Henry's Sextet - Imvulamlomo / Shoshoba
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HENRY'S SEXTET
IMVULAMLOMO / SHOSHOBA


recorded 1966
issued 1966
Umsakazo
EMI
made in South Africa
published by Ardmore and Beechwood, SA
UM 27
matrix 0UM 173
matrix 0UM 174
78 rpm
first issue
source: Flatinternational Archive

TRACK LISTING

 

1.1Imvulamlomo

(Henry Sithole)

2.2Shoshoba

(Henry Sithole)

ARTISTS

 

HENRY'S SEXTET
HENRY SITHOLE - alto sax, leader
ALMON MEMELA - guitar

NOTES

 

Henry Sithole leads this sextet (though I am not sure there are six here) with some dynamic sax jive just as the musical form was transforming into the more elastic mbaganga sound so familar to the 1970s. Its possible that Stanley Sithole, his brother, could have been a member of this group though I don't believe I hear a second horn on the disc. Its more likely that Almon Memela joins Henry on guitar. All three formed part of Almon's Jazz Eight for a number of recordings from this period.

Formed in 1963 by Memela, the Jazz Eight recorded and performed throughout the 60s and 70s. Henry and Stanley Sithole joined the group around 1966 and were soon followed by future Drive co-member, Bunny Luthuli in 1968.

A number of their 78 rpm recordings, including material by Henry's Sextet, Stanley and his Sax, Abanumzane and the Jumping Beans were compiled on an LP as Almon's Jazz Eight, and issued on EMI's Umsakazo label in 1968.

In 1969 the Sithole Brothers formed the Heshoo Beshoo Group before they with Luthuli established South Africa's preeminent soul jazz group, The Drive, in 1971.

Sadly both Bunny Luthuli and Henry Sithole died in a car accident in Tzaneen on May 5th, 1977.