A 2CD set that features 3 of Miriam Makeba's late 60s albums for Reprise! In Concert is pretty great set – a bit folksier than most of Makeba's other work for Reprise, but recorded with a pretty lively groove on many numbers, a lot more interesting than some of Makeba's early work in the folk vein. The record includes a 7 minute version of "A Piece Of Ground", a nice take on "Mas Que Nada", and the cuts "Ibabalazie", "Click Song", "Jolinkomo", and "Reza". Pata Pata was the album that really put Makeba on the map – as her hit version of the song "Pata Pata" forever guaranteed that African-tinged grooves would have a place in the pop charts! The track's included as the lead off song on this classic album of "uptown African soul" (if we might use such a term), and other goodies include "Click Song Number 1", "A Piece Of Ground", "West Wind", "Ha Po Zamani", and "Jol'inkomo". Makeba has Miriam really hipping up her style a lot, taking the earlier folksy sound and infusing it with a bit more of the Hugh Masekela-driven African soul styles of the late 60s. Jerry Ragovoy produced the record, and he and Miriam handled all the arrangements. Tracks are a mix of mellower numbers with more jaunty tracks in the style of Miriam's hit "Pata Pata" (which isn't on this album.) Titles include "U Mngoma", "Iphi Ndilela", "Sibongile", "Hamba Naye", and "Umoya". (Global Grooves, Soul) CD

(Global Grooves, Soul) CD