Sixties Twist Jive Jazz ‘n Ska Mbaqanga from South Africa

Reggie Msomi was a prolific writer who drew upon and fused multiple cosmopolitan influences into a sound that must have energised Western and African audiences alike. While having its distinct South Africa flavour, this fusion of jazz, jive, ska and twist would – if it had been so distributed - most likely have filled sixties dance-floors from Kingston to Kinshasa – from New York via London back to New Orleans.

Thanks again to artist and collector extraordinaire Siemon Allen for sharing these rarities with ElectricJive. If you have not yet done so – do yourself the favour of giving Siemon’s flatinternational site a browse, starting here.

new download link here (June 2015)