What we're digging right now: Kheswa & Her Martians
Photo courtesy FlipSwitch
Can you imagine not being able to listen to or play the kind of music you love? South Africa experienced such a plight before and during the Apartheid era, when a self-imposed boycott of jazz led to a diaspora of musicians from the segregated country. Now, Broadway star and gifted ensemble singer Nonhlanhla Kheswa is memorializing those trying times with a beautiful new release: Meadowlands, Stolen Jazz (Xippi Phonorecords). Named for Strike Vilakazi's rebellious 1955 composition, this live album glides, glistens and bops like few modern jazz collections do. Kheswa & Her Martians strut from throwback numbers (the breezy "Tshona") to rhythmic powerhouse performances ("Jikele Maweni"). The chanteuse's vocals are striking and heart-pounding as she summons the storytelling prowess she nurtured as a featured singer for The Lion King and as a member of Wyclef Jean's crew. Hers is a voice that can command the sun to rise and the moon to dance. Meadowlands, Stolen Jazz not only serves as an impressive (re)introduction to Kheswa's artistry, but it also is a testament to the rich history of the genre that South Africa has nurtured. Study up and prepare to be moved.
More from Melissa Bobbitt (See All)
Album Review - Braid, 'No Coast'
Melissa Bobbitt 0BraidNo CoastTopshelf “I don’t want to have to defend my medicine,” sings Bob Nanna on “Light Crisis,” which appears on the first full-length Braid album in 16 years. It’s a rattling but familiar taste of emo that...
Jul 7, 2014
Innovations in Music: One Old-School, One New-School
Melissa Bobbitt 0Something old, something new. The soundwaves are always undulating back and forth like so. Same goes for tech innovations within the music world. Here we explore two novel approaches to every artist's goal of getting...
Nov 10, 2014Comments
Recent posts
Subscribe!
Receive updates on what's going on in live entertainment, events, and music.
