Recorded in the Kalahari Desert in 1995, this project was initiated by Pops Mohamed, a musician renowned for his dedication to protect and preserve the indigenous tribal music from his homeland. With a philosophy that states "if people don't understand where they come from, there is a hole in the soul", Pops had been trying to find original recordings of the Bushmen music for many years. Unsuccessful in his search he soon realised that he had to go himself. 

RESPECT (BW2094)

"Robert 'Doc' Mthalane may not be a household name, but the South African master guitarist spent much of the 1990's both playing and writing songs for the acclaimed Zulu singer Busi Mhlongo and her group Twasa. Sadly Doc fell victim to tuberculosis and died prematurely in 1998, but not before leaving us with one last exquisite album of uplifting and heart-rending beauty. From the languid opening chords of Eva, the slowly surging crescendoes of Masihlanganemi to the rousing rhythmic call to action of Mamambo, this is one of those rare albums that can enrich your life and soothe your soul." 

Follow Your Dreams (BW093)

"I've always had this dream of recording an album with South African musicians playing alongside some of the best musicians in the world. I'm also telling my people that this country is unique, that musically, audiences haven't learnt to appreciate what they have available to them. In a way it's a plea to give South African musicians a chance."
"I was usually first in the studio while we were putting it together at Realworld in England. I'd arrive and start playing the chords of Song For The Gurus on the piano and as the guys arrived they would join in.
When the melody played itself out in my head, I would think of these musicians, who were some of the most educated musicians, and I'm not talking of school education, but being educated musically, these guys knew their music. Guys like Duke Makasi, I would imagine myself in their shoes, how they would handle certain things."
A jazz ballad, Song For The Gurus features the mature tenor saxophone of Khaya Mahlangu. The solo guitar is from a sparkling Lawrence Matshiza.

SECOND WAVE (ELM8001)

‘Featuring the cream of predominantly Arab musicians, this collection of traditional vocals and instruments is given added punch with touches of unobtrusive electronica. This spellbinding set will find fans beyond the confines of "world" music.' Music Week, July 2000.
Alien Soap Opera, a vehicle idiosyncratically driven by the prolific remix engineer and former member of The Orb, Greg Hunter, features the expertise of Egyptian master of Arabic classical music, Amir Abdel Magid. Meeting in Cairo when Greg went to record with Killing Joke, Amir listened in on the recording session and asked Greg to mix a track for him. Enthralled with the results the two decided to work together on a more permanent project.Over the next four years Greg travelled between London and Cairo co-writing with Amir and collaborating on various projects, producing and mixing Arabic music and touring the Gulf finding inspiration. Alien Soap Opera and Fifth Sun were the results of this partnership. Amir Abdel Magid is a musician/producer/arranger, famous throughout the Middle East for his Kanoon (Egyptian Harp) playing, his recordings and live performances. He is a familiar sight on Arabic TV (MBC etc), with his music aired almost daily. He regularly tours with his orchestra throughout the world performing Arabic music.

Further information as well as 30 Second samples of the tracks below will be listed soon, so check back again to listen to this incredible new album. 

INTRODUCTION

In 1998 Robert Trunz had the notion that an album by a group from Cape Town called TransSky(Brendan Jury & Warrick Sony) produced by Greg Hunter would be a good thing. He set about making it happen first getting Greg to Cape Town and booking a couple of weeks time with what was then Shifty Studios. Getting to know and work with Greg through this period was a great education and a privilege for me. I learned a lot about the world of synthesized ORB style sound and frozen ants. This was the first of three work periods with Greg which spanned three years. It was, however, the period where we all did the preliminary recordings which would form the texture of the whole album. Everything was recorded and assembled onto 24-track ADAT system using an old Protools system to edit and loop. All sounds were originated by our performances and those of the special sessions which we hosted at the studio. Brendan had left Cape Town and the project by the time of Greg's second and third visits which saw the pieces morphing into huge sound epics with sampled and performed merging together processed and squeezed into the ether. Strings and things were developed and added at Milestone. Speakers were blown. Greg left with a box of mixes and we resolved to do a track each separately and release it all as a band called PLINC the album Turntabla. Greg was never entirely happy with many of the tracks and the distance and interest made the project difficult to complete for him, other things cropped up and life overtook us all. Robert approached me towards the end of 2007 and asked if I would revisit it as a Kalahari Surfer and finish it off, which I did. Many of the original pieces had chunks of samples that we could never hope to clear without great expense so I had to strip things out rework, replay and remix. These were sent to Greg who sprang some new mixes into the timeline and gave constructive spiritual guidance. This then is the final putting to bed “Turntabla” with the last track being a homage to the great intelligence which guides us all.
Om purnam ada punam idam
Thanks to Robert Trunz for a decade of patience. 

Warrick Sony

All profits from the cd sales go to the Kalahari Garden Project and the Himba peoples initiated by Hattie Wells.
http://www.globaldiversity.org.uk/regional_programmes/southern_africa/community_conservation.html

for more details and interviews with Hattie please click on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqZHOlCuD0k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrsVDhM_4oY

HOMELESS (BW2140)

THIS ALBUM IS FOR THE YEAR 2000 AND WAY BEYOND. IT'S TRUE TRIBAL DANCE AND ALTHOUGH PARTLY INFLUENCED BY MY HOME COUNTRY, BRAZIL, THE MUSIC HAS NO BORDERS OR FRONTIERS - IT'S TRULY HOMELESS !"

Airto MoreiraThe Brazilian master of percussion enters the 21st century with HOMELESS, a new album on MELT 2000 after 8 years of absence as a solo artist - a long time, but certainly worth waiting for! HOMELESS is co-produced and co-composed by daughter Diana and her husband Krishna Booker of Eyedentity who recently released their own album "SEE" on Electric Melt. Homeless is influenced by a strong mutual desire by the artist and myself to go beyond the boundaries of today's commercial music and to present generations of dedicated dance fans with a truly organic and tribal dance album drawing from centuries of global rhythms.

Drums For Tomorrow (BW096)

A better appreciation of music requires an understanding of social and cultural contexts, which are the pillars of interaction between spirits and people. It is a great shame, in commercial terms, that in order to see and enjoy what the artists are displaying these days, you have to pay.

Modernism has taken us by surprise and we went as far as embracing that in our hearts, forgetting that no music equals the original. When a composer sits down to write music s/he is applying a medium for transmitting feelings while at the same time calling upon people to share the experience. Music or musicians are the living archives since in Africa we do not store or keep information on modern retrievable systems. Rather, we record events in human souls and minds and share the impressions with those that didn't have a chance to hear or witness these events at first hand.
In Africa, music had the more humble function of commemorating past actions rather than glorifying individuals, whish is what we mostly see today. What we hear from the group, Amampondo, can have sustenance and inspiration from the past, but the notion that history is doomed to repeat itself.

ELECTRIC PONDOLAND (MZA 013)

Amampondo means people of mpondo from the Transkei of South Africa.

This is one of 3 albums released at the same time celebrating the 25th Anniversary of South Africa's most highly regarded percussion and marimba band who have toured the globe for a quarter of a century. Electric Pondoland features Amampondo's many collaboration with international dance and Electronica groups mainly Juno Reactor who are well known for their Hollywood film music for blockbuster films like MATRIX, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO and MORTAL COMBAT.

Raw And Undiluted (MZA 014)

Celebrating amampondo's 25th Anniversary MELT is simultaneously introducing a series of 3 cd's and a dvd to follow for the christmas season. This album introduces a number of unique and unreleased live tracks recorded during the groups many international tours.

This is the most comprehensive collection of mainly unreleased live tracks of a group that has delighted an international and local audience for a quarter of a century.

Vuyani (Celebrate) (BW2143)

This album from Amampondo is to celebrate their 20 years of music making. It looks forward with some exciting new tracks, whilst drawing from some of their great tunes from the past performed in new ways.
Featuring guests from the amazingly talented musicians that live in the townships, often struggling to survive in a country that does not always appreciate its own talent, this is a showcase for the music of Cape Town. Through the 20 years Amampondo have had many struggles, fighting to perform their music and keep traditions alive, whilst being seen as a threat by the Apartheid regime who harassed them and tried to make their lives as difficult as possible.

BALENGU VILLAGE (BW2136)

Recorded in Cameroon and mixed in France, 'Balengu Village' has, in it's vocal and rhythmic textures, retained the heat and spontaneity that define so much African music "I wanted to make sure that we kept a certain amount of looseness," emphasises Brice. "In traditional music you don't count time, the tracks can last twenty five minutes. If jazz is about improvisation then myself and many other African musicians are jazz players. Improvisation is one of the most intergral features of our music."
Kevin Le Genre, Now's The Time, Echoes
Mixed by Brice Wassy, Chris Lewis and Richard Edwards, Mastered by Ray Staff at Whitfield Recording Studios.

NGA FUNK (BW036)

Mention Cameroon and Makossa music comes immediately to mind, along with its principal exponent, the celebrated Cameroonian saxophonist, Manu Dibango. But Cameroon is rich in many other traditional rhythms, particularly in the Western provinces, and the masterful drummer and percussionist, Brice Wassy, sets out to present some of these rhythms with his band, Tchokola; rhythms such as 'Manga Mbey', 'Ndanzi', 'Kou Kou', and Bikutsi.

SHRINE DANCE (BW089)

Following an illustrious career recording, producing and performing with the likes of Salif Keita, Manu Dibango, Miriam Makeba, Talking Heads, Don Cherry and Jean-Luc Ponty, drummer/percussionist Brice Wassy steps up with his second solo album for M.E.L.T. 2000."This new album is coming from the same direction as the first one, but 'N'ga Funk' was much more compositional and this is much more drum-orientated," Brice explains. "It was a great pleasure for me to play with two other drummers who I greatly respect. With Airto, he's very open. I gave him some directions and he did the rest. The same with Changuito, although the Cubans are very analytical in their music, very technical. But my music isn't like that. Even if you write it, you must feel it."

Syncopation (BW2095)

Percussion maestro and former timbal player with Los Van Van, Changuito(Jose Luis Quintana) is best known for his groundbreaking work with the legendary Cuban band. As one of the world's leading multi-percussionists, Changuito expanded the vocabulary of Latin rhythms with his seminal Songo grooves, and has taught some of the finest conga players of today including Giovanni Hidalgo. Changuito released a series of educational videos which have become a must for any up and coming percussionist playing Cuban music - for more info see: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/p/JoseLuisQuintana-1066973/

Sings Milton Nascimento (MZA 037)

I first met Milton Nascimento in 1964, when I went to the city of Belo Horizonte to participate in the inaugural show of their first local television station, TV Itacolomi.
My career was just beginning and I could not afford to take my own trio from Rio, so I decided to go one day earlier and look for the best musicians I could find locally. When I approached O Ponto Dos Musicos (the Musician's Station) at Avenida Affonso Pena, I looked around and tried to spot somebody that looked musical, since the place was really a bar/restaurant, where all kinds of artists would hang out.

The Flight (BW048)

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1. AVIAO (AIRPLANE)
2. PERFUME DE CEBOLA (FRAGANCE OF ONOIN)
3. MY SONG FOR YOU
4. MACA (APPLE)
5. BRANCO E PRETO (WHITE AND BLACK)
6. MEU MESTRE CRACAO (TUTOR HEART)
7. RAINHA DA NOITE (QUEEN OF THE NIGHT)
8. TARDE (LATE AFTERNOON)
9. RADIO EXPERIENCIA (RADIO EXPERIENCE)
10. DOIS IRMAOS (TWO BROTHERS)
11. DONA OLYMPIA (MRS OLYMPIA)
12. FINALE 

The Last Journey (BW2122)

It took 8 years to develop this concept of music with no label, no discrimination and no boundaries. The musicianship in this album is superb and it will bring back great musical moments and the raw energy of the music of this century. Every member of the new Fourth World can stand on their own as well as being an integral part of the ensemble. Our long time contributor bass player, Gary Brown and the great arranger keyboardist from Brazil, Luis Avellar and Widor Santiago, one of the best Brazilian reed men at this moment, and also special guest master Latin percussionist, Giovani Hidalgo all have a part to play. To me, this group of musicians together formed one of the best groups Airto and I had a chance to experience in the last 10 years.........

Pete Lockett's Network Of Sparks - One (BW2134)

Featuring Bill Brufford
"Give him a little bit of your time, and hail one of the UK's foremost unsung heroes."
Phil Meadley, Wax Magazine

"Each track is fresh and inspiring, and the performances by the drummers, hand drummers, frame drummers, hand percussionists, and malletists are emotive and challenging. Bill Bruford's drumming is a seamless addition to the vast array of colourful sounds, and his considerable chops are in full musical affect on these challenging pieces. This disc demands many repeat listens. Rating 9/10" Modern Drummer
Pete Lockett is one of the most versatile and prolific multi-percussionists in the UK. His percussive skills range from traditional Karnatic and Hindustani music of North and South India to traditional Japanese taiko drumming; from blues, funk and rock to classical, folk and ethnic. Having worked in virtually every field of music conceivable both live and in the studio, his boundless talents have earned him a reputation as one of the most wanted percussionists in the world.

TRIBAL ETHNO DANCE - Drum 'n' Metal

Creative production by Airto Moreira
Creative sound engineering by Chris Lewis

This is a unique tribal music release presenting ethnic music produced by Airto Moreira who adds his own style and feelings to the field recordings which used simple recording equipment in rural settings.
Robert Trunz

JUNO REACTOR

Beyond The Infinite

Track Listing (30 Second samples)

1 Guardian angel
2 Magnetic
3 Ice cube
4 Feel the universe
5 Samurai
6 Silver
7 Rotorblade
8 Mars

CD single - JUNO REACTOR

PISTOLERO (BR084 TARANTINO RADIO EDIT) 

1. Pistolero Tarantino Radio Edit
   BEN WATKINS/STEVE STEVENS MUTE SONG/SITTING PRETTY MUSIC INC
2. Pistolero Headrillaz"Sandinista' Remix
   BEN WATKINS/STEVE STEVENS MUTE SONG/SITTING PRETTY MUSIC INC
3. Pistolero Man With No Name Remix
   BEN WATKINS/STEVE STEVENS MUTE SONG/SITTING PRETTY MUSIC INC
   

Pops Mohamed & Sie Medway-Smith

Pioneered and created just after Pops recorded his legendary album HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. Sie Medway-Smith assisted and engineered at MILO studios in London and all the Bushmen songs and the many traditional instruments Pops brought along inspired him to convince Pops to create this masterpiece of ambient ethnic African & UK breakbeats. The album remained unreleased for over a decade and is now available for digital download only. I'm very happy to see this beautiful piece of early ethnic electronica finding its way onto your MP3 players and straight into your brains. Meanwhile we are tracking down the original artwork for the album and will make it available to you in a pdf format for you to watch it on your iPod.

Thank you Sie and Pops for being so patient - god bless Africa and our Bushmen family in the Kalahari who are the inspiration for a lot of the beautiful music that has come from this label.


Robert Trunz

HEAVY INTERFERENCE (ELM8024)

Stomping dance floor aggression from new school breaks upstart Dave Tipper, chilled funk from Aim, all you need for a quiet night in.

Track Listing

1. HEAVY INTERFERENCE / DAVE TIPPER REMIX
2. HEAVY INTERFERENCE / AIM REMIX
3. HEAVY INTERFERENCE / ORIGINAL VERSION

PERFECT MY CRAFT (ELM8032)

Eyedentity are an ever evolving creative collective fuelled by the two founding members, Krishna and Diana Booker - otherwise known as The Factor and Decibel (dB). A hip-hop, trip-hop, acid jazz entity with a life of its own, this unique musical collaboration comprises a variety of highly talented artists, fusing styles from around the world to produce a progressive and innovative sound. The combined talent of these artists produced their excellent debut album See, released in Europe in 99 and the US in May 2000.

SEE (ELM8023)

Eyedentity are here. Not so much a group as an ever-changing collective consciousness, comprising the talents of 'coming and going' featured artists. In short, an ever-evolving entity, the central nerve centre being The Factor (son of Jazz bassist Walter Booker and the nephew of Jazz saxophonist, Wayne Shorter) and dB (daughter of vocalist Flora Purim and percussionist Airto Moreira).
The combined talent of these artists produced this excellent debut album released in May 2000. Taking trip-hop into unchartered territory 'See' combines a variety of musical flavours and multicultural influences to yield something a little more hop than trip, infusing the genre with a new perspective. Dissolving categorical boundaries and pushing ahead of populist trends Eyedentity are eclectic, infinitely inventive, and with another album in the pipeline definitely one to watch. 

Africa Meltdown Volume Two

An eclectic and highly personal choice of tracks by Robert Trunz featuring the cream of MELT artists and collaborations like:

SAAFI BROTHERS & AMAMPONDO, SHANA (Simply Hot and Naturally African), MTHANDENI MVELASE, MOSES TAIWA MOLELEKWA, MADALA KUNENE, GREG HUNTER, JUNO REACTOR, SMADJ, GREG HUNTER'S ALIEN SOAP OPERA, SANSCAPES 2 REMIXES BY THE BUSHMEN OF THE KALAHARI, BUSI MHLONGO, SKELETON, BRICE WASSY, LUNGISWA,ROBERT DOC MTHALANE & TRIBAL ELDER AND HEAD OF THE SAN FAMILY - !GUBE TIETEI

AFRICAN MELTDOWN VOLUME ONE - PADARE (MZA 032)

MOOD AFRIC -Africa has been my source  of musical and spiritual inspiration since  early manhood, ever challenging my inner  ear in search of the musical energy. Africa is where I found the roots of all the music on this album compiled by Mario Cee with my help and mastered by chief Chris Lewis during long days at my home mastering facility. The choice of both traditional and contemporary world music, jazz, kwaito and a variety of electronic remixes on this full length CD represent my deepest feeling for what I call m.e.l.t music - musical energy and loud truth. Purists will no doubt be challenged by the intermingling of aesthetics and techniques. But from quite literally, Cape Town to Cairo, African music is becoming a forum, a meeting place if you like of older wisdom testing the flexibility of the new instruments, closing the spiritual and the digital divide as only music can do. So join our imbizo (gathering) and enjoy some time away from the ordinary.

EARTH ROOTS (BW090)

With the onset of the millennium, new values, standards and attitudes will continue to emerge. We have already reached the point where many of us realise we have become victims of man-made destruction. Indeed, there are many changes we need to implement if we plan to survive. The most crucial of these changes must be our realisation that the Earth is alive. Gases, minerals, water, fire and air all have consciousness. The awareness and experience of this is vital for our survival and will revolutionise our earthly experience.

SOUND ADVICE (BW063)
produced by Airto Moreira

"The idea of the album is a journey through someone's life. It could be at any time. they could come from any culture," Byron Wallen explains the concept behind his debut for MELT. It's a madly eclectic recording, which veers from straight jazz, fusion and Latin to avant garde, hip hop and funk, all blended into a gleaming-but-edgy whole, and focussed by Byron's increasingly distinctive and primal blowing. Mystical voices flow into mist-shrouded skin-pattering, burnished horns scribbling around Afro-vocalising with Wallen also giving the nod to forerunners like Don Cherry and Lester Bowie.

$7.79

ART GECKO

'Art Gecko' is another album to come out of the rich seam of talent that surrounds the Music department and the Modern Jazz course of the University of Natal, South Africa. Band leader Chris Merz and Melvin Peters are both members of the teaching faculty, whilst other members of the group are alumni of the University. While the majority of the band are South African, the modern jazz of Counterculture transcends national boundaries. 'Feya' Faku's trumpet playing creates light and shade with beautiful simplicity, calling and responding with the sax of Chris Merz in an almost uncanny fashion.

Gathering Forces Vol. 2

Recorded live at the Natal Playhouse, Durban, in South Africa on September 29 and 30, 1993, Gathering Forces II is a powerful and fusion of jazz, rock, funk and Eastern influences. The twin driving forces at the centre of this unique recording are keyboard player and pianist Darius - son of Dave - Brubeck and Deepak Ram.

Special guest artist on Gathering Forces II is Airto Moreira. Together, these artists have recorded an album of rare beauty and exotic originality.

Line Up

Darius Brubeck - piano, Deepak Ram - bansuri & Indian flutes, Matthew Brubeck - cello, Chris Merz - saxophones, Kevin Gibson - drums, Mark Kilian - keyboards, Stacey van Schalkwyk - flute, Bhishan Bridglall - tabla, Candace Whitehead -violin, Concord Nkabinde - bass and special guest Airto Moreira - percussion.

AFRICAN TRIBUTES

Darius Brubeck and the NU Jazz Connection

The common link between the members of the Nu Jazz Connection is their association with the University of Natal, Durban, where Darius Brubeck is the Director of its Centre for Jazz and Popular Music as well as being Associate Professor in the Music Department. The aim of Darius and fellow lecturer Chris Merz is to fuse the music of South Africa's townships with America's modern jazz tradition.

Darius Brubeck & Victor Ntoni
Afro Cool Concept

Live At The New Orleans & Heritage Festival 1990
BW024

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1. Kwela Mama
2. Lakutshon Ilanga
3. Daveyton Special
4. Mokotedi
5. Kilamanjaro

Album

"Johnny Fourie is one of the greatest guitar players of our epoque"
John Mc Laughlin

MZA 008
L.A.P. Stiff Pap & The Gang

READ ALBUM REVIEW

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.

LIVE AT THE FIN DE SIECLE FESTIVAL, NANTES 1997 (MZA005)

1997's gathering of some 380 artists from South Africa on the shores of the Atlantic in the west of France must be earmarked as the most impressive show of our country's culture beyond our borders. The idea of the Festival du Fin de Siecle was to invite to Nantes all kinds of cultural representatives from three of the world's great cities, in order to illustrate the creativity of each of these places at the dawn of the third millennium. The festival began in October 1997, with a celebration of Johannesburg, representing Africa, continent of roots.Beautiful costumes and great visual performances made the festival a unique event.
Several of the musicians like the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Busi Mhlongo, Madala Kunene, Pops Mohamed and Amampondo that were invited to perform at Nantes were associated with MELT. The Melt crew recorded and filmed all the shows for future release starting the series with this unique recording of the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa.
Moses Molelekwa arrived fresh from the studio in Johannesburg where he put the finishing touches on his then eagerly anticipated CD Genes and Spirits. Moses played in different formations: with Zolani Mkiva, with Sibongile Khumalo both in Paris and Nantes and with his band at La Tour a Plomb. Moses was accompanied by Khaya Mahlangu on sax and flute, Sello Montwedi on drums and Fana Zulu on bass.
Feature: A breathtaking poem written by Monk Molelekwa – Moses father.
A DVD of Moses Taiwa Molelekwa's performance in Nantes with different tracks and lots of invaluable footage of the late Moses is now available.

WA MPONA (BWSA2281)

Followers of jazz and world music in South Africa were stunned by the news that Moses Taiwa Molelekwa had been found dead in his Johannesburg offices. Aged just 29, Molelekwa had already carved out for himself a place in the country's musical pantheon as a uniquely gifted keyboard man and composer who had started to blossom from his jazz roots to a richer and more eclectic style which drew on the music of Cameroon, Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba and London's clubland.

Music With No Name Volume 2

We are approaching the year 2000 - five years after the first sensational offering of Music With No Name Vol.1 - a unique remix project involving World Music artists mainly out of South Africa.

Volume 2 we present herewith is more jazz orientated - again with a fine bunch of remixers at work - enjoy!

Healers Brew
from the Outernational Meltdown sessions recorded in South Africa 1994

The Outernational Meltdown sessions had a simple mandate; bring into the studio a bunch of South African musicians who during the age of repression had little chance to expand their musical horizon and invite some of the finest western Jazz and World  musicians, then watch and see what happens. Among others was Brazilian master percussionist Airto Moreira, Sao Paolo born guitarist Jose Neto, South African bassist Sipho Gumede and Pop Mohammed. After two weeks of spontaneous recording sessions in Jo'burg and Cape Town out came  three albums dubbed the Outernational Meltdown Series no longer available except in form of a compilation called Hungry On Arrival. All three complete albums are available for digital download only.

This album is a compilation of the now deleted recordings first released in 1995 under the heading of Outernational Meltdown Soouth Africa with 3 titles then called "Free At Last" "Healers Brew" and "Jazzin' Universally". The album contains a couple of Q videos which can be viewed on your PC or Mac.

The energy of these recordings lies in the spirit of exchange; an exchange of rhythms and colours between musicians who came together to break the isolation that had too long been forced upon a people - the year is 1994 and it was time for the musicians of South Africa to join with the rest of the world.

The game plan was vague but under the loose direction of two South African musicians, bassist Sipho (pronounced 'Seepo') Gumede, Pops Mohamed and Brazilian master percussionist, Airto Moreira. The two weeks of recording in Cape Town and Jo'burg were fired by the winds of spontaneity.

Kicking off the set, 'Hungry On Arrival' is exactly as the title suggests. Airto and São Paulo born guitarist, José Neto, along with two North Londoners, trumpeter Byron Wallen and drummer Andrew Missingham, had flown into Jo'burg, dumped their bags at the hotel and headed for the Downtown studio. It took no more than bass-man Fana Zulu to drop a funky 5/4 B-line for the rest of the posse to jump right on it. Listen to percussive touches of pianist Moses Molelekwa, the momentum whipped up by Airto, the sweeping muted horn of Byron, the sensual but ecstatic guitar of Neto and the feverish vocals of Shaluza Max. I think Miles Davis might have ventured a smile at this cut.

If music is the healing force of the universe, then in South Africa it has a special role. This is a nation where a spiritual undercurrent underpins everything, where tribal traditions are tuned to the past present and future through the spirits of the ancestors - the Amadlozi. Coming from the spiritual tradition in Brazil, where his father was a healer, Airto Moreira was naturally keen to make contact on a musical level with this tradition in South Africa. Appropriately, a day of special recordings had been arranged through Pops Mohamed. There was to be a session with a group of sangomas: traditional healers, the direct line to the spirit world and the ancestors of the sky people. Once in the recording booth, they switched their street clothes for traditional dress. Their presence was magnified as they revealed themselves in plumed head dresses and toting fly whisks with short spears. They were adorned with complex, patterned beads and protective amulets. They gathered in a circle beneath the microphone. As they knelt on the floor, khambas (traditional beer pots) before them, Susan launched into a spoken but charged invocation that was to stir the spirit world, praise the god of the sky, Nkulunkulu, and bless the season in progress. Incense was burned as the hair whisk flashed through the air. The drums were like rolling thunder.The local musicians had piled into the studio and like me were checking the goings on beyond the glass. They were clearly unused to such happenings in the recording studio. Under the guidance of Pops the next song was soon underway and Airto, who had slipped quietly into the recording booth, joined them. There was a serious intensity in the air, everyone felt it, especially Airto, who was playing one of the drums. It wasn't until much later that we discovered that the percussionist had directly encountered a spirit from the other side.

Playing a central role was the late Sipho Gumede, whose band, Sakhile, was a crucial creative force during the seventies. Here we find him united with
both older musicians like Cape Town pianist Tete Mbambisa and brilliant new talents of the early nineties like the late Moses Molelekwa - savour his solo tribute to his piano-playing grandfather, Bo Molelekwa. The freestyle spirit is maintained but strong distinctive melodies reign. Along with Airto Moreira, José Neto, Byron Wallen and Andrew Missingham there's Valerie Naranjo - a brilliant vibes, marimba, conga player of native American origin - this outernational crew add a distinctive edge. From saxophonist/flautist Zim Nggwana's homage to the hostel dwellers and migrant workers to Sipho's deceptive compositions, which seem to owe a debt to Dave Gruisin and the GRP sound, to the lilting melody lines of Moses uplifting re-interpretation of 'Nobohle', there is always the joyous element of surprise.

Jazzin' Universally
from the Outernational Meltdown sessions recorded in South Africa 1994

The Outernational Meltdown sessions had a simple mandate; bring into the studio a bunch of South African musicians who during the age of repression had little chance to expand their musical horizon and invite some of the finest western Jazz and World musicians, then watch and see what happens. Among others was Brazilian master percussionist Airto Moreira, Sao Paolo born guitarist Jose Neto, South African bassist Sipho Gumede and Pop Mohammed. After two weeks of spontaneous recording sessions in Jo'burg and Cape Town out came three albums dubbed the Outernational Meltdown Series no longer available except in form of a compilation called Hungry On Arrival. All three complete albums are available for digital download only.

ANCESTRAL HEALING (BW069)

Pops was active in producing and playing on the ground-breaking and earth-shaking Outernational Meltdown project released his first solo recording for B&W Music/MELT2000 to a brilliant response from media and public alike. Recorded in New York and Johannesburg, 'Ancestral Healing' is a celebratory selection of music uniting mbira with the uplifting spirit of township jazz. Featuring a range of celebrated musicians, it is a tour de force from Pops, who demonstrates his versatility with a dismaying array of African instruments. On the title track alone, Pops plays mbira, dzavadzimu, kalimbas, jyl, ocarina, triangle, digeridoo, shakers, kora, berimbau, African mouth bow, bells and rainsticks.
'A daring blend of NY session players with SA township jazz/jive ... as we hear on the long title track, digeridoo and traditional African instruments can be a marriage made in heaven.' Rick Sanders, Folk Roots
'This is an album that stays with you long after you have switched off your CD player. Heavily influenced by North African rhythms, it ebbs, flows and kicks. You need this CD in your collection.' Elliot Makhaya, Sowetan, 1.10.96
Personnel:
Pops Mohamed Piano, mbira dzavadzimu, njare, nyunga nyunga, digeridoo, rain stick, ocarina, whistles, assorted hand percussion, digital instrument programming, arrangements and voice.
Emma Guitars, mbira dzavadzimu, nyunga nyunga, hoshos, accordion, digital instrument programming, arrangements and voice.
Valarie Naroanjo Congas, djembe, gyil, axaste, caxixi, kayamba, and Turkish bells.
Joey Cardello Congas, bongos, djembe, bougarabou, kalunga, doumbeg, tom-toms, otah/ubah, chekere, hohos, goathoof rattles, ankle bells and flexatone.

HOW FAR HAVE WE COME (BW088)

Pops Mohamed, South Africa's unofficial Minister for Music, is on a mission to prevent the indigenous music of the rainbow nation being overrun by American pop. A perfect mix of traditional and modern forms, this album is based upon an amazing set of recordings with the Khoi-San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert. Made over three days in a makeshift studio set up in the back of a 4X4 drive jeep, the tapes were then flown to London, where Pops worked with musicians including Andrew Missingham and Chris Bowden of Barungwa, Jessica Lauren and Yolanda Charles, to produce an album that is truly a unique meeting of cultures. Pops combines a contemporary electric line-up with the unusual textures of traditional African instruments offset against jazz, funk, dance and township rhythms. His own vocals are mixed with samples of the chants of the San people to produce a richly textured, thoroughly modern music that's deeply imbued with the indomitable spirit of ancient Africa. In booklet accompanying the CD, Pops tells the story of each song:

A booklet accompanying the CD tells the story of each song, along with the ?A booklet accompanying the CD tells the story of each song, along with the background to the whole project, written by Pops and featuring photography that gives an insight to the life of the San people. A percentage from the sales of the album is being donated to the Khoi San Foundation.

Pops Mohamed meets London Sound Collective (ELM8004)

Drum n' bass with ethno sounds

Pops Mohamed is South Africa's unofficial Minister for Music and is renowned for his dedication to protect and preserve the indigenous tribal music from his homeland. Interestingly however he is simultaneously at the helm of the current world music movement experimenting with global sounds - fusing tradition with modern technology.
This collaboration with the cutting edge underground drum'n'bass outfit, The London Sound Collective demonstrates the innovative and versatile vision that is Pops' trademark. This vinyl is an explosive fusion of East London urban sounds with indigenous instrumentals, guaranteed to fully possess the senses. Marking a new style of drum'n'bass, the essence of South African music has been brought to the global dancefloor.

DOWN FREEDOM AVENUE (BW051/BWR051)

With the advent of a new political dawn in South Africa, the vibrant musical tradition of the townships is now emerging onto a world-wider stage. Sipho Gumede's first recording for B&W Music is the latest result of rich vein of music mined by the jazz fraternity of Durban that includes Darius Brubeck and Chris Merz of Counterculture. The album conveys the turbulence and pain of a nation straining to be reborn.
From the beginning of track one, Sipho Gumede's masterful bass playing dictates the direction of the playing, with Baba Serakoeng caressing sweet runs from the upper register of his guitar and Sithembiso Ntuli letting fly on tenor sax. 'Ngiyabonga Thanking You' provides a platform for Sbongiseni Shange and son, with Faca Kulu and the assembled Zulu choir of the Challengers to explore the kind of territory made familiar by Ladysmith Black Mombaza.
'Song For Johnny Dyani' is a masterpiece of mellow, plaintive jazz with lyrical guitar playing from Baba Mokoene, sensitively supported on keyboards by Barney Bophela with Chris Merz' soprano sax giving voice to the emotion of the tune, rendering vocals unnecessary. Johnny must have been quite a guy.
The sinuous, insistent rhythm of 'Please Don't Dance' allows the funkier side of the band to assert itself, with Sbongiseni Shange's delightful drumming to the fore. The teasing guitar of 'Nozipho, the Dancer' makes this cut the obvious choice for a single.
Seven tracks in, the haunting vocals of Sthembiso Shange mark out 'Hlabelela, Just Sing' as a classic while the choir transports you to heaven. Welcome to a new South African standard.
'Village Lullaby' is the sound of home, a reminder that even under oppression mothers must still care for their children, seasons arrive and depart and the eternal wheel keeps turning.
A native hymn of praise, 'African Wedding' uses tribal drums and voices to capture the occasion. 'Country Side' is a fitting conclusion to the album, laying down the arm colours of the Natal landscape using Matume Rachabane's muscular alto sax and virtuoso piano playing from Barney Bophela.
The listener is left with a rolling landscape of sound, etched with optimism of a people emerging from political darkness, marching step by step as the lights go on Down Freedom Avenue.

UBUNTU HUMANITY (BW084)

Ubuntu is an inborn thing with the African race; its meaning is very deep. 'Ubuntu' means: be honest, be accommodative. Share with those in need and pass on what you know to the young. Save life at all cost, respect young and old. Criticise constructively, feed those who are hungry.
'Ubuntu' is the title of Sipho Gumede's second solo album for B&W/M.E.L.T.2000. Predominantly instrumental, it features the cream of South African musicians and many other artists from the Outernational Meltdown, including Pops Mohamed, Madala Kunene, the late Moses Molelekwa, Mabi Thobejane, Barney Bophela and Zim Ncqawane, among many other talented players.

Code Brazil: Target Recife (BW2130)

The late Chico Science is not the only hero of the Recife beach boys but more importantly it's him who is responsible for the interest in the sounds and rhythms of Pernambuco, a region so rich in music that all those no longer want to be stuck with Samba forever have travelled to the Northeast for new inspiration. Airto, who thankfully invited me to the recordings in Recife, once again shows us with this new compilation that his new direction, influenced by rhythms from Permanbuco, is the beginning of a new and exciting era right on the edge of a new millenium.

Robert Trunz

Speed Of Light (BW044)

"Singing live is like a voyage. By the time I open my eyes at the end of a show, I've flown all over the planet and I'm back there and I see everybody sweating, crying, hugging and loving. That's a great feeling." Flora Purim "Speed of Light for me is the most rhythmic and stunning album by the great Brazilian diva - produced by Airto Moreira and supported by their daughter Diana, Changuito, Bill Cobham, Givanno Hidalgo and Freddie Sanyago it will remain a masterpiece and reference for generation to come. - Robert Trunz, CEO MELT"

Encounters of The Fourth World (BW045)

Fourth World are an exhilarating celebration of life and this album, recorded at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam on 19 February 1995, is the first to capture the band in full flow, live and direct.

The Meaning of Life
It was the first day of Spring '95 in Amsterdam and people were out on the streets enjoying the sunshine. Fourth World had just finished a four week stint at Ronnie Scott's in London as well as an extensive tour through Austria and Switzerland. This was the last night of their European tour and, without their knowledge, Peter de Ruig and I had organised a live recording with the Van man, Jan de Groot. The band had already recorded three nights at Ronnie's but I really wanted to catch them unaware at the end of the tour when the group was at the height of creativity. The great ambience and aura of Amsterdam plus the fabulous venue contributed to the excitement that was building up during the afternoon's rehearsal and sound check. Although it is only a small venue, the Bimhuis is beautiful, located in among the canals, and what you hear on this album reflects just some of the magic of the night. If you want to get the rest then you have to catch Fourth World live to find the meaning of LIFE = ENERGY.
Robert Trunz

In our daily life we are often confronted with the term Generation Gap loosely used to describe differences between us parents and our kids. When I started working with Flora and Airto in 1993 they introduced their daughter Diana and her now husband Krishna Booker.During the years of recording with the four of them the so called generation gap transpired often over trivial matters or when the wisdom of the parents or the common sense of the younger generation got completely ignored.

However when in the studio everything was forgiven and forgotten and the creative juicy would flow immediately amidst the speckle of colourful sparks and the fairies of musical creation would dance amongst them all filling every empty space with joy and laughter.

The genes that were passed onto our youngsters by our parents like Flora and Airto are so evident in the beauty of their common creation. The openness of Fourth World (being Airto, Flora, and Jose Neto) to welcome a fresh breeze into their music has made it possible for Ragga to compile this album using many oft he tracks composed by Diana & Krishna without even being aware of - ust feeling the never aging youth in their common creation.

A deep thank you to the creative spirits to allow such an intimate relationship to be created for their fans to enjoy this organic compilation free of Generation Gap

Rober Trunz Melt 2000

Track Listing (30 second samples coming soon)

1. Burning Money2.Terra Mia
3. What We Really See
4. River Sao Francisco
5. Yara / Firewalk
6. Tri to the Fourth World
7. Fire Water / Jive talk
8. Serra do Relogio
9. Snake Bite
10. Capoeira da Mente
11. Within Your Mind
12. Final Celebration

Return Journey (ELM8021)

Featuring 10 new interpretations from some of today's leading underground remixers/producers, The Return Journey aims to open the world/jazz sound to a whole new audience of discerning music lovers. The Herbalisers head nodding remix of Last Journey paves the way for 4 Hero, IG culture, London Electricity, Nation World Service, Tony Thorpe, Fila Brazilia and Argonaut to add their individual style which results in an eclectic mix of cutting edge sounds.

In Memory of Thunder (BW056)

"This Brazilian world rock experience tells the story of the great spirit of Thunder that surrounds this planet, giving us energy and inspiration," says José Neto, the brilliant Brazilian guitar virtuoso who has been described as a natural and worthy successor to Jimi Hendrix.
"We tracked all the music live at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA, capturing many moments of true expression and spontaneous improvisation. On this recording, we kept to a more 60s or 70s style, using mostly analogue resources. Keeping overdubs to a minimum, we tried to retain that special essence of live performance, so that In Memory Of Thunder represents the sound of our hearts."
'Neto is most remarkable for his startling textural variety and close attention to the details of timbre and tone, but his extended wah-wah solo on the album's stand-out track, 'Silvia' will delight all who still fret about finding a successor to Neto's chief inspiration, Jimi Hendrix.'
Chris Parker, The Times, 9.8.96
'Flowing, percussion drenched grooves easily prove Neto's strongest platform, allowing him to accelerate his springy Hendrix/Santana thrust into a simmering head of steam without the usual cliché traps of this idiom.' ?Tower Records Top Magazine

Live at Guiting Power Village Hall (BNETCD013)

The Neto Band, comprising Frank Martin on keyboards, Gary Brown on bass, Celso Alberti on drums and percussionist Marquinhos Brazil, has been coming to London to perform at Ronnie Scotts' club every summer since 1994. Over the course of successive visits to England, Jose and his band has formed a special relationship with the residents of the Gloucestershire village of Guiting Power and, during their last visit, the Neto band performed a special show for their friends in the local village hall.
An astonishing display of controlled pyrotechnics....Leaving scurrying, hard-edged funk with softly wafting ballads, he demonstrated just how much territory opened up by Hendrix in the 1960s still remains for subsequent generations of guitarists to explore.
Chris Parker, The Times

Neto (BW037)

This is the kind of album that Jimi Hendrix used to make and, maybe, Carlos Santana still could. It was Hendrix who inspired the young Neto to learn the guitar in his native São Paolo and to treat it with respect; to not play at all rather than play something forgettable. The Neto style - throwing away the plectrum and using thumbnail and four fingers to create chords and octaves that surf on top of melodies that take up permanent residence in your subconscious - is unique to the man in the bandana with the buccaneer's earring.
Equally at home on electric or acoustic guitar, the Paradis Avalon with its amplified nylon strings is the perfect companion for José's intricate Latin style, able to burst forth in a torrent of cadenzas when the muse connected. Designed by Rolf Spuler and Mathias Glob of Switzerland, the Paradis has inbuilt 'polysubbass' which is triggered electronically when played in the lower register to produce a completely unique sound: a solid bodied guitar with the tone of an acoustic instrument. On this album, however, the Fender Stratocaster, the Takamine Classical and Alvares Yari 12 String are all handled here with equal dexterity.

Music With No Name Volume 1

- the first ever World Music remix project was released in 1995 allowing CLUB- and dance floor access for a new and largely unknow music genre! - Melt 2000 presents a number of mainly South African artist with a Madala Kunene remix by Smith & Mighty that became a smash it when first played out by YFM DJ Rudeboy Paul.

The Messengers (BW070)

London street jazz meets South African street dance music in this project, pushed by the force of drummer and producer Andrew Missingham (previous projects include working with Urban Species, Raw Stylus, The Young Disciples and Jessica Lauren). Barungwa is the work of two of London's finest and two of South Africa's best Acid Jazz players: it's a collision of township, traditional jazz and funk beats that defines its own genre.

Warum Bist Du Traurig (Why Are You So Sad)

Ballads (BW109)

One of the most accomplished young trumpeters of his generation, James McMillan is increasingly in demand as a producer and arranger of other peolpes' hits. His debut for M.E.L.T.2000 is a contemporary 90's homage to the classic ballads albums of the 50's and 60's. Featuring proper, classic songs, superb players and the impeccable vocals of Mark Anthoni and Joy Rose, 'Ballads' is the kind of record they don't make any more.

FILM (BW2121)

Film', Jessica Lauren's first LP for Melt 2000 unleashes an aural journey full of sonic surprises set to both confound and delight anyone who has encountered the keyboard player in recent years. 'Film' was conceived 3 years ago as an acoustic McCoy Tyner-style piano album crossed with Latin grooves but life intervened. 

Love Is Touching (BW055)

A great saxophonist may play the field, but he always returns to his first love. John Tchicai has committed polygamy with different instruments and styles, yet his tenor sax playing has always kept him faithful to the jazz avant-garde. This album is set firmly in the area of free jazz, but combines influences ranging from Latin America to hip-hop rap poetry and borrows from the rock vocabulary with the use of two lead guitarists.
The Archetypes are firmly headquartered in the red light district of free jazz, but with a touch of carnival thrown in. "It's inspired quite a lot by Latin music," admits Tchicai. "It may not be as radical as some of the music I used to play, but it's among the most melodic."
The explosion of free jazz improvisation on the opener, 'Breath Bridge', is a shameless declaration that all preconceptions have to be left at the door. The rap poetry of '99 1/2 Days' demonstrates that jazz is at its best the closer it gets to the street. The album also borrows from the rock vocabulary, with two lead guitarists who know how to drive as well as jive.
Margriet Naber's keyboards and John Tchicai's horn playing take the music into the back streets, the unknown note on the shoulder, whereas the rhythm intersection of Jeff Simons on bass, Basho Fujimoto on percussion and Andrew Emberg on drums provide the combustion, leaving the soloists to supply the chrome finish. If you like your music played with invention and wit, these are the archetypes.

Live in Moscow

Live At The ZMF Freiburg
LSM

Urs Leimgruber, soprano, tenor saxophones; Patrick Scheyder, piano; François Moutin, bass.

Recorded at the Zeit-Musik Festival, Freiburg on 29 June 1992.

Peter Giger  -  Jazzz

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Jones Bones
2 Sweet and Short
3 Rue de la Tour
4 Frankfurt - Maputo
5 Zbigi
6 Henrik's Choice
7 Gaba
8 Sweet Maya
9 Some Drum Samba

Mozambique Meets Europe

PETER GIGER’S FAMILY OF PERCUSSION & FRIENDS
feat. Tom Nicholas, Dom Um Romao, Gerd Dudek, Vitold Rek & GRUPO TIMBILA EDUARDO DURAO

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Jones Bones
2 Nbantumbuane
3 Matekenba
4 Zavala-Rio-Nessau
5 Kuweleka
6 Frankfurt-Maputo 

Childscape

Personnel: Ray Russell (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, tenor guitar, guitar synth, keyboards, percussion, piano, kalimba, log drum), Mark Isham (trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards), Mo Foster (bass guitar, fretless bass, 5-string bass, double-bass), Frank Ricotti (percussion), Tony Hymas (piano, bass synthesizer), Gil Evans (Fender Rhodes piano), Simon Phillips (drums), Ray Warleigh (bass clarinet), Stuart Brooks (trumpet), Tommy Eyre (keyboards), Iain Ballamy (tenor saxophone), Gary Kettel (percussion), Tony Roberts (soprano saxophone), George Stanley Baldwin (rattle, shaker) Comments by: By John Kelman Avoiding the worst trappings of New Age music yet leaning to its atmospheric ambience, guitarist Ray Russell's 1987 album Childscape , now also released in remastered and expanded form as Why Not Now , is as interesting for what it's not as for what it is. It's too intrusive and insistent to be ambient; too ethereal to be considered fusion by its more traditional definition; and too structured to be jazz, even though solos abound albeit in a context that has little to do with the virtuosity that Russell clearly possesses. Why Not Now rests comfortably on the edge of all. Some reference points can be found by way of precedence in the soundscapes of guitarist Bill Nelson and David Torn (albeit less idiosyncratic), the instrumental music of David Sylvian, and the overdubbed experiments of early Mike Oldfield, but it's just the kind of album that could fall between the cracks and, in fact, did just that when first released.

REFLEXIONEN - LIVE AT THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

URS LEIMGRUBER (SAX)
DON FRIEDMAN (PIANO)
JOEL ALLOUCHE (DRUMS,TABLA)
PALLE DANIELSSON (BASS)


recorded by John Dunkerley & Terry Nelson
Mastered by Rik Walton
special thanks to Claude Nobs

Roadside Picnic
Mario Castronari's La Famille

(Rare CD with surround sound encoding)
A new jazz quintet aided by a few instrumentalists is Roadside Picnic. Their CD is "La Famille" (B & W Music BW067). They have a distinctive approach with an exuberant and melodic quality -- all the very original composing of leader Mario Castronari. Some of the tracks utilize wordless voices and environmental sounds. The latter nearly always decode beautifully to the surround channels to immerse the listener in the sonic experience.

Equilibriste

Smad met and impressed Robert Trunz, owner of MELT2000, with this exotic musical melange. Robert signed him and they released 'Equilibriste'(BW2126), which features Stephano Di Battista, Laurent Robin, F. Thullier, Malik, C. Atef, R Amblard and of course, Sofi Hellborg. Meaning tight rope walker in French, this title reflects his musical interests and attempt to balance the equally powerful sounds of world jazz with jungle. Of this album,he says, "It's a really fine mix between acoustic and electronic. " In fact, he claims that many people couldn't tell the difference. Not only that but the sounds stretch the boundaries of world music to its full extent, bridging many boundaries and echoing the cultural diversity that he has experienced in his life. He performed thirty gigs in 99 in England and France to promote this album.

New Deal

'New Deal'(ELM8027) is his impossibly brilliant second album. Reaching No.4 in the European World Music Charts, 'New Deal' features an Indian violinist playing over a hard Moroccan gnawa rhythm with sirens recorded on the streets of New York. He blends soul-jazz into the Arabic world with a fusion of vocals from Togo in West Africa whilst representing other countries such as Mali, Algeria, India, Turkey, France, Togo, USA, Afghanistan, Italy, Sweden and Cameroon. Both releases feature his Jazz and North African oud playing, exquisitely encircling the breakbeats and electronic music of the contemporary dance culture. Whilst a lot of today’s drum’n’bass is musicians playing on top of DJ’s, Smadj is unique in the fact that he creates the entire sound, the basslines and the acoustic analogue music that enlivens the driving force of the sonic beats. Defining his sound as a breakthrough of electronic jazz and oriental- a move towards jazz/funk in Paris- he says, " I think it's really new. Not a lot of people do Jungle stuff, mixed with Jazz - live with a drummer."
A veritable global mixer, Smadj's acoustic expertise on guitar and oud alongside his professional talents as a programmer make him the perfect person to relate jazz to the rhythmic energy of drum’n’bass. His unique approach to music has been appreciated throughout Europe, as Smadj continues to play at live gigs with Sofi and other musician friends.

Elephants of the Milky Way

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Gulfrider
2 Farewell to Oboes
3 Bizarre
4 Elephants of the Milky Way

Behind the Night

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10
Track 11

KILLER BEES (BW041)

There is no way in the world that the God-like names featured could be gathered together on one album. No way, that is unless your name is Airto Moreira. So how did 'Killer Bees' come into being? Airto was originally commissioned to write a 'Brazilian' album for a major label. He saw this as an opportunity to return to his jazz roots and explore some freeform playing ideas that had been kicking around for a while.

REVENGE OF THE KILLER BEES (ELM8012)

New mixes from the original album Airto Moreira & The Gods of Jazz - Killer Bees

The legendary Airto Moreira, the man who single handedly dispelled the notion of percussionists in red frilly shirts poised over their congas, has let loose a selection of the finest contemporary remixers on 'Revenge of the Killer Bees'. Under the direction of Tony Thorpe this remix project has revisited the seminal Gods of Jazz album which Airto recorded in the early nineties with help from jazz icons Herbie Hancock, Hiram Bullock, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Flora Purim. Revenge Of The Killer Bees features remixes in an end of the millenium style by Ashley Beedle, Justice, Frederic Galliano, Amon Tobin, Endemic Void and Circadian Rhythms.

Live in Moscow

The historic White Column Hall was the final resting place before burial of Lenin, Stalin and heroes of the old Soviet regime and made a magnificent venue for some unforgettable jazz in October 1992 during the four day period of the Moscow 'Jazznost' Festival.

Live At Ronnie Scott's (BNET005)

Recorded at Ronnie's during their 1995 European tour, this album marks the debut of the Gary Meek Quartet and here is one man's subjective opinion of the show:
'Jazz history is full of gifted, respected interpreters of other people's work who contented themselves with doing just that. The eighties "jazz revival" moved the goalposts, driving record companies to look for new young stars, and the growth of cheap and accessible independent recording also opened doors previously kept shut until a lot of dues-paying had been done. The result has been a busier, higher-profile jazz scene, but with a good many player-leaders who maybe should have thought about it longer. Gary Meek (is) the gawky and energetic saxophonist and flautist who has regularly performed in Britain with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim... His technique is dazzling but his music still unformed, hopping between airy Latin street-dance themes on the flute, stuttery tenor sax funk and rather bland ballads, with all the music sporadically shot at by a battery of percussive synch effects. But Meek is in the premier league as a soloist, which makes his act an ambivalent business. His toying with short, blurted phrases as springboards to new figures recalls both Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins, and his soprano sound on slow music has a glowing ripeness rare for practitioners of the instrument.'
John Fordham, The Guardian, 13.3.95

Time One (BW057)

After four years as one quarter of Fourth World with Airto Moreira, Flora Purim and José Neto, Gary Meek left to pursue a solo career, but very much with their blessing, as their contributions to this album demonstrate. José plays guitar on most tracks and has written a song, while Airto contributes a number that only he could have written. The result is a smoother, silkier sound, but with the distinctive Meek hallmark of outstanding musicianship and the Fourth World knack of finding the right driving rhythm to keep the music well clear of the middle of the road. This unique array of eclectic music, performed by some of the best musicians in contemporary jazz, represents a calling card for Gary Meek's musical diversity and ability across a range of instruments. But it is Meek's saxophone work that is the chief highlight of this set.

Giraffes In A Hurry

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Bo's Jazz
2 After the End
3 Dobrounik
4 Hackensack
5 Brack Sand Beach
6 The Jolly Blue Giant
7 Almost April
8 Girafres in a Hurry
9 Other World Music
10 Pannonica

Electric Poetry

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Melrose Avenue
2 Lakewood
3 Lost & Found
4 Norwegian Wood
5 Lion's Den - Science Friction
6 Hybrid
7 Cheeks
8 Everything Happens To Me
9 Mesopotamia

Shende Lami

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Shende Lami
2 Saafu
3 Benikuphi.
4 Wena Kuphela
5 Saafa (Gauteng Remix)
6 Shende Lami Dub

Ungenwe Yini

(Simply Hot And Naturally African) Three young and highly talented vocalists from KwaZulu Natal with fine stage appearance have conquered the hearts of radio DJ’s and music compilers across the country. Shana was discovered by Busi Mhlongo, while performing at the Bat Centre, Durban.

Wash'uMkhukhu

 Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Wash'uMkhukhu (11 o'clock MiX)
2 Sthandwa Sam
3 Ku Yo Ba Njane
4 Washa (X miX)
5 Sthandwa Sam' (Instrumental)
6 Wash'uMkhukhu (Laduduma)

Amampondo was formed in 1980 by Dizu 'Zungulu' Plaatjies, mzwandile Qotoyi and Simpiwe Matole; and was originally made up of seven young men from the same neighbourhood in Langa township, outside Cape Town. They were raised in an environment of traditional dancers and singers, which meant that they begun to realise the importance of their culture at a very young age. Amampondo, which means 'the people of Mpondo', the fabled land of the Xhosa Kingdom in the Eastern Cape was founded with a strong desire to preserve and protect South African traditional music. Their goal has always been to carry traditional sounds into the future rather than see it washed away by the wave of westernisation and the growing influence of American music amongst the African youth. 

Albums:

1. Drums For Tomorrow
2. Electric Pondoland
3. Raw and Undiluted
4. Vuyani (Celebrate)
5. Africa 2000 Live at Bagleys London (DVD)
6. 25 Years Of Skins (DVD)
   

Amir was born in Assiut, Middle Egypt in 1960. His musical career began at an early age, encouraged by his family. His father is a blind musician, and as a child Amir would accompany him on frequent visits to other musicians, soaking up the creativity and skills surrounding him. He attended the Conservatoire of music in Cairo, where he studied Kanoon (Egyptian Harp) and notation. As Amir studied, he developed his own unique style of playing the Kanoon and writing for orchestra, making him a much respected, and sought-after producer of Arabic music. 

Albums:

1. Alien Soap Opera
   
2. Sout Et Leil

Andrew Missingham discovered early in life that making music was all he really wanted to do. While at Middlesex Polythechnic completing a degree in performance arts, he experimented with a wide variety of instruments and realised that he had been blessed with a highly-developed sense of natural rhythm. He took formal drumming lessons and, by the time he graduated, was a highly accomplished drummer with a comprehensive knowledge of the arts. 

View video footage from Rouvanne's blog site

Ashish Joshi began his musical training under the capable guidance of the greatly respected South African teacher Jeram Bhana. He underwent four years of training in the classical form of the art of percussion whilst he continued to play at religious gatherings for his spiritual group Rishi (Ramakrishna Institute of Spirituality and Hinduism). When he was 17, he teamed up with Marc Duby, Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades and Priyesh Bhana to perform in the eastern world music project Avaaz. 

Albums & DVD's

1. Acoustic Africa DVD
2. UXOLO Live at the Bassline 2005 DVD
   
3. Vivid Afrika CD
   

The late and great South African guitarist Baba Mokoena Serakong
 

Simon Baba Mokoena was born at Umkumbane in Durban in the late 40's. Baba started making music at the age of 12, playing a home-made guitar made from a five-litre oil container. At 17, he picked up his brother's acoustic guitar and has never looked back. Baba's first gig was with a group called Mhlathi and His Comets, whom he stayed with for four years. Next he met Dick Khoza, a jazz drummer. They formed a small jazz group with Pat Matshikiza on piano and Victor Gaba on bass, playing gigs around Durban.

Albums:

1. Madala Kunene & Baba Mokoene Serakong - First Double 1 & 2
   

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:

1. The Messengers
2. Music With No Name Vol.2 (remix)
   

Bernard Mndawene is currently one of the very best electric bass players in South Africa, extremely flexible and through his various work experiences with other artists from the MELT stable he has shown to be at home with any kind of current music. 

Albums:

1. Madala Kunene and Bernard Mndaweni - Uxolo
2. Madala Kunene & Baba Serakoeng - First Double 1&2
   
3. Uxolo - The Peace Concerts Live @ Bassline Johannesburg
   

Albums: 

1. Balengu Village
2. NGA Funk
3. Shrine Dance
   

Albums: 

1. Bushmen of the Kalahari
2. Sanscapes Vol. 1
3. Sanscapes Vol. 2

Bassist / composer Carlo Mombelli was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1960. He started playing bass at the age of 16 after studying classical piano. 7 years later, one of South Africa’s most important jazz guitarist Johnny Fourie asked him to join his band together with Duke Makazi on saxophone and Kevin Gibson on drums. In 1985 Carlo started the group ‘Abtractions’ to play his music and asked Johnny Fourie to play in the band. They recorded for Shifty records.

Castro B  self thought musician and DJ was born in East Rand, Johannesburg. He introduced himself to music by making his own tin guitar at the age of 6 copying the tunes the elders in his township played in the streets. The strong influence of traditional music grew on him and carried well into the 90’s. In 1995 Catro B got his first PC making his own tracks in his bedroom studio playing and testing them out at parties in the hood.

Albums:

1. FIDELITY
   

The legendary Cuban percussionist Changuito (Jose Luis Quintana) was born in Casablanca, across the bay from Havana on 18th January 1948. He embarked upon his musical career in 1956 at the tender age of eight, becoming a professional musician with the 'Havana Jazz' band directed by Tomas Gonzalez. During this initiation Changuito played music with his father, who was also a musical maestro. He then begun playing with an unusual young band called 'la Pandilla de los Cabezas de Perros', and aged eleven he joined the band 'Cuba Mambo' under the direction of Rolando Garcia. This band was based in Guanabacoa, just outside Havana where Changuito now lives.

Jose Luis Quintana aka Changuito

- the man fully credited with revolutionizing Cuba's popular "songo" rhythm, in his genre is the most imitated percussionists in the history of Cuban percussion. His list of students include Giovanni Hidalgo, Luis Conte, Carol Steele, Karl Perazzo and Walfredo Reyes, Jr., to name a few. Changuito was born in Casablanca, across the bay from Havana on 18th January 1948. He embarked upon his musical career in 1956 at the tender age of eight, becoming a professional musician with the 'Havana Jazz' band directed by Tomas Gonzalez. During this initiation Changuito played music with his father, who was also a musical maestro. He then begun playing with an unusual young band called 'la Pandilla de los Cabezas de Perros', and aged eleven he joined the band 'Cuba Mambo' under the direction of Rolando Garcia. This band was based in Guanabacoa, just outside Havana where Changuito now lives.

Chris Merz is Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. He has also taught at the University of Wyoming, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa. Chris has toured four continents with Dave Brubek and other members of the Brubek family and played lead alto saxophone with several East Coast groups, including the Cecil Bridgewater Big Band. His own projects include Equilateral and the X-tet, a 12-piece big band. Bandleader of the Counterculture and member of Darius Brubeck's Nu Jazz Connection, Chris is a virtuoso saxophonist.

Albums:

1. Art Gecko
   

Before 1983, Brubeck toured internationally with Two Generations of Brubeck and The New Brubeck Quartet (Dave, Darius, Chris and Dan Brubeck), made TV appearances and recorded for Atlantic Records. In 1997 Telarc released "In Their Own Sweet Way" which features Darius with his father and brothers.

Albums:

1. Darius Brubeck & Deepak Ram - Gathering Forces Vol. 2
2. African Tirbutes
3. Darius Brubeck / Victor Ntoni - Afro Cool Concept
   

Albums:

1. Flute For Thought
2. Searching For Satyam
3. Darius Brubeck & Deepak Ram - Gathering Forces Vol. 2
4. Live in France 1997 ( DVD )

Ragas Bhupali and Kirwani
Prasad "Blessing" with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri
Beauty in Diversity
Samvad "Conversation" with Ustad Tari Khan
One Breath with Pandit Anindo Chatterjee
Steps

Senior disciple of world renowned bansuri maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia

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Jazz bassist Eddie Gomez,was born October 4, 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He grew up in New York and played in the Newport Festival Youth Band from 1959 to 1961, and was later educated at Juilliard. His impressive resumé includes performances with jazz giants such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton, Marian McPartland, Paul Bley, Wayne Shorter,  erbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Chick Corea and Carli Muñoz. Time Magazine lauded: "Eddie Gómez has the world on his strings". Eddie Gómez would spend a total of eleven years with Bill Evans Trio which included performances throughout the United States, Europe, and the Orient, as well as dozens of recordings. Two of the Trio's recordings won Grammy awards.

Albums:

1. Live in Moscow
   

Eyedentity is the brainchild of D. (Decibel) and Krishna Booker. Born in the summer of '97 this musical life form has developed combining powerful vocals with innovative and experimental beats, bound together by the couple's musical ingenuity and programming expertise. A true creative collective, Eyedentity changes shape and form with the coming and going of the various featured artists. It's evolution however is dependent on the constancy of both Diana and Krishna who form the band's nucleus. Krishna Booker is the son of Jazz bassist Walter Booker and the nephew of Wayne Shorter. His musical partner and beloved is his wife Diana, daughter of vocalist extraordinaire Flora Purim, and world famous percussionist Airto Moreira. Both were born in NYC and had an intensely musical and gypsy-like upbringing travelling with their families.

Albums: 

1. HEAVY INTERFERENCE
2. Perfect my craft
3. SEE

There are strong spiritual links between Africa and Brazil which enabled this amazing group of musicians then working as Fourth World to undertake the long haul to South Africa tand o become the first Brazilian band to play in this country on the verge of major changes in 1993. Thieir sold out  performances attract a "no age" limit crowd proved that, with Fourth World, the language of music is a universal and an exhilarating celebration of life and live music. Since the early 90's Fourth World enjoyed many acclaimed World Tours  with Flora & Airto ad Jose Neto as the heads of the group often changing their line up as you can see when clicking on the various albums below.

Albums:

1. The Last Journey
2. Encounters of The Fourth World
3. Return Journey
4. Live in Moscow feat. Horton, Butman & Fourth World
5. Fourth World
6. Live at Arts Alive Guiness Festival Johannesburg 1993 
   

Born in Encino, California, on March 16, 1961, Gary Meek's natural musical talent led him to pick up a variety of instruments at an early age. He started playing the piano at the age of five and working through his father's record collection. After hearing his dad's copy of 'Begin The Beguine' by Artie Shaw, young Gary decided to play the clarinet. He played both piano and clarinet in Junior High School, but found upon entering High School that in order to join the jazz band, he would have to learn saxophone and flute, too. After graduating from High School, and while a student at the Dick Grove School of Music (1979 - 1980), Gary joined the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop, swinging his sax in a big band once a week. He played saxophone and keyboards at wedding, parties and in nightclubs until, at the age of 25, his big break came with a gig with Dionne Warwick's band on a worldwide tour in 1986. 

Albums:

1. Live At Ronnie Scott's
2. Time One 
   
3. Good Friends

Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades, born and raised in Pretoria, is an extraordinary multi-instrumentalist, playing the north African fretless lute (oud), guitar and bouzouki. He composes an intoxicating hybrid of north and South African ethno-grooves that Œcook_ under vibrant melodies. Over the years, Greg has collaborated, performed and recorded with significant artists in the South African music scene, such as Jeff Maluleke (on Jeff_s award-winning album Juliana), London-based percussionist Julian Bahula, renowned producer and keyboardist Thapelo Khomo and singer/songwriter Simphiwe Dana (on her album Zandisile). Greg is also known and recognised for his work with the Mutant Harmony Trio (with Marc Duby on bass and Wynand van der Walt on drums) the Jazz Hounds Afro-jazz project the Avaaz eastern and north African world music group (with Ashish Joshi on tabla and Priyesh Bhana on bansuri) and the acclaimed Aquarian Quartet (with Steve Newman, Syd Kitchen and Tony Cox).

Albums:

1. McCoy Mrubata, Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades - Vivid Afrika
   

The son of a jazz pianist, saxophonist Iain Ballamy was born in 1964, playing Soho clubs in his teens and is a key player in the emergence of the new school of British jazz. As a founding member of the seminal jazz big band Loose Tubes in the early 66's and an integral component of Bill Brufords Earthworks, he was instrumental in preparing the British palate for modern jazz, and the musical friendships he forged at that time have lasted. A long time collaborator with Django Bates, Iain is a member of Django's Human Chain and Delightful Precipice and he also plays with guitarist Billy Jenkins in The Voice of God Collective. Ballamy has established an international reputation for himself by playing alongside notables including Hermeto Pascoal, the late Gil Evans, George Coleman, Dewey Redman and Mike Gibbs.

Albums:

1. ACME
2. All Men Amen
   

Born in Denmark in 1936, John Tchicai first learned to play the violin before the irresistible charm of the saxophone got him horny and together they eloped. Tchicai attended the Academy of Music and Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen before breaking loose to blow at festivals and clubs around Scandenavia and Eastern Europe. In 1962, he met free-jazz saxophonist, Albert Ayler, and followed the siren call to New York, joining the New York Contemporary Five with Archie Shepp, Bill Dixon and Don Cherry.

Albums:

1. John Tchicai and The Archetypes - Love is Touching
   

Albums:

1. Johnny Fourie
   

Lungiswa Plaatjies was born in 1973 in Cape Town, Langa Location where her grandfather was the traditional healer. It was he who encouraged her to develop her talents, teaching her to sing and dance. Music was an integral part of her childhood and family life. At the tender age of seven she joined her uncle Dizu's famous group Amampondo, giving her invaluable musical inspiration and experience. With them she recorded their first album at the age of ten called 'Uyandibza' which soon became a big seller all over the world. Whilst she was attending school she became a member of both the school and the church choir, which she attended with her grandfather while the group was on tour. 

Albums:

1. Ekhaya
   

Master Drummer Mabi Gabriel Thobejane - from the roots of MALOMBO to MATRIX

View video footage with Madala Kunene from Rouvanne's blog

Veteran master drummer Mabi was born in Mamelodi (Pretoria, South Africa) and at an early stage watched and learned the drumming of the Balobedu tribe gathering in his neighborhood - he learned not only how to hit the drum, but more importantly where. Mabi's mum tried to stop him from drumming by beating him constantly, as she believed he was destined to be a priest. Meanwhile Mabi fetched skins from the tannery and started making his own drums risking another beating from his mother when playing in front of the Kguludi's shebeen (local tavern). When his Uncle Phillip Tabane - one of the great African guitarists, discovered the talent in the family he asked Mabi to join him as the drummer to form what became one of the top bands in South Africa in the 70's - the Malombo Jazzmen. Since then Mabi was involved in some of the most exiting collaborations and for a decade touring with Juno Reactor.

Albums:

1. Madiba
2. TM Africa with Thabang Tabane
3. Melodi with Dan Mampone
   
4. Robert Doc Mthalane - Respect
5. 
   

1. Juno Reactor - Shango
2. Outernational Meltdown 1994
3. Sipho Gumede - Ubuntu
4. Sipho Gumede - Down Freedom Avenue
   
5. Uxolo - Madala Kunene DVD
6. Acoustic Africa with Madala Kunene DVD
   
7. Amampondo DVD
8. Amampondo Various CDs
   
9.  Africa 2000 - live at Bagleys DVD
10. Tribal Ethno Dance with Airto Moreira
11. African Meltdown Volume ONE
12. Music With No Name Vol 2   
    
13. Music With No Name Vol 3
14. Music With No Name Vol 4
15. Outernational Meltdown Sessions - Hungry on Arrival   
    
16. Barungwa - The Messengers   
    
17. Castro B   
    
18. Olombelo Ricky Randimbiarison  
19. Madala Kunene - King of the Zulu Guitar 
    

Madala Kunene - King of the Zulu Guitar

View videos from Rouvanne's blog (pt. 1 & 2)

"Music cuts across the barriers" Madala Kunene

"I thank the universe for making me cross the path of such a gifted artist and such a humble and beautiful human being"  Robert Trunz

Madala Kunene was born in 1951 in Cato Manor, moving to the township of Kwa-Mashu, near Durban after his family were evicted by the Apartheid government. Despite being born into a family of eminent and fervent academics he refused to spend so much as a day at school - even if it meant taking regular beatings because of it. This signaled Madala's single-minded and uniquely unconventional nature. Madala's unique gift and unselfishness have helped many artists to become famous when he introduced them to labels like M.E.L.T. 2000 - the best example is the Diva of Zulu music Busi Mhlongo who since has risen to fame.

Albums:

1. Freedom Countdown - Madala Kunene, Mandla Masuku & Barney Bophela
2. Konko Man
   
3. King of Zulu Guitar
4. Uxolo
5. Madamax
   
6. Madala Kunene & Baba Mokoene Serakong - First Double 1 & 2
7. Robert Doc Mthalane Mabi Thobejane & Madala Kunene - Respect
   
8. Madamax Bafo 2
9. Uxolo - Live at the Bassline Joburg (DVD)
   

View video footage from Rouvanne's blog

Manqina Madosini Latozi was born in Umtata, in a village called Mqhekezweni in the Eastern Cape. Since being known in the whole of Mpondoland as the greatest musician of the time, news of Madosini went as far as Johannesburg and a search for her talents was launched. After a few years, one of her nephews who went to the mines as a migrant worker came back after his contract expired. He told her that he had heard one of her songs being played in a music shop in the heart of Johannesburg.

Albums:

1. Power to the Women
   

Mario Cee, the man behind the new record label Kronologik, has been a familiar face on the London underground dance scene for many years. Artist, producer, remix engineer and DJ, Mario’s career begun in London warehouses as a DJ playing out jungle, drum’n’bass.and breakbeat. This then led to his immersion in the underground garage scene for several years during which he had a couple of residencies at London clubs including Covent Gardens Club Ventura.

Albums:

1. Earth with II Suns
   

View video with Busi from Rouvanne's blog

Albums:

1. Ark - A Different Kind Of Blue
2. Between
3. Madamax
4. Madamax Bafo
   

South Africa’s finest saxophonists, McCoy Mrubata has gained international recognition for his versatility on the tenor, soprano and alto saxophones as well as the flute. The Nordic Black Theatre invited him to perform in three musicals, two of which were based on the life of Bob Marley. The third – Beyond the Blues: the John Coltrane Story – ran for two months and saw McCoy playing the lead role. 2003 saw the release of McCoy’s first collection album Best of the Early Years, featuring a selection of his earlier material and an impressive array of guest musicians including Ringo Madlingozi, Sipho Gumede, Paul Hanmer, Andile Yenana, Bheki Khoza, Johnny Fourie, Errol Dyers and Frank Paco.

Albums:

1. McCoy Mrubata, Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades - Vivid Afrika

Moses Taiwa Molelekwa  1973 - 2001

Anointed by the random hand of talent, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa was born and raised in Thembisa, 40 miles from Johannesburg, where the youngster was swaddled in a jazz blanket, raised to the sounds of Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. His grandfather Bo was a pianist and his father was nicknamed 'Monk', "as he was the first guy in the local jazz society to understand Thelonius. 'Monk' was determined that his son would become a musician but as he couldn't afford a piano, he bought the boy a guitar and packed him off on Saturday mornings to study at the Federated Union of Black Arts Academy in Johannesburg.

Albums:

1. Darkness Pass
2. Finding One's Self
3. Genes and Spirits
4. Live at the Fin De Siecle
5. Wa Mpona
6. LIVE @ Nantes France DVD extensive footage with interviews and music video
   

 Dibanisile, Tutsu, aka Ntombe Thongo is an artist and lead guitar player.

Here he recounts his story:

I was born in 1977 on the 4th of April in the village of Mthambalala in the Transkei in the Eastern Cape, near Port St Johns. This is how I got to where I am now. In 1983 I was six years old when I started to be a Khankatha (this is someone who helps a trainee to become a sangoma - a traditional healer ) to my sister till 1989. The following year  when i passed to standard 1 I got terribly sick. It was so bad that I was unable to start my new class; my father and my mother found out that the sickness was a sign for me to become a healer.

Nu Jazz Connection  USA/South Africa

feat. Darius Brubeck, Chris Merz, S'thembiso Ntuli,Fezile 'Feya' Faku, Lulu Gontsana, Monde 'Lex' Futshane, Mark 'Sparks' Kilian and Sazi Dlamini

Darius Brubeck
An associate Professor in the Music Department and the Director of the centre for Jazz and popular Music at the University of Natal in Durban, Darius was responsible for starting the first jazz studies course offered by an African University.

Ohm

Quote:

Part frightened child, part rabid cur, the music snaps around your ankles, sometimes retreating, sometimes advancing; from world-weary rock ballads to an ambientesque drum’n’bass. At times I was put in the mind of David Bowies younger days, but not for long enough to be lulled into any secure places.” Direction Magazine March 2000

Prior to the formation of Ohm all of the members of the band had been involved in various other  South African musical projects, some of which are still continuing.

Albums:

1. OHM
   

Olombelo Ricky Randimbiarison is the most gifted and popular singer in his native Madagascar, where he is known as 'Olombelona Ricky' ('Ricky, the human being') and the local press has reported him as the phenomenon of 'Rickymania'. Ricky is an expert in traditional Malagasy music, but mainly works with an electric band made up of the best musicians on the island, playing a mixture of vako-drazana folk and jazz they call vakojazzana.

Albums:

1. Ricky Randimbiarison - Olembelona Ricky
   

PedXulu…(for Pedi Xhosa and Zulu) is the Collective that produces the rhythmic carpet to lift the spirit of dance. Throughout the past two decades I was fortunate to work with the finest drummers and percussionists and I felt very privileged in 2001 to unite the first full PedXulu & Friends tribal gatherings for 2 World Premier collaborations during the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Arts Alive Festival Johannesburg 2002. Robert Trunz

PedXulu is a revolving and changing gathering headed by Pedi veteran Pedi master drummer Mabi 'Gabriel' Thobejane joined by his 23-year-old cousin Thabang Philip Tabane (Malombo), four members of the legendary Xhosa percussion and marimba group Amampondo and Zulu Bernard Mndaweni on bass.

Pete Lockett 

Please visit Pete Lockett's own websiet at http://www.petelockett.com

Albums:

1. Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks - One
   

Albums: 

1. Respect
   

The late Sipho was born in Cato Manor, Durban, in the heart of KwaZulu/Natal, his earliest memories were of playing the guitar and penny whistle as a member of a street corner Kwela band. His first guitar was assembled from a five gallon can and a length of wood, strung with fish gut. After school on a farm near Umlazi, he would watch the cattle and practice guitar so that by the age of 16 he was proficient enough to attract the attention of the late, great jazz guitarist, Cyril Magubane, who introduced him to the music of Wes Montgomery and the jazz world.

Albums:

1. Down Freedom Avenue
2. UBUNTU HUMANITY

Jean-Pierre Smadja aka Smadj is Tunisian born,  living and working mostly in Paris. As a young musician Smadj grew up listening to Oriental, Brazilian, funk, soul, and folk music very much forming his eclectic electro-jazz infused style.

Albums:

1. Equilibriste
2. New Deal
   

Top whack South African drummer & percussionist who played on 'Graceland'...Against the odds, Khumalo achieves something more interesting than his Graceland work here. Recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios in the UK, 'Follow Your Dream' creates an inventive modern music which mixes soul, jazz and African styles...South Africa has long been a source of world class musicians, and Khumalo is a worthy addition to their number. ****" Q Magazine, August '98 Known around the world for his work on Paul Simon's seminal Graceland album, drummer and composer Vusi Khumalo is one of South Africa's most accomplished musicians. 

Albums:

1. Follow your dreams
   

Widor Santiago started his musical studies at the age of 7 with his father, who plays the saxophone, as his tutor. During this early period he was invited to join the Music Band of Anapolis, the city where he was born, and stayed with the band until the age of 14. Then he joined a quartet that played private parties all over Brazil.

Zena was raised in Tottenham, North London, Zena Edwards originally trained as a theatre stage manager, having studied drama, media and communication at university. Writing and singing begun as a hobby, but soon took over when she became a member of the Rhythm Writers in 1992 as well as joining Shades, a five female Acappella group in 1993. She then went on to co-star in a short film with her own poetry called "Talking the Talk", produced by Tatu Dada which won an award in an American Film Festival. She has since worked with international musicians from South Africa to Sweden.

ACHISA

6 friends brought together in a boy's home in the town of Langa, close to the airport of Cape Town.

There was only one other Rap band in the Cape - Prrophets of da City" and when London based Sheldon Isaac came to the City he went on to produce this album which was finished with the assistance of Greg Hunter and Kris Weston in London in 1995.

Bill Of Rights (BW2114)

It's been a rocky road for the six young men of Achisa who grew up together in a Baptist orphanage in Langa, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town. They begun their career together singing R&B, but following their fateful meeting with Simpiwe Matole of Amampondo begun developing their own style. By the time they started recording their debut album, 'Achisa', their music was fusing traditional African rhythms with contemporary technology and their message had become more direct, political and better delivered in a rap, hip hop style. Tracks such as 'Say No To Guns' and 'Stop The Violence' attracted the attention of the South African Non Violence Project and they were invited to perform before Nelson Mandela.

CASTRO B.
FIDELITY

Global Africa - Genres are so yesterday!

album remixed by:  Monde Mkhizwana

(check Monde's blog)

The forth element of Melt2000 is an album that has combined internationally known powerful mystical voices and instrument players who are South African based musicians such as Busi Mhlongo, Madosini, Mabi Thobejane, Thabang Tabane and guitarist Madala Kunene while fusing them with a younger generation of singers such as Kwani Experience band members bass guitarist Lesiba Magongwa, lyricist Kwelagobe Sekele and vocalist Bafana Nhlapho.

BRIGHT MOMENTS

Born in Dublin, but resident in Switzerland since childhood, the Dorans were brought up in a vibrant jazz culture, underpinned by formal musical training. 'Bright Moments' is a family affair, featuring the swinging, swirling, brooding and beguiling sax talent of Brigeen Doran backed by her brothers, Christy and Dave, who wrote all the numbers between them.

Good Friends

In October of 1995 I received some of the worst and best news of my adult life simultaneously. I was informed that my wife, whom I had been with for seven years, and married for five, was moving out and wanted a divorce. I was also informed the same week that my record company B&W music had agreed to pick up their option to do a second record with me. This was the best news I could possibly receive as far as I was concerned. It allowed me for the next four months to dive into writing, arranging, producing, and playing music which is my main purpose for being here on earth. It also probably saved my sanity.

MZA 050

A singer, dancer, and composer whose music defies categorisation, Ma Mhlongo, as Rudeboy Paul fondly refers to her, draws on various South African styles, such as Maskanda, Mbaqanga, Marabi and traditional Zulu songs. Born in Kwa Zulu, Natal, Busi Mhlongo grew up with a song on her lips. Her debut maskanda album for M.E.L.T.2000 in 1998 called “Urban Zulu” brought her international fame.

Track Listing

1. Webaba (Black Coffee & Culoe de Song remix)
2. Uyeph’unembeza (Hip hop, dub mix by Monde Mkhizwana)
3. Izizwe (Black Coffee & Busi Mhlongo)
4. Baba We (Deep) (Frederic Galliano)
5. Crocodiles (Soothsayers (UK) & Busi Mhlongo)
6. Father of my children (Castro B with Busi Mhlongo)
7. Hlisani Umova (Featuring DJ Zee & Busi Mhlongo)
8. Webaba (Culoe de Song remix)
9. Yintoni Na (Black Coffee & Busi Mhlongo
10. Lua Lua (DJ Qness Zulu Warrior mix)
11. Sibuza Indlela (Rudeboy Paul & the Legendary Busi Mhlongo)
12. What is she saying to me? (Kalahari Surfers & Greg Hunter Featuring Busi Mhlongo)

In 1995, two of the most accomplished percussionists from Cuba joined members of Amampondo to create the first ever Afro-Cuban collaboration in making traditional Xhosa music. Both founding  memebers of Amampondo Dizu Plaatjies and Mzwandile Qotoyi are experts of traditional Xhosa- and African music . Changuito, the Cuban master congalero has a  history with MELT and was  first introduced to the label by Airto Moriera. Also on the album playing Bata Drums is Mayito, leader of the touring latin Jazz group Afro-Cuba.  Fidel Mpondo is in essence inspired by the historic landright battles of the people of South Africa's most beautiful coastal stretch we simply call Pondoland or the Transkei. The album is dedicated to leaders of independance such as Fidel Castro but even more fundamentally to the Clan Chiefs of the Pondoland who successfully resisted the British, the Boers and the apartheid regime in numerous uprisings and rebellions against overwhelming odds. the disc contains a series of great pictures of rural live in the Pondoland.

Track Listing (30 Second Samples coming sooon)

1. Yintoni nate izange
2. Yaka Yaka
3. Ikhaya Eisemomondweni
4. Ikaske percusssion
5. U Maziphathe Lo
6. Amazuito
7. Inkosi Yamapondo
8. Sphethukano
9. Masola Percussion
10. Phumentilongweni
11. Ubuhte Percussion
12. Andilaeanga ebusuku
13. Inkosi Yama Mpondo

Ohm

Enigmatically un-named, the debut album from Ohm is more than a collection of songs, it represents the band's influences and mind. Not easy when you consider who makes up the band.
Ohm consists of Brendan Jury (Trans.Sky, Urban Creep), Sven McAlpine (Plain, The Original Evergreen), Andre Van Rensburg (Supernature), and Gaston Goliath (Interzone, Wendy Oldfield Band, The Original Evergreen, Urban Creep). That line-up alone should let you know that you are in for an unpredictable ride. Jury has managed to congregate a circle of musicians who are not submerged by his influence. Throughout the tracks, you can hear Andre's stubbornly eclectic guitar style flaring out, Sven's roaring bass lines and Goliath's unpredictable rhythms.
Yes, it's a rock album, but an album more along the unpredictable lines of Faith No More than Guns 'n Roses.

Ethno Trance Live

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

Guardian Angel

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Guardian Angel
2 Razorback

Bible of Dreams (BR042CD)

The 1997 release of Bible of Dreams marked Juno Reactor's fourth album. Relatively different from the previous three albums, Bible of Dreams marked a dynamic transformation away from the typical dance-techno formula that continues to dominate the genre. It moved away from being a musical journey to a focused powerful electronic sound scape with more punch and drive. With the single "Conga Fury", Watkins introduced Amampondo, Nelson Mandela's favorite traditional South African percussion act, to the world of Juno Reactor. Later that year, Watkins took Amampondo on a five week tour of the U.S. with him opening for Moby. The performances proved a crowd pleaser, and Juno Reactor kept Amampondo as a full time tour collaborator.

Conga Fury

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Conga Fury
2 Magnetic (remixed by Robert Leiner)
3 Feel the Universe (remixed by Koxbox)

God Is God

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 God Is God [Rock of Sion Mix]
2 Biot Messiah
3 God Is God [Revelation Mix]
4 God Is God [CJ Bolland Mix]

Gods & Monsters

A brand new age of music arrives as composer Ben Watkins takes us into uncharted territories of sonic awareness. This is the seventh awakening of Juno Reactor, which has transformed its sound through film music. From The Matrix films, Reloaded and Revolutions, to his work in the Japanese films Brave Story and Dimension Bomb, which premieres at The Kennedy Centre in Washington in February, Watkins fascination with Japanese animation makes it way in Gods and Monsters with the excellent cover painted by Koji Morimoto. It’s inside Morimoto’s characters that Juno’s music currently lives, the mystery of the unknown. WARNING: DO NOT DRIVE WITH THIS MUSC ON! When the road disappears it’s dangerous.

SHANGO (ELM8033)

First released by Electric Melt on the 10th September 2000 Shango features a number of MELT artists like Mabi Thobejane, Deepak Ram, Boris Salchack, Busi Mhlongo and the 3 members  Amampondo Mandla Lande, Simpiwe Matole and Michael Ludonga.

ESSENTIAL VIBES

Various Artists

Various Artists

GAINTS OF JIVE (MZA 042)

INDIZA (VOYAGE) (MZA003)

The sound journey of Indiza Busi Mhlongo’s story has been told be many journalists and in order not to repeat ourselves again we opted to give an account of Busi’s voyage with MELT, the UK label that helped expose her talent to a world wide audience. Busi’s first encounter with MELT started in 1995 when Madala Kunene introduced her to the label during the recording of his highly acclaimed album Kon’Ko Man.
 

Urban Zulu (BW2118)

FROM THE DIVA OF AFRO POP
When we first started working on these awesome songs penned by Themba, Spectre and Busi, the style was recognisably traditional maskanda. Over the months of work, the maskanda in this album metamorphosed, deepened, widened and finally has come to represent the contemporary Zulu Nation's truest form of expression, with all the agony, the ecstacy, the pain and sorrow, the trials and ironies of life in the modern South Afrika.
This is the first time maskanda has been expressed by a Zulu woman, and who better than Busi, one of the great voices of Afrika. A truly astonishing performer on the stage and in the studio, her original creativity as expressed here represents a quantum leap in South Afrikan music. This is maskanda for the millennium. Listen and be humbled.
Will Mowat
Adidas have since used We Baba Omncane as the song for their football campaign.

Urban Zulu Remixes (MZA019)

Tracks from Busi Mhlongo’s debut MELT album “Urbanzulu” remixed and produced by some of the most exciting names in South African music as well as one of London’s top house DJ’s.

Track listing

1. OXAMU
2. YEHLISAN’UMOYA MA-AFRIKA
3. OXAMU
4. YEHLISAN’UMOYA MA-AFRIKA
5. OXAMU MARIA CEE
6. YEHLISAN’UMOYA MA-AFRIKA
7. UGANGA NGE NGANE
8. YEHLISAN’UMOYA MA-AFRIKA
9. YEHLISAN’UMOYA MA-AFRIKA

Tracks 1 & 3 - Oxamu “The ‘ibomvu” Dance Remix
Tracks 2, 4 & 9 - Yehlisan’umoya ma-Afrika
“Soul II Black Remixes”
Track 5 - Oxamu “The London Mix” Mario Cee
Track 6 - Yehlisan’umoya ma-Afrika
“The Kalahari Surfers Rock Remix”
Track 7 - Uganga Nge Ngane (Bonus Track)
Track 8 - Yehlisan’umoya ma-Afrika (Album Version)
All photographs of Busi Mhlongo in traditional dress by Rashid Lomabard All tracks published by MELT2000 Publishing Ltd. except for tracks 1 & 3 arrangements by Gabi LeRoux published by MELT 2000 and Kaleidosound MPS Administered by EMI MUSIC Publishing SA

Melodi

This long awaited collaboration is finally here. Its the beat that unites us, the rhythem from the past generation to our future. Words of love and wisdom that will echo forever in our minds. To restore our human race's dignity "Mayibuye" sons and daughters of our land.

Notes by Dan Mampone

What a mortal man you are so mindful of that you have entrusted him with your lightness to translate the vision to reality. May all the glory, power and honour be given unto your Almighty God. Thanks to my family (my wife Dorah) and three beautiful kids (Sizo, Kabelo and Rorisang) for being there for me at all times and being understanding. Thumbs up to my co-artist, my father Mr. Gabriel Mabi Thobejane, we shared every moment if this album together Joy and Sadness. It is such a wonderful thing to learn and work together. To all musicians I worked with, if it was’nt your support I will still be hanged up unable to finish now. I wish you all success to your individual projects you’re working on. Peter, you’re not just a friend, you’re simply the best with you’re golden voices that smoothes my creativity. Robert Trunz, you can spot a talent from Far, I simply cannot doubt your ear to music which polished me and the album to be where it is today. 

Tswana Poem

Mokelekele wa mokhise yo A reng lona le bo mang Le tsositseng sekgwa lenyaonyao Keletsi ya Matswere Motho wa bo Mampone Wa gore mponne ruri Ke madi ke matlalatlala naga E re ke ya taemaneng Ga ke itse ke tla boa

Flora Purim / A Guy Called Gerald -  What You See (EP)

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

01 Light as my flo (Album version)
02 What you see ( A Guy Called Gerald - Ghost of Flora's dream)
03 What you see (Attica Blues remix)
04 What you see (Album version)

Now Go Ahead And Open Your Eyes

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Romario
Mix by Andrew Missingham
2 Flora's Original Album Version
3 Flora's Radio Version
4 Bebeto
Mix by Andrew Missingham

MADALA KUNENE, MANDLA MASUKU & BARNEY BOPHELA

Madala Kunene is a renowned Zulu Folk Singer with an almost trance like quality. His Music talks about the people of South Africa and reminds us of the old folk tales we used to listen to when we were young.
Mandla Masuku has built his popularity in South Africa through his distinctive township Jive and brought him a wide audience aside from his collaborations with many other musicians, he is a strong front man in his own right.
Barney Bophela crosses both traditional and African Pop. He is playing into his own kind of American Influence Jazz Fusion that retains a South African Flavour.
Produced by Sipho Gumede (This album was his first production for M.E.L.T)

Lungiswa - Ekhaya

KING OF ZULU GUITAR (BNET001)

Bootleg recording with stereo DAT in Sipho
Gumede's backyard and farm in the year 1995

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1. Indiza (Aeroplane)
2. Nqo, Nqo, Nqu
3. Amnandi Amasi
4. Khono Thwele
5. Cabazini
6. Apartheid
7. Gumbela

UXOLO (MZA 036)

special guest: Umshika Shika Qabe (guitar)

Peace, oscar nominations and a lifetime of plucking strings and chickens The 21st century has been hard for many live performers. Chiefly because DJing and digitally generated music leave little room for traditional musicians to earn a living playing live. This led to arguments and discontent amongst several artists in Kwa-Zulu Natal. To a point when in 2004, I decided to pack my car with a portable DAT recorder (plus a couple of microphones) and head off to seek peace between the bickering factions by using music as a medium for negotiation. Uxolo is the result of this mission.

MADAMAX (BW2119)

MADAMAX is a superb collaboration between veteran M.E.L.T.2000 artists - South African trance musician Madala Kunene who amongst other projects released the sensational Kon'ko Man (on the M.E.L.T. 2000 label), and Swiss guitar supremo Max Lässer, famous for many recordings, including Between and A Different kind of Blue (M.E.L.T.2000.)

$9.99

KONKO MAN (BWSA 058)

2006 re - issue with new cover sleeve and a new CD remastered by London engineer Chris Lewis.
Shortly after working with Madala and Airto during the Outernational Meltdown recordings, Pops Mohamed called me early 1995 to say that the Shades choir from London was touring South Africa and that he wanted them to record a few tracks with Bafo Madala. A few weeks later the tapes arrived in the UK during a recording session with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim who were so touched by the music that they asked to take the material to Santa Barbara for further production and overdubs. The track Konko Man or Strong Man has travelled the world and has helped forming a global fan base for this gentle Zulu man from Kwa Zulu Natal. The Oscar nominated local film YESTERDAY for which Madala composed the music, has cemented his reputation and his views expressed in his songs attract a lot of young South Africans in search of traditional values.