A gorgeous mix of modern jazz and timeless African pulses are produced by composer/trombonist/vocalist Malcolm Jiyane, and performed by the team of Nhlanhla Mahlangu/as, Nkosinathi Mathunjwa/p-key, Tebogo Seitei-Brandon Ruiters/tp, Gontse Makhene/perc, Ayanda Zalekile/b, Lungile Kunene/dr and Tubatsi Mpho Moloi/voc.
There’s an overall mellow and loose bluesiness to the five song album, with a mix of tribal chants and Jiyane’s trombone rumbling like a Serengeti migration on “Moshone” wile Zalekile’s electric bass supplies a supple undercurrent for the trumpets on “Ntate Gwangwa’s Stroll” and the dramatic “Unkhumbi kaMa”, the latter with extra texture from Mathunjwa’s keyboards. The horns are soft and moody under the percolations of “Senzo senKosi” and there’s a rich gospel feel as the voices testify with Mathunjwa’s piano on “Life Esideimeni”. A wondrous suite that captures the exotic sounds of the Rift Valley.