit South African Jazz Network.ning.com

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Hotep's "The Roots of Jazz in South Africa"

This article, written by piano player and jazz educator, prof. Hotep Idris Galeta, was published in July 2005 on the site http://www.whatchusay.com/. It is excellent introduction to jazz in South Africa. The article is available here.

Also check out the article, "The Development of Jazz in South Africa" by Hotep at All About Jazz.

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"Malay Tone Poem" Comes Alive Twice

The album "Malay Tone Poem" by pianist Hotep Idris Galeta was released in 2002. The title track from the album, is one of those tunes, once heard, you never forget the tune.


Why it took me six years to hear a live performance of this tune, I do not know. This weekend I struck luck and heard it performed twice.

The first performance was on Friday, 11 January 2008 at the Nasseau in Newlands. As Hotep, who teaches at the University of Fort Hare, was in Cape Town for a few days, his lifetime friend, Robert "Robbie" Jansen approached Glenn Robertson to organise a concert.

The first half of the concert featured Glenn Robertson and his band.


If you are a true jazz lover, the second half was one of those performances not to be missed. This set featured Robbie on saxophone, flute, vocals, Hotep on keyboards, Spencer Mbadu on bass, Allou April on guitar, Jack Momple on drums and Daniel Bloem on percussion. The ensemble was called "The Robert Jansen Band". This was an excellent choice of musicians. Glenn Robertson also joined them on vocals for a few tunes.

Tunes performed included some the finest South African jazz.

The other performance of "Malay Tone Poem" was at Jazzathon 2008.

Hotep, I am looking forward to a live performance of "Rendezvous In Congo Square".

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