Transitioning from Black Disco through Movement in the City to releasing albums as a solo artist, Pops Mohamed's 20-year trajectory through the As-Shams catalogue is second to none. Coming in the wake of the Black Disco compilation Discovery 1975-1976, Movement in the City 3 is an archival release that spans the late-70s and early-80s and assembles hidden gems from Mohamed's second progressive South African jazz ensemble.
Featuring four outtakes (three of which are previously unreleased) as well as an alternate version of a track from the band's self-titled debut of 1979 and a single edit from its 1981 follow-up Black Teardrops, Movement in the City 3 provides the long-awaited final instalment of a trilogy that echoes the three-album output of Black Disco. Alongside Mohamed on organ are stalwart compatriots Sipho Gumede (bass) and Basil Coetzee (tenor sax/flute) as well as Robbie Jansen (alto sax) and three fine drummers by way of Gilbert Matthews, Roger Harry and Monty Weber. That these extraordinary recordings didn't find their way onto an album in the 1980s is testament to the depth of quality produced at the time.
Movement in the City 3 is Volume 6 in a series of compilations and previously unreleased recordings from As-Shams Archive that include Tete Mbambisa's African Day (2024) and Kippie Moeketsi's Hard Top (2025).
Tracks 1, 2, 5: Previously unreleased Movement in the City outtakes.
Track 3: An alternate version of "Jackie" featuring Basil Coetzee on flute instead of tenor sax from Movement in the City's self-titled debut of 1979.
Track 4: Movement in the City outtake renamed and issued as "Happy Feelin'" on the Pops Mohamed album Kalamazoo in 1990.
Track 6: Single edit issued in 2020 of the album opener "Lament" from Movement in the City's 1981 album Black Teardrops.
