Chris McGregor and Stanley Glasser team up here to bring us a 1962 musical story of dwindling fish stocks, lonely wives, and ‘bergies’ (tramps) being appointed to run the Village Management Board. The tramps start levying outrageous taxes on the villagers so they can build a ‘lighthouse in the sky’. Funny thing how the subject matter of so many musicals can always seem relevant, no matter how dated the music may feel and where you may live.
Dudu Pukwana - alto sax
Nick Peterson - alto sax;
Cornelius Kumalo - baritone sax, clarinet;
Hugh Masekela - trumpet (see Blue Notes discography)
Dennis Mpali - trumpet;
Blyth Mbityana - trombone;
Joe Mal - bass;
Columbus Joya – drums.
Stanley (Spike) Glasser was also musical director of King Kong - he wrote some of those songs too. Glasser left South Africa for England in 1963 and was Professor and Head of Music at Goldsmiths College, University of London from 1969 to 1991. He retained close links with the country of his birth and studied the music of the Pedi and the Xhosa people.
Adam Glasser – Stanley’s son – is an accomplished jazz harmonica player, having recently released an African-jazz album entitled “Freedom at First” – which features Pinise Saul on vocals. It really is well worth getting hold of a copy. You can find out more about it here.
This recording of Mr Paljas was very kindly made available to EJ through artist and collector extraordinaire, Siemon Allen. If you have not seen his installation of Miriam Makeba records (amongst other wonders), that is another web-visit worth making. Siemon tells us that, in the near future he will be setting up a website for an archive of South Africa audio at http://www.flatinternational.org/. In the interim he can be reached at http://www.siemonallen.org/. Thanks Siemon for sharing!
Mike Fowler has built up a valuable "Blue Notes" discography and archive here
Mr Paljas
1. Daeraad (Daybreak)
2. Paljas
3. Stick Around
4. Sophia
5. To The Boats
6. More Fish In The Sea
7. One Bright Day
8. Fish Galore!
9. Overture To Act II
10. Lighthouse In The Sky
11. Ghoema Song
12. Unpredictable
13. Goodbye Paljas
14. When You’re At Sea
15. Rock Lobster
16. Sing Tomorrow
LP released on Gallo: GALP 1207
Recorded in January 1962 at the Manley Van Niekerk Studios in Cape Town, Mr Paljas presents some key Blue Notes members along with some other stars:
Chris McGregor - piano, leader; Dudu Pukwana - alto sax
Nick Peterson - alto sax;
Cornelius Kumalo - baritone sax, clarinet;
Hugh Masekela - trumpet (see Blue Notes discography)
Dennis Mpali - trumpet;
Blyth Mbityana - trombone;
Joe Mal - bass;
Columbus Joya – drums.
Stanley (Spike) Glasser was also musical director of King Kong - he wrote some of those songs too. Glasser left South Africa for England in 1963 and was Professor and Head of Music at Goldsmiths College, University of London from 1969 to 1991. He retained close links with the country of his birth and studied the music of the Pedi and the Xhosa people.
Adam Glasser – Stanley’s son – is an accomplished jazz harmonica player, having recently released an African-jazz album entitled “Freedom at First” – which features Pinise Saul on vocals. It really is well worth getting hold of a copy. You can find out more about it here.
This recording of Mr Paljas was very kindly made available to EJ through artist and collector extraordinaire, Siemon Allen. If you have not seen his installation of Miriam Makeba records (amongst other wonders), that is another web-visit worth making. Siemon tells us that, in the near future he will be setting up a website for an archive of South Africa audio at http://www.flatinternational.org/. In the interim he can be reached at http://www.siemonallen.org/. Thanks Siemon for sharing!
Mike Fowler has built up a valuable "Blue Notes" discography and archive here
Mr Paljas
1. Daeraad (Daybreak)
2. Paljas
3. Stick Around
4. Sophia
5. To The Boats
6. More Fish In The Sea
7. One Bright Day
8. Fish Galore!
9. Overture To Act II
10. Lighthouse In The Sky
11. Ghoema Song
12. Unpredictable
13. Goodbye Paljas
14. When You’re At Sea
15. Rock Lobster
16. Sing Tomorrow
LP released on Gallo: GALP 1207
