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| As-Shams Archive Vol. 2: Super Jazz from Joburg & Soweto 1974-1978 |
MAY 2026: As-Shams Archive Vol. 2: Super Jazz from Joburg & Soweto 1974-1978 is a digital release that compiles tracks originally issued by the Jo'Burg, Soweto and R&T labels of the Satbel music company, which ran a cutting-edge recording studio on Marshall Street in Johannesburg during the 1970s. A batch of the company's jazz, funk and soul titles were later acquired by producer Rashid Vally for As-Shams/The Sun, including works by sax heavyweights Winston Mankunku Ngozi and Mike Makhalemele, guitar heroes Themba Mokoena and Allen Kwela, indigenous jazz innovators Batsumi and the fusion supergroup Spirits Rejoice.
With 12 tracks representing 12 classic albums, As-Shams Archive Vol. 2 showcases the depth and breadth of modern, independent music in South Africa in the 1970s and celebrates the ambition and spirit of the artists, engineers, producers and promoters who helped build the country's eclectic and enduring jazz scene.
1. THEMBA feat. THEMBA MOKOENA – “Fana Fana” (M. Dlamini)
From the album Themba (Soweto, 1976)
Guitar – Themba Mokoena.
2. THE CLIFFS feat. WINSTON MANKUNKU NGOZI – “Gu Gu Lethu” (W. Ngozi)
From the album Alex Express (R & T, 1975)
Alto Sax – Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Trumpet – Stompie Manana/George Tyefumani, Organ – Roger Khoza, Guitar – Allen Kwela, Bass – Philip Kiti, Drums – Peter Jackson.
3. ALLEN KWELA – “Quaphela” (A. Kwela)
From the album Black Beauty (Soweto, 1975)
Guitar – Allen Kwela, Alto Sax – Kippie Moeketsi/Barney Rachabane, Tenor Sax – Stanley Sithole, Trumpet – Dennis Maple, Piano – Dimpie Tshabalala, Bass – Boy Ramotsie, Drums – Gilbert Matthews.
4. THE HEADQUARTERS – “Mthuthuzeli” (B. Piliso)
From the album Thando (Soweto, 1976)
Tenor Sax – Boikie Piliso, Alto Sax – Lemmy Mabaso, Trumpet – Peter Segona, Piano – Dimpie Tshabalala, Bass – Justice Maphumulo, Drums – David Ramogase.
5. BEN NOMOYI – “Jubliee” (D. Makasi)
From the album Born to Lose (R & T, 1974)
Trumpet – Dennis Mpale, Tenor Sax – Duke Makasi/Themba Koyana, Piano – Bucs Gongo, Bass – Zulu Bidi, Drums – Max Diamond, Percussion – Bingo Mbonjeni.
6. MIKE MAKHALEMELE – “Gone and Forever” (M. Makhalemele)
From the album Peaceful Eyes (Jo’Burg, 1976)
Tenor Sax – Mike Makhalemele.
7. SOUL OF THE CITY feat. KIPPIE MOEKETSI – “City Soul” (T. Rabin)
From the album Diagonal Street (Jo’Burg, 1975)
Alto Sax – Kippie Moeketsi, Tenor Sax – Mike Makhalemele, Trumpet – Themba Mehlomakulu, Guitar/Keyboards/Bass/Vibes – Trevor Rabin, Guitar – Malcolm Watson, Drums/Percussion – Kevin Kruger.
8. THE COOL CATS – “Monty’s Bar” (C.B. Matiwane)
From the album Sikiza Steady (Soweto, 1976)
Tenor Sax – Mike Makhalemele, Trumpet – Banza Kgasoane, Piano – Jabu Nkosi, Guitar – Anderson Nkosi, Bass – Given Sabela, Drums – Gilbert Matthews.
9. SAUL MALAPANE – “Dijo” (S. Malapane)
From the album Of Mice and Men (Soweto, 1975)
Guitar – Saul Malapane.
10. MIKE MAKHALEMELE & WINSTON MANKUNKU NGOZI – “Togetherness” (M. Makhalmele)
From the album The Bull and the Lion (Jo’Burg, 1976)
Sax/Voices – Mike Makhalemele/Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Guitar – Trevor Rabin, Piano – Tete Mbambisa, Bass – Ronnie Robot, Drums – Neil Cloud.
11. SPIRITS REJOICE – “Emakhaya” (S. Gumede)
From the album Spirits Rejoice! (Jo’Burg, 1978)
Tenor Sax – Duke Makasi, Alto Sax/Flute – Robbie Jansen, Trumpet/Spoken Word – George Tyefumani, Second Trumpet – Thabo Mashishi, Piano – Mervyn Africa, Guitar – Paul Petersen, Bass – Sipho Gumede, Drums – Gilbert Matthews.
12. BATSUMI – “Anishilabi” (J. Mothopeng, L. Mothopeng, B. Zwane, T. Masemola, Z. Bidi)
From the album Batsumi (R & T, 1974)
Percussion/Drums – Lekgabe Abel Maleka, Vocals/Bongos – Buta-Buta Zwane, Acoustic Guitar/Vocals – Maswaswe John Mothopeng, Organ – Sello Lancelot Mothopeng, Tenor Sax – Themba Koyana, Drums/Flute – Thabang Masemola, Bass – Zulu Bidi.
• Tracks 1, 6 and 9 credited to album artists only as complete lineups are undocumented. Performer credits for tracks 5, 7, 10, 11 and 12 as listed on original album sleeves. Speculative lineups provided for tracks 2, 3, 4 and 8.
• Album artwork inspired by the Soweto label's two-volume Super Jazz compilation series of 1975 with photo insets of Winston Mankunku Ngozi (left) and Mike Makhalemele (right).
Audio Mastering by Richard Vossgatter
Design by Naomi e'Camara
Compiled and Produced by Calum MacNaughton
Executive Producer: Rashid Vally
Cat. No. ASA102
℗ 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978 © 2026 As-Shams Archive
As-Shams Archive is home to the catalogues of As-Shams/The Sun, its predecessor Soultown Records and the reissue imprint MANDLA. The archive holds original master tapes, unreleased recordings, photographs, artwork and ephemera documenting the story of South African jazz in the 1970s.
