MADIBA (BW086)

"It's a gem...in turn relaxed, loping and out-there wiggy, full of lovely textures from a range of instrumental collaborators (guitars, flutes, brass, keyboards, dobro, bass etc - but always held in tasteful check) and co-vocalists including Busi Mhlongo...glorious music which is simultaneously familiar and refreshing."
Folk Roots magazine

VIVID AFRIKA (MZA 038)

The origins of this music project are found firmly rooted in the soil of our African continent, with its richly diverse peoples and ancient history. The concept was given life by the coming together of two of South Africa’s most adventurous yet sensitive composers and musicians: McCoy Mrubata (alto and tenor saxophones, saxello and flute) and Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades (who plays nylon guitar, oud, bouzouki and fretless resonator guitar).
It was resolved in the spring of 2004 – over a tasty cup of Mac’s home-brewed coffee – that they would start writing material that was, by nature, acoustic and rhythmically powerful enough to support melodies and styles from across Africa.
Many joyful and laughter-filled months later they had carefully assembled enough material for two albums and the time had come to choose 12 pieces that would express the rich diversity of the music of Africa.
Next, a group of fun-filled, capable expressive and sensitive musicians was required to make it all tick and give the music a voice! This was not a difficult task and soon Greg’s close friend and magical tabla player Ashish Joshi was on tabla, darbuka, dhol and djembe.
Another long-time friend and “musical brother”, Wynand van der Walt, joined the group, playing drums and percussion.
Renowned double bassist Mlungisi Gegana, who has worked with Zim Ngqawana, Hotep Idris Galeta and McCoy Mrubata, was a natural choice, with his depth of expression and groove (and yes… he too is a good friend!).
It followed logically that our choice for extra oomph on vocals and trombone would also turn out to be a friend with the most powerful, sensitive and expressive voice, all rolled into a pocket-sized rocket with attitude: Siya Makuzeni, who is also a trombonist.
When one listens to the music produced by this group, one realises that it could only have come from the deep foundations of these friendships, which allow the music created to transcend the mere notes and rhythms and open new avenues of experience.

Darkness Pass - Solo Piano (MZA 009-2)

A double CD of the secret Solo Piano recordings titled DARKNESS PASS made by the late genius Moses Taiwa Molelekwa and recorded in Johannesburg during the mid 90’s has been released on April 17th 2004 to coincide with his birthday.

NOTES BY ROBERT TRUNZ
Back in 1994 during the Outernational Meltdown recordings, in the early hours of the morning after we had finished one of the many late night recording sessions Moses and I were the only ones left in Downtown Studios, Jo'burg. We were hanging out together, with Moses seated at one of the pianos whilst I settled down on the floor next to him. It was there that I first heard him playing solo piano.
Moses took me on a journey that lasted almost 3 hours, a journey that for somebody who is normally not particularly enamoured by the piano expanded my horizons and revealed a depth of Moses that few people have ever had the privilege to encounter. It is the soundscapes this young artist drew every time he sat in front of a piano or keyboard that fascinated me from the onset when I first heard him play live in 1993.

Finding One's Self (BW053)
Debut album

Originally released in 1994, "Finding One's Self" garnered much praise from all quarters. Moses won the SAMA Best Jazz award in 1995 aged 24. Accolades for this first, yet surprisingly mature collection: " Molelekwa is widely hailed as the inheritor of Abdullah Ibrahim's mantle, a creator of hymn-like harmonies rolling under jubilantly jazzy melody lines, propelled by the leaping vitality of South Africa township music" John Fordhaham, The Guardian.
By 1998 , his album "Genes & Spirits" had conquered new territory, incorporating drum 'n' bass and combining programming and live virtuosity. International recognition was quick to follow. This music examines Moses' roots. Eleven years later, it stands up brilliantly.
Robert Trunz

Genes and Spirits (BWSA079)

The second solo album from one of the world's most gifted young pianists, the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa. This is an audio CD that also contains video clips and information about Moses which is read from the CD-Rom drive of a home computer.
Genes & Spirits is an album of contrasting moods and textures, from the staccato phrasing of Down Rockey Street to the stark lyricism of Sogra (Mmatswale/Mamazola). Infused with 'ubuntu', the intensely spiritual quality of black community life, this album pays its respects to South Africa's jazz past - but it has its feet firmly on the road to the future.