The African Jazz Pioneers – The African Jazz Pioneers
I’m tempted to change the plan to post a series of South African tracks. After the English goalkeeper’s calamitous fumble in the England v. USA game, I feel I should be posting It’s Not Easy Being Green by Van Morrison! But no, I’ll not be diverted from my original intention. South African music it is. Today, I give you The African Jazz Pioneers.
The music of the African Jazz Pioneers had it’s origins in the 1950s. Jazz music with a distinctly South African accent was being played all round South Africa by the likes of Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim), Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Dudu Pukwana and many other lesser known players.
The music faded in popularity in the sixties but in 1981 many of the old Jazzers got together to recreate the joyful music of the 50s and The African Jazz Pioneers were born. They played locally for nearly a decade before recording their first album. Since then, with changing personnel, they have recorded several albums, have toured the world and shared the stage with artists like Youssou N’Dour, Quincy Jones, Manhattan Transfer, Neville Brothers, Chick Corea, Gilberto Gil, Salif Keita, Nina Simone, Rita and Ziggy Marley, as well as most of South Africa’s home grown stars.
The track I’ve posted is from their album just called The African Jazz Pioneers. The track Ten Ten Special was “composed way back in the 50s when black people were subject to a 10 pm curfew. At 10 pm all blacks had to be off the streets otherwise they would be arrested. The last train from Town to Soweto (Pimville) was known as the 10/10 Special. Clearly not a train to miss”.