ZULU BIDI AND BATSUMI: NEXT STOP SOWETO 3

Zulu Bidi was a member of the South African jazz group Batsumi, who recorded an incredible album in 1974. Here is a piece of a cool BBC documentary about ZB.

BATSUMI (1974)

Dusty Groove's take:

One of the most compelling albums we've heard from the African scene of the 70s – a rare set from a Soweto group, and one that's got a heavy dose of spiritual jazz in the mix! The album almost feels more like the kind of set you'd hear by a Paris group, extrapolating African sounds in the post-colonial era – or an American group, inspired by roots from the homeland – and the group sports some especially great work on tenor, played by Themba Koyana, a player we've never heard before! Rhythms are great, with lots of percussion, and some nice funky undercurrents at times – and other instrumentation includes organ, which often works well with the echo-ey production. The album does have some occasional vocals, but the main focus is instrumental, which is very jazzy too.

Itumeleng is on the 1974 self-titled LP recently re-issued in a very limited 500 copies worldwide. Massive props to Matsuli for dropping this!!!! It's sold out now.

But you can also find the track on the astonishing "Next Stop Soweto 3" compilation. This volume focuses on jazz and it's massive. Deep spiritual jazz, township grooves, funky fusions, modern modals... It's available on Strut




The video here is edited and shortened by about four minutes, missing the classical inspired intro.

PROMO VIDEO FOR NEXT STOP SOWETO 3