Smooth Africa
Various Artists
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CAT # HUCD3054
1. Soweto 3:30 Preview 2. 11 K's To Freedom 4:11 Preview 3. Point Of View 3:37 Preview 4. Meeting of The Woman 3:21 Preview 5. Manenberg 4:14 Preview 6. Mpule 5:17 Preview 7. Smooth Africa 4:40 Preview 8. Cape Vibes Got'em? 4:33 Preview 9. Gumba In Durban 4:55 Preview 10. Tazara Express 4:50 Preview 11. When Days Are Dark Friends Are Few 3:07 Preview 12. Lalela 6:28 Preview Also available as
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CAT # HUCD3054-25
1. Soweto 3:30 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 2. 11 K's To Freedom 4:11 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 3. Point Of View 3:37 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 4. Meeting of The Woman 3:21 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 5. Manenberg 4:14 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 6. Mpule 5:17 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 7. Smooth Africa 4:40 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 8. Cape Vibes Got'em? 4:33 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 9. Gumba In Durban 4:55 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 10. Tazara Express 4:50 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 11. When Days Are Dark Friends Are Few 3:07 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ 12. Lalela 6:28 Preview Buy MP3 89¢ BUY ALBUM AS MP3 DOWNLOAD — only
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Several of Africa’s top jazz musicians have joined such internationally-recognized talents as guitarist Jonathan Butler, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, pianist Joe McBride and steel pan master Andy Narell to create a new, enhanced Heads Up recording entitled Smooth Africa (HUCD 3054). The album, recorded primarily in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa under the guidance of Heads Up International, Ltd. president Dave Love, debuted in South Africa in January 2000 at the popular Jazzathon festival in Cape Town. The disc will hit retail outlets in the U.S. in March.
Inspiration for the project was Love’s visit to South Africa last January with Heads Up recording artist and pianist Joe McBride, the first American to perform at the annual Jazzathon event. Love was immediately smitten with the country, its people and its culture, and was especially impressed by the talents of the local musicians who shared the stage with McBride.
"Many of the journalists there had asked me if there was any way I could help some of these musicians find recognition outside their own country,” says Love. “I returned with several recordings of their music and quickly recognized that there was something fresh and appealing that could easily catch on with jazz and smooth jazz fans here in the U.S.”
When Love returned to South Africa in September for Andy Narell’s performances at Arts Alive in Johannesburg, he took the opportunity to go into the studio with Narell and New York percussionist Roland Guerrero, and several of the musicians who had so impressed him during his first visit. Guitarists Errol Dyers, Russell Stirling, Tony Cox, Louis Mhlanga, Allou April, Jonathan Crossley and Jimmy Dludlu, saxophonists Buddy Wells, Robbie Jansen and McCoy Mrubata, bassists Sipho Gumede, Gito Baloi, Denny Lalouette and Musa Manzini, pianists Paul Hanmer, Andile Yenana and Jacob Jansen, percussionists Basi Mahlasela, Pops Mohamed, Jethro Shasha and Rob Watson, trumpeter Ian Smith and vocalist Gloria Bosman performed in the sessions. Solo turns by Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela and Joe McBride were added here in the U.S.
“I’m very excited about the final result,” says Love. “Visiting South Africa was life-changing for me on both a personal and professional level, and I’m eager to share part of that experience with music fans here. Hopefully, Heads Up and this new album will play a major role in introducing wider audiences to some of that country’s unknown, but deserving artists and their unique musical style.”
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