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CD Review
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Jazz-not-Jazz, CD Review >>
Since the nice folks at Heads Up kept sending some records during jazz-not-jazz hibernation it's more than fair to review the new album No Boundaries by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Touted as Zulu Goes Classical on Heads Up's website NO Boundaries is indeed an interesting concept that combine South Africa's a cappella English Chamber Orchestra. Having recently dicovered the magic of strings on Alice Coltrane's World Galaxy and Lord Of Lords albums, I must admit that I really like the idea and - what's even more important - the result.
I especially like the original compositions here like the opener Jabulani, an update from their early album Thandani, or Ngingenwe Emoyeni (Wind Of The Spirit Of God), that's maybe the song on the album that sounds the most one might expect a Zulu band to sound like.
Dona Nobis Pacem, which is taken from the MIssa Brevis for Youth Choir by Isak Roux is one of the stand-out songs for me with it's gospel-inspired handclapping.
The only thing that's not workig in my ears is the inclusion of the tenor Robert Brooks on two songs (J.S. Bach's Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring and F. Schubert's Sanctus (Heilig, Heilig, Heilig). First of all this won't work for me because I'm not into classical music and on the other hand it just sounds to forced to me to marry classical European music and Zulu music. Whereas on songs like Walil' Umtwana (The Child Is Crying) or Amazing Grace/Nearer My God To Thee it's just done with ease and great credibility.
All in all an ispiring album that's worth to check out if you're musically open-minded. 02/15/05 >> go there
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