Sax-heavy South African instrumentals – recorded in the London scene of the 60s, and a great example of the strong musical benefits of the post-colonial years! The group's a sextet with both group leader Gwigwi Mrwebi and ex-Blue Note Dudu Pukwana on alto sax – both of them trading lines back and forth on the beginnings of the tracks, then letting one player step out for a stronger solo. Also in the group is fellow Blue Note Chris McGregor on piano, Ronnie Beer on tenor, Coleridge Goode on bass, and Laurie Allan on drums – and although most players have some jazz background, the style here is not as strongly jazz-based as you might guess. Most tunes are in the mbaqanga mode, with the kind of skittish, jaunty South African groove that was transformed strongly by Hugh Masekela on these shores during the 60s – but unlike Masekela's music, the overall presentation here is much rootsier overall – very much in keeping with the South African styles of the late 50s. Titles include "Good News", "Hayini Bo", "Zangomva", "Zobongo", "Keleketle", "Ezindongeni", "Lily Express", "Rough Deal", "Mini Mthembo", "Mra", and "Nyusamkhaya". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent bit of UK Afro-Funk – recorded at the beginning of the 70s by a group that included members of the legendary South African jazz combo The Blue Notes – Dudu Pukwana on reeds, Mongezi Feza on trumpet, and Louis Moholo on drums! The record's quite different than you'd guess from those players – thanks to some kickass help from the rest of the group – who really push things into a tripped-out version of Afro Funk – a bit in the mode of Demon Fuzz at the time – a group who also lent a member to this project! There's some great horn work on the record – with the kind of "out" soloing you might expect from the group, laid out over heavy drums and good bass-heavy funk – on titles that include "Hey Jude", "Irin Ajolaway", "Akasa", "Telephone Girl", "Beka", and "Cocoa". LP, Vinyl record album