CD of the week : Peter Makurube
The great bull of South African jazz, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, has released a new album, Molo Africa (Nkomo). This is Mankunku at his very best, on an album which introduces him as a multi- instrumentalist. But the tenor sax is still there, bellowing fiercely and with conviction.
Not since Yakal’inkmo, his classic hit of 1968 that became a national anthem, has Ngozi come up with such a powerful recording. The very first tune tells you the man means business. Besides Ngozi, the young trumpet virtuoso, Feya Faku, takes some of the sweetest solos. The track Khanya, especially, is full of spunk.
On A Song for Bra Des Tutu and the title track, Ngozi has once again composed killer tunes. This one features him on baritone sax – and how he blows his way into your very soul!
Molo Africa has been two years in the making. Ngozi and co-producer and close buddy, Mike Perry, have assembled a fine cast of players, all of whom are regular Mankunku collaborators. They are:the subtly soulful Tete Mbambisa, certainly the most underrated South African pianist of our times; bassist Spencer Mbadu; trumpeter Feya Faku; synth-player George Werner, drummers Vusi Khumalo and Vince Pavitt; Dutch saxophonist Jack van Poll and various vocalists.
Even if this was not his best release in 30 years, an album by Mankunku is worth a place of pride on your collection – “e mandi lo ntsholo”.