A collaboration from Southern Africa crossing over to include Caribbean, West African and other world influences and ambient sounds.

16 MP3 Songs
WORLD: World Fusion, WORLD: African

Details:
GRASSROOTS a few magic jams

It all began as a series of magic jams at Southern Cross Studios in Observatory, Joâburg. The first was with the late Gito Baloi (bass/vocals), Dave Reynolds (steelpan/additional instruments) and Chris Tokalon (flute/saxophone). From the jams, three tunes emerge â âShimishweniâ, âMpumalangaâ and âSpiritâs Danceâ and a whole new sound.

Enter some of the finest talents on the contemporary African scene: world-class guitarist/vocalist Louis Mhlanga, bassman/vocalist Concord and vocalist/trombonist Siya Makuzeni. A few jams later and the project GRASSROOTS is born. The first album, âAfrican Moodsâ continues in the spirit of those first few jams â a collaboration of highly skilled artists exploring new landscapes and textures, embracing everything from ancestral roots elements to the present and looking deep into the future.

The album flows: Rhythm and folk melodies glide into instrumentals painted with improvisations and washed with ambient sounds. With different vocalists featured on different tracks, thereâs a feeling of the tremendous scope of music making today, and of the many untold stories of Southern Africa. Yet with all the diversity, the musical strands weave together into one identifiable sound. Itâs the sound of those first few magic jams â the sound of GRASSROOTS.

With three South African Music Award nominations including best duo/group and best adult contemporary African, sold out premier shows at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the ground-breaking video "Emakhaya", a hit single on âthe African Top Tenâ on South African radio Kaya FM, a Xitsonga Music Award nomination on Munghana Lonene radio in South Africa, and a documentary entitled "Fresh Sounds from Southern Africa", GRASSROOTS is flying.

Personnel:

Louis Mhlanga (guitar & vocals)
Dave Reynolds (steelpans & additional instruments)
Concord (Bass & vocals)
Jeff Maluleke (vocals & chants)
Siya Makuzeni (vocals & trombone)
Gito Baloi (Bass, vocals & chants)
Sello Montwedi (drums)
Kathy Van Rensburg (vocals)
Sam Mataure (drums)
Chris Tokalon (flute, sax, vocal effects, chants)
Koffi (Bass & vocals)
William Mudau (Kalimba)
Ronan Skillen (digeridoo)

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