Atte (aka Dudu Pukwana and Friends) - Sondela (1977)

Following our post last week featuring exiled South African bassist Harry Miller here is another long forgotten gem from Dudu Pukwana's catalogue, named the album Sondela which is credited to the group Atte - The Sound of South Africa. Released on the Irish label Claddagh Records back in 1977 this features the likes of Dudu Pukwana (keyboards, alto sax), Churchill Jolobe (drums, percussion), Ernest Mothle (bass), Sello Josh Makhene (convos), Frank Roberts (keyboards) and vocals from Sonia Lekhela, sisters Lindiwe and Tiny Conco and Mphiwa Yengwa.

An impressive discography of Dudu Pukwana can be found at the Wall of Sound blog here.

Atte - Sondela (1977, Claddagh Records)

01. Suganga

02. Malaika

03. Suliram

04. Nome

05. Seth Gaza

06. Sondela

07. Ngomso

08. Soon One Morning

09. Siphamandla

10. Saduva

Produced by John Wood

Listen via MF

Harry Miller - Children at Play (1974)

Today's share comes from the back catalogue of the mighty Ogun label and features label co-founder  Harry Miller on double bass, flute, percussion and effects. For those that love the sound of solo bass this is a lovely South African tinged recording. Sadly most of South African jazz bassist Harry Miller's recorded output is no longer in print, although if you are resourceful you may be able to track down original vinyl and some of the CDs. (Try the discog's site for a view of Harry Miller's impressive and near complete discography with some items for sale).

Miller was born in Cape Town and in his youth played in rock and pop bands such as the Vikings and Manfred Mann. In the early 1960s he left to settle in England and soon became an established part of the South African exile jazz community that re-invigourated British jazz in the sixties and seventies. He recorded with the likes of Mike Westbrook, Chris McGregor, John Surman, Mike Cooper, Louis Mofolo, Keith Tippett and Elton Dean. Towards the end of the seventies he moved to the Netherlands before tragically passing away in 1983.

His widow Hazel Miller still runs the Ogun record label today. If you can get hold of a copy then the 1999 compilation and retrospective "The Collection" is well worth seeking out. Until then try this vinyl transfer that we're sharing today. 

Harry Miller - Children at Play (Ogun OG200, 1974)

1. H and H

2. Children at Play (Phase I and II)

3. Homeboy

4. Foregone Conclusion

5. Children at Play (Phase III)

Multi-track recorded, mixed and edited by Keith Beal in Hastings

Produced by Harry Miller and Keith Beal

Cover drawing by Gerard Eaves

Cover design by John Eaves

Photography by George Hallett

All compositions by Harry Miller and published by Ogun Recordings Ltd.

LINK (Updated 16/10/15)  MF

Uwandile's Apartheid (1987)and Temba Matebese

Another forgotten story of South Africa's rich musical stream is that of exiled guitarist Temba Matebese. Whilst the record being shared today comes from 1987 the early bits of the story begin back in 1975 when Temba worked as the music consultant on The Wilby Conspiracy. Just a year later in 1976 Temba was in Lagos working with Lekan Animashum and Tunde Williams on the LP Temba and T-Fire's No Stop Dis Music. A second LP, T-Fire's The New Testament and production credits on Basa Basa's Homowo from 1983 are also noted before this album was recorded in Lagos in 1987 and released in the UK on Mother Africa records. T-Fire's track Will of the People from The New Testament was comped on the Soundway album Nigeria Disco Funk Special.

Aside from that not a lot more information can be gleaned on the elusive Temba Matebese...perhaps not William Onyeabor but if anyone has more information we would love to hear more.

Uwandile - Apartheid (MALP01, 1987)
1. The Breaker
2. Apartheid
3. And this thing gets you down
4. Thumela
5. Where It All Began
6. Izenzo
7. Forever this Time
Links removed due to impending licensed reissue.