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Gwigwi Mrwebi: Mbaqanga Songs
ByMade in London by a sextet which included four of the leading South African musicians in exile, the album was originally released as Kwela By Gwigwi's Band. Mbaqanga was considered too taxing a word for native British record buyers to master, so kwelawhich, strictly speaking, applies to the pennywhistle jive of the 1950swas used instead. But in Xhosa, kwela means "get moving," and that's appropriate enough.
Whatever it's called, the music is irresistiblestill vibrant and alive forty years on. It's a mixture of Earl Bostic, Charlie Parker, the Skatalites, calypso, Louis Jordan, Horace Silver and a shed load of dagga. Each of the sixteen tracks lasts about three minutes, built around a simple, riff-basedand often very prettytheme played by the three saxophones in close harmony. Each track includes one or two brief solos, more thematic variations than full-out improvisations. Most are by alto saxophonists Gwigwi Mrwebi and Dudu Pukwana, a handful are by pianist Chris McGregor, and one is by tenor saxophonist Ronnie Beer.
Mrwebi exiled himself in London in 1961, jumping ship (and so forfeiting his South African "citizenship") from the cast of the township musical King Kong. Pukwana, McGregor and Beer arrived in 1965. Collectively, the musicians were the core of the more jazz-oriented Blue Notes and, later, Brotherhood of Breath bands, and mbaqanga was something they played to remind themselves of home. Mrwebi died in 1973, but Pukwana went on to lead the fabulous township jazz band Spear, keeping the mbaqanga flame alive in London until his own passing in 1990.
Mbaqanga saxophone jive is essentially group musicone band under a groove, never deviating far from the beat or the topline. Because it was instrumental, it was considered non-subversive by the apartheid regime, and was allowed to flourish on black radiofurther proof of the stupidity of racists. It's simple and unadorned, speaking equally to the heart and the feet. It makes you feel good to be alive, which is why apartheid's victims loved it so much. And if you've read this far, it's practically guaranteed to float your boat.
Track Listing
Good News; Nyusamkhaya; Lily Express; Rough Deal; Kwazakhele; Mini Mthembo; Hayini Bo; Nick Thethe; Mra; Kweleentonga; Botyana; Ndaqmbayo; Zangomva; Zonbongo; Keleketle; Ezindongeni.
Personnel
Gwigwi Mrwebi, Dudu Pukwana: alto saxophone; Ronnie Beer: tenor saxophone; Chris McGregor: piano; Coleridge Goode: bass; Laurie Allan: drums.
Album information
Title: Mbaqanga Songs | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Honest Jons Records
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