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Album Reviews
He’s just got back from Ghana where he performed at the inauguration of the new president Nana Akufo-Addo… an old friend
I ask Bra Hugh if he’s on Twitter. He replies: “No, but I’m on Whatsapp.” I’m defeated.
He notices my disappointment and we burst out in laughter…
Bra Hugh’s new album shows that he’s lost none of his fire
World renowned trumpet and flugelhorn legend, Hugh Masekela returns with a fiery 44th album entitled ‘No Borders’.
Encompassing socio-political commentary, solid dance floor grooves and tender love songs, the 16 tracks move effortlessly through continental styles taking in Nigerian Afro-Beat, Congolese Kwassa Kwassa and South African Masqandi. From the opening angry salvo…
“A musician of phenomenal grace and power; intricate and fiery on flugelhorn and still blessed with a voice that can strip the leaves from the trees.” – The Independent
Rock’n’roll wild man, jazz veteran, agent provocateur, the inde-funkable Hugh Masekela digs back to his funk journey with his record, ‘Playing @ Work’.
Any fan of Bra Hugh will be pleased with this album as it shows that the musical master still has a few tricks up his sleeve and continues to make music to please.
Bra Hugh Masekela is back in his melodic popular jazz element with this album, which sounds like it was recorded in a jovial setting.
“We all do ‘do, re, mi’, but you have to find the other notes yourself,” advised Louis Armstrong. Bra Hugh’s been exploring those other notes since Satchmo sent him his first horn back in the ’50s.
Masekela has released a four-CD set comprising mainly reworked and reinterpreted American standards, which certainly demonstrates his jazz side.
It has been a huge week for Hugh Masekela. Not only did he celebrate his 73rd birthday, but fresh from his performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, he launched a new album and a record label.
Like a sturdy blues album, Jabulani sounds more timeless than old or new, the strongest mbaquanga workout since the ’80s heyday of Malathini and the Mahotella Queens.
