Various Artists - Kwela
Cover
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LINER NOTES

 

SENSACIONAL! DISTINTO!
BAILE AL RITMO SUGESTIVO DE LA KWELA (Penny Whistle)

LA QUENA AFRICANA QUE HACE ESTREMECER AL MUNDO

Reza un viejo refran griego que "del Africa siempre surge olgo nuevo". Podriamos explayarlo y decir que de lo viejo siempre surge algo nuevo. La quena es uno de los primeros instrumentos de viento utiiizado por el hombre para dar voz a la musica que brotaba de su ser, cuando trataba de dar forma a los sonidos de la naturaleza que escuchaba a su alrededor, a las inquietudes de su alma indigena, a los sentimientos de su corazon. Hoy surge KWELA del Africa con un nuevo sonido en el mundo moderno. Esta quenita se ha asociado con un acom-panamiento ritmico para producir un compas de baile que es verdaderamente sensacional y que esta haciendo furor en todo el mundo. Su simplicidad fundamental y la repetition de la melodia y del ritmo, perfectamente adoptados al jazz moderno, son factores preponderantes en la atraccion que KWELA ejerce sobre todos.

¡De verdad, algo nuevo, algo distinto, algo sensacional, ha surgido del Africa!



 

VARIOUS ARTISTS
KWELA


recorded 1957c
issued 1958c
Vik
RCA Victor
made in Argentina
LZ 1026
matrix KAHP 7260
matrix KAHP 7261
33 rpm
first issue
cover images by Castros
cover printed by Eduardo F. Girard
source: Flatinternational Archive

TRACK LISTING

 

1.1LESLIE NKOSI AND THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
Baleka

(Leslie Nkosi)

1.2CALVIN MOHALE AND THE SHARP SHOOT BOYS
Magic Blues

(Calvin Mohale)

1.3THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
Mavava

(Benjamin Masindi)

1.4LESLIE NKOSI
Baza-Baza

(Leslie Nkosi)

1.5THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
Well! A Kwela

(Benjamin Masindi)

1.6BARNEY RACHABANE AND THE ALEXANDRA JUNIOR STARS
Little Man Special

(Barney Rachabane)

2.7CALVIN MOHALE AND THE SHARP SHOOT BOYS
Calvin Special

(Calvin Mohale)

2.8LESLIE NKOSI AND THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
Leslie's Rock

(Leslie Nkosi)

2.9THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
Tom Cat

(L. Matlotlo)

2.10THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
Five O'clock Kwela

(Benjamin Masindi)

2.11BUSH FLUTE BOYS
Sugar Special

(V. Thekwane)

2.12BARNEY RACHABANE AND THE ALEXANDRA JUNIOR STARS
Piccannini

(Barney Rachabane)

ARTISTS

 

LESLIE NKOSI - flute
THE ALEXANDRA DEAD END KIDS
BENJAMIN MASINDI - flute
SHAKES MOLEPO - flute
JOSEPH MAHLATSI - flute
SOPHONIA NAMINI - flute
CALVIN MOHALE - flute
SHARP SHOOT BOYS
BARNEY RACHABANE - flute
ALEXANDRA JUNIOR STARS
BUSH FLUTE BOYS

NOTES

 

This is a fantastic compilation of South African kwela tracks pressed in Argentina. Half the tracks feature the Alexandra Dead End Kids who also performed with American clarinetist Tony Scott when he toured South Africa in August 1957. View the LP: Tony Scott in South Africa. Both LPs were issued by RCA and both covers feature an identical photograph of boys performing and dancing on a street in (possibly) Alexandra Township. The album also includes some really early flute work by a young Barney Rachabane.

It is difficult to date the recordings, but I am guessing that they were made around the same period as the Tony Scott recordings in 1957. Also I have tried to translate the group names from the Spanish, however please let me know if they are in error.