Jazz and Hot Dance in South Africa 1946-1959 (Harlequin 1985)

Compilations are the focus of a feature in the latest issue of UK magazine The Wire - a number of writers and commentators weigh in on revisionism, archiving, chronologies, lists and other topics. The first internationally released compilation of South African music, "Soweto" (on the West German label Zensor from 1982), gets a mention. Despite forging access to so-called "authentic" songs for international listeners after the hype of Malcolm McLaren's dalliance with mbaqanga it is this compilation from 1985 on the Harlequin label that continues to enjoy a "marker" status as the first LP compiling some of the earliest jazz from South Africa issued on the LP format. Until this album was issued you would have had great difficulty in listening to this legacy unless you were a 78 collector.

There remains an incredible legacy of South African jazz, marabi, boogie and jive still locked away on 78s gathering dust on collectors shelves. Until someone sorts out this travesty (and at Electric Jive we certainly try to unlock as many as we can) we will have to rely on compilations such as these which are now sadly out of print. For more in this genre do explore Soul Safari's Township Jive and Kwela Jazz which has brought a number of these compositions back into print.

This compilation was part of a series that Harlequin  completed covering early jazz in a number of outlying countries. Reproduced liner notes are available at flatinternational. Enjoy!



Various Artists: JAZZ & HOT DANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA 1946 - 1959 (Harlequin, 1985)
01. Pesheya Kwezo Ntaba - MANHATTAN BROTHERS WITH MERRY BLACKBIRDS' ORCHESTRA
02. Amazw' Amnandi - MANHATTAN BROTHERS
03. Mia Mia Bounce - BLACK BROADWAY BOYS
04. Jumping Jive - MANHATTAN STARS
05. Ndasuka Ekhayo - KING COLE BOOGIES WITH BB ALL STAR BAND
06. Swazi Stomp - AFRICAN SWINGSTERS
07. Ba Zali Bami - DOROTHY MASUKA AND HER HOT MUSIC
08. Organ Grinder's Swing - JAKE NTULI AND THE MANHATTAN BROTHERS
09. Unoya Kae - SHANTY CITY SEVEN
10. Amafosi - KING FORCE SILGEE'S JAZZ FORCES
11. uMgibe - BENNY G. MRWEBI AND THE HARLEM SWINGTERS
12. Rasberry Jazz Blues - JAZZ SWINGCOPATERS
13. U Boogie Woogie Wam - WALTER THELETSANE
14. Third Avenue Special - ALEXANDRA ALL STAR BAND
15. Take It! - BOOM BROTHERS
16. Meadowlands Boogie - SPOKES MASHIYANE AND FRANCE PILANE

Enjoy: MF / RS

Game 1 - Game 2 (1970)

This isn't a groundbreaking album. But there is something quite attractive and endearing about it, from the striking cover art to the tasty, bouncy sounds gracing the grooves of this record. Like hundreds and hundreds of LPs released in South Africa during this particular era, Game 1 - Game 2 is a compilation of 12 songs from previously-released singles, comprising some of the best sax jive material of the last year. In other words - this is instrumental mbaqanga heaven.

The tunes on Game 1 - Game 2 are short, sweet and peppy - and why would one want anything more than that...? Alto saxophonist Sipho Bhengu launches the album on a bright and happy note, and he is joined immediately by the rest of the members of the Mavuthela studio band Abafana Bezimpalampala. "Inselelo" is a simple tune but, like every other song on the LP, very infectious. Bhengu, who recorded under such memorable pseudonyms as "Sammy Boy and His Sax", "Sipho and His Jets" and "Sammy Boy Nezimpisi", features in three other songs, including "Black Stick Soul", a lovely soul-type number with florid late-60s organ.

There's another soul-influenced tune on the LP, "Jungle Soul" (one of my personal favourites), as recorded by Joseph Makwela and His Comrades - yet another 'black music'-era smokescreen for the musicians of the Makgona Tsohle Band. For those wanting the sound of the original sax jive formula though, not to worry - there's plenty of that on Game 1 - Game 2, and it's seriously good stuff. Makwela and his Makgona Tsohle bandmates turn up again for "Umgqizibo", another 'little but big' tune. Marks Mankwane's hugely popular "Marks Special" series of songs isn't forgotten either, with No. 3 represented on this LP, featuring the sound of his legendary lead guitar alongside the groundbreaking Makwela on bass, the excellent (and often forgotten) Vivian Ngubane on rhythm guitar, and the rhythmic brilliance of Lucky Monama on drums.

...and speaking of Monama, let us not forget about the back-and-forth amazingness of "Phakama Masuku", a great number recorded by Lucky Monama and His Partners (yes, the Makgona Tsohle Band under yet another different name!)

There is one other tune, "Chumba", recorded by Reggie Msomi and His Hollywood Jazz Band - a fabulous number that shouldn't be missed.

Game 1 - Game 2 - a veritable melting pot of staple sax jives. Enjoy!

VARIOUS

GAME 1 - GAME 2

produced by Rupert Bopape

Smanje Manje LSJM 1002

1970

Instrumental

RS / MF

Makgona Tsohle Reggi (1970)

Electric Jive here presents an LP filled with what one might call “the good stuff”. Makgona Tsohle Reggi, featuring some exquisite instrumental mbaqanga music performed by the top teams of the day, was released on the Inkonkoni label in 1970.

The term “reggi” undoubtedly refers to reggae, which does put the LP title at odds with the music contained in the first side of the record. The first six tracks are certainly not straightforward sax jives, but rather seem fuse that tried-and-tested style with elements of ska and soul rather than reggae. The sugary guitars and rowdy bass of the Mavuthela instrumental section are joined not by screaming alto saxes, but by an organ that – rather delightfully – manages to create both very soft and very strident melodies on different numbers. It makes for very pleasant and interesting listening, and one wonders whether or not more of this gold still exists on wax somewhere in the world. “Marks Reggi” is a particular favourite of mine, just because of the lovely combination of instruments working together to create a lively, chirpy tune. “Soul Track” is another personal gem – it is forthright, minimalist and just plain great.

The second side of the LP takes the listener straight back to base, with five tracks of sax jive goodness (and one lovely track, “Somewhere”, that sounds as if it could sit right at home on side 1). Lead guitarist Marks Mankwane’s 1969 tune “Marks Special” was so popular that it spawned several follow-up songs, the first of which kicks off side 2 with a bang. “Marks Special No. 2” is credited to Marks Mankwane and His Alto Sax, as is the delectably-busy “Shaluza Marks No. 3”, but both tracks feature the virtuoso doing what he does best – sending the listener into a tizzy with beautiful guitar melodies. West Nkosi plays the alto sax on both of these tunes, in addition to a third number closing this LP. Fellow alto saxophonist Elias Lerole is present with an instrumental tribute to radio personality K.E. Masinga, while Wilson ‘King Force’ Silgee offers “Vulani Munango”.

As with many LPs released by Gallo Africa during this era, the word “STEREO” appears in the top right-hand corner underneath the record label name and the LP catalogue number. To my ear, none of the tracks sounded stereo in the slightest with the possible exception of “Somewhere”, which I avoided performing a mono mixdown on during the clean-up process. The word “Tsohle” is misspelt almost everywhere on the jacket and on the disc labels as “Tshole”, but not on the signs hanging on the band equipment in the fantastic cover photograph. Left to right, the photo features the ace members of the Makgona Tsohle Band: Joseph Makwela (bass), Marks Mankwane (lead guitar), Lucky Monama (drums) and Vivian Ngubane (rhythm guitar).

In short, Makgona Tsohle Reggi features twelve of the best single tunes recorded during 1969 and early 1970. It’s a veritable goody bag of sounds, so please download and enjoy!

VARIOUS

MAKGONA TSOHLE REGGI

produced by Rupert Bopape

Inkonkoni LNKO 2001

1970

Instrumental

RS / MF