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Barungwa - the Original Anglo-African Acid Jazz Messengers
Dave Mayakana - Guitar. Chris Bowden - Sax. Shaluza Max - Vocals.
Moses Molelekwa - Piano, Keys. Andrew Missingham - Drums.
 On
The Messengers: "The resulting street concoction blows hot and hard
with an emphasis on knock 'em down percussion and marimba playing. The
vocals on Siyahamba and Abangcono mix rasping solo lines with bright
South African harmonies; My Dali introduces kicking dance rhythms while
the reprise of Ba Naba Africa offers a heavy dub marimba and percussion
mix...Finally, Barungwa's version of Miles Davis's Tutu
sets the seal on a fine, full-blown set." Q magazine "This is Music
reaching out to embrace the Future, this is a love affair between
London and South Africa...a music of great intensity and joy,
intriguing textures and kaleidoscope rhythms.Albums:
- The Messengers
- Music With No Name Vol.2 (remix)
Barungwa, concived in 1995 by Andrew Missingham, take you on an unpredictable course through acid jazz, traditional
marimba and mbira melodies...This is a challenging and liberating music
from artists who aint afraid to aim beyond the horizon, beyond the
dancefloor, to lead rather than follow." Straight No Chaser
Outernational collaboration has always been the well-spring of musical
innovation. In Barungwa, new skool London jazzers from the early 90's met South African
players fresh from the townships and the result sounded like the future.
Led by drummer, Andrew Missingham, with Ike Leo on upright bass,
Barungwa also featured the late brilliant young pianist, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa; Chris Bowden, Mxolise 'Dave' Mayekana on guitar and the extraordinary vocal talent of Shazula 'Max' Mntambo. Their debut and only studio album, The Messengers
(BW070) was a brilliant success and the band's international tour in
1996 included a show at the Durban Jazz Festival and the Africa 2000
dates in London. The band dispersed in 1998 with all members carrying
on their musical journeys as leaders of their own groups. 'Barungwa is
about transnational dialogue on genuinely equal terms, individuals
working together without silly blanket suppositions about exoticism and
'other culture' - in short, getting on with the business of today.' Jason Lyon, Jazz On CDÂ
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