The Jazz Epistles

The Jazz Epistles

= Jazz Epistles =

Jazz Epistles was South Africa's first important (albeit short lived) bebop band. Inspired by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, its members included Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim) on piano, Kippie Moeketsi on alto saxophone, Jonas Gwangwa on trombone, Hugh Masekela on trumpet, Johnny Gertse on guitar, and Early Mabuza or Makaya Ntshoko on drums. The group became famous after performing in the jam sessions called "Jazz at the Odin" in the Odin Theater in Sophiatown.

In 1959 just before breaking up, Jazz Epistles recorded the first album by a black South African band, "Jazz Epistle, Verse 1". That same year, composer Todd Matshikiza's musical " King Kong" became a hit in Johannesburg. It used a jazz score to tell the tragic story of South African heavyweight boxer Ezekial "King Kong" Dhlamini. Miriam Makeba, members of the Manhattan Brothers, and the Jazz Epistles musicians were involved in the production.

The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre marked the beginning of an era of vicious apartheid and greater repression of African culture. After Sharpeville, the government imposed a State of Emergency, made mass arrests, issued thousands of bannings, and put activists who challenged apartheid laws on trial. The repression extended to African arts. Jazz was an expressive force seeking musical and social equality. The apartheid system could not tolerate it. Performances were not allowed, jazz was prohibited from radio broadcasts, and prominent musicians were threatened.

When the producers of "King Kong" received invitations to perform in Europe, the South African government, believing the musical would be helpful propaganda, issued passports to African performers who otherwise would not have had opportunities to leave the country. Members of Jazz Epistles welcomed the opportunity. Most of them found the freedom and the contacts with other musicians in Europe irresistible and chose exile over returning. Thus many of the most adventurous strains in South African music were pursued outside its borders for several decades.

External links

* [http://home.worldonline.co.za/~afribeat/archiveafrica_sa%20jazz.html Bebop and beyond the blues -- South African Jazz History]
* [http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/culture/922566.htm The New Jazz]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • South African jazz — is, put most simply, the jazz music of South Africa, also called African jazz often. As in the United States, South African jazz was strongly influenced by the music styles of the black population. That said influences from the US led to its… …   Wikipedia

  • History of music in the biblical period — David Playing the Harp by Jan de Bray, 1670. Knowledge of the biblical period is mostly from literary references in the Bible and post biblical sources. Religion and music historian Herbert Lockyer, Jr. writes that music, both vocal and… …   Wikipedia

  • Sophiatown, Gauteng — Sophiatown (pronounced with a long, stressed i ) (also known as Sof town or Kofifi ) is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 4 [http://www.joburg.org.za/regions/region4 about.stm] . Originally called Sophiatown, it was… …   Wikipedia

  • Hugh Masekela — Infobox musical artist Name = Hugh Masekela Landscape = yes Birth name = Hugh Ramopolo Masekela Background = non vocal instrumentalist Born = birth date and age|1939|4|4 Origin = Witbank South Africa Died = Instrument = Trumpet, Flugelhorn,… …   Wikipedia

  • Abdullah Ibrahim — Background information Birth name Adolph Johannes Brand Born 9 October 1934 (19 …   Wikipedia

  • Dollar Brand — Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim Alias Dollar Brand Nom Adolph Johannes Brand …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Abdullah Ibrahim — Surnom Dollar Brand Nom Adolph Johannes Brand Naissance …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Todd Matshikiza — Todd Tozama Matshikiza (b. 1921 d. 1968) was a South African jazz pianist, composer and journalist.OverviewMatshikiza came from a musical family. He graduated from St Peter s College in Rosettenville, Johannesburg and went on to obtain a diploma… …   Wikipedia

  • Makaya Ntshoko — Makaya or Makhaya Ntshoko (b. October 29, 1939, Cape Town) is a South African drummer. Ntshoko played with Dollar Brand s trio in 1958, and recorded in a sextet with Hugh Masekela and John Mehegan in 1959. Ntshoko plays on the Jazz Epistles album …   Wikipedia

  • Kippie Moeketsi — Kippie ‘Morolong’ Moeketsi (1925 1983) was a legendary South African saxophonist and jazz musician. Born into a musical Johannesburg family, Moeketsi was the youngest of four brothers, each of whom played an instrument. Growing up in George Goch… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”