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Washington Post, Concert Preview >>
Joseph Shabalala founded the male a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo 30 years ago in the South African province of Natal. His blending of several Zulu vocal traditions and the European tradition of choral church music was so inventive, so compelling that it became popular at home and later -- thanks to a collaboration with Paul Simon on his 1986 "Graceland" album -- around the globe. Shabalala emerged as one of Africa's leading composers and bandleaders, but in 2002, his triumph was shattered by the unsolved murder of his wife, Nellie. The new Ladysmith Black Mambazo album, "Raise Your Spirit Higher," doesn't address the murder directly until the final track -- and then only in the awkward, rap-informed voices of Shabalala's grandsons. But the shadow of tragedy falls over all the songs, which are more subdued, more meditative than the vibrant, percussive singing of the group's earlier work{grv}. The lyrics are still upbeat, but the music reveals the struggle required to overcome doubts and remain positive. This melancholy strain lends a whole new quality to the group's music. In place of the old rhythmic accenand infectious energy, there is now a tender, bruised timbre, a fluidity of phrasing and a richer, bass-heavy approach to harmony. Whether it's a religious hymn such as "Uqinisil' Ubada" or political commentary such as "Wenza Ngani?" this is music not of celebration but of consolation. -- Geoffrey Himes 02/06/04
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