GIDEON NXUMALO - "Early-Mart Suite"

24 December 2020: Gideon Nxumalo was a key figure during the formative years of South African jazz in the 1950s, helping shape the emerging South African jazz sound as a pianist and composer and contributing to the scene as a radio presenter, music teacher and arranger. His recorded output as bandleader/composer is comprised of three iconic albums from Jazz Fantasia (1962) to Gideon Plays (1968) to Early-Mart (1970).

Early-Mart was Gideon Nxumalo's tribute to his friend and musical compatriot, drummer Early Mabuza (Castle Lager Big Band, Mankunku Quartet), who died in 1969. Nxumalo assembled what journalist and observer Leslie Sehume reports was a 14-piece band for the album, which was recorded during a legendary overnight session in February 1970 and released just months before Nxumalo's own death on 24 December 1970.

Opening the album is the 15-minute title suite Early-Mart, a journey through the life of Early Mabuza that is epic in scope and varied in form and that reconciles moments of great joy with others of deep pathos. As a precursor to our 50th anniversary vinyl repressing of the album and its full digital release, we present the composition's two distinct musical parts accompanied by an archival portrait of Early Mabuza from 1970 by artist Winston Saoli.

Produced by Rashid Vally, Early-Mart (KRS 107) was released on Soultown Records, which would evolve into As-Shams/The Sun in 1974. It was Vally's first foray into avant-garde South African jazz and would lead to his label's fertile relationship with Abdullah Ibrahim (recording as Dollar Brand). Winston Saoli's painting was not used for the original release of Early-Mart in 1970 but his work does appear on Dollar Brand + 2 - Peace (KRS 110) in 1971.

Composed & Arranged by Gideon "Mgibe" Nxumalo

Recorded at Ster Studios, Johannesburg

Engineer: Trevor Evans

Produced by Rashid Vally

Cat. No. KRS 107S 

℗ 1970 © 2020 As-Shams Archive

DIGITAL SINGLE

SISONKE XONTI - uGaba the Migration

13 November 2020: Highly anticipated sophomore release from saxophonist and composer Sisonke Xonti, winner of South Africa's 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz. At the centre of the album, Xonti's four-part "Migration Suite" is his boldest work to date, exploring rural and urban identity and the perilous spiritual journey from homeland to the global village. Produced by Xonti and pianist Yonela Mnana and featuring photography by Mandisa Buthelezi, the album appears on As-Shams/The Sun as part of a roster of new artist releases on the cusp of the iconic South African jazz label's 50th anniversary.

Music & Words by S. Xonti • Photography by Mandisa Buthelezi

"The Call" by S. Xonti & B. Dyer with Lyrics by Keorapetse Kolwane
Poem “Migration” on "The Migration Suite Part II" by Teboho Moleko

Tenor Sax • Soprano Sax • Vox - Sisonke Xonti
Piano • Vox - Yonela Mnana
Trumpet - Sakhile Simani
Double Bass - Benjamin Jephta
Drums - Sphelelo Mazibuko
Percussion - Tlale Makhene

 

Featuring:

Bokani Dyer - Rhodes

Keorapetse Kolwane - Vox

Lwanda Gogwana - Trumpet 

Vuyo Manyike - Electric Bass

Leagan Breda - Drums

Produced by Sisonke Xonti & Yonela Mnana
Recorded by Peter Auret at Sumo Sound Studio, Johannesburg
Assistant Engineers: Tshepo Mothwa & Luyanda Molao
Mixed by Francis Müller • Mastered by Rogan Kelsey
Created with the Support of Standard Bank
Design Layout by Rouleaux van der Merwe
Produced for As-Shams by Calum MacNaughton

Cat. No. SRK 897246

DIGITAL ALBUM

UPDATE // TETE MBAMBISA - Did You Tell Your Mother

JUNE 2020: Revisiting archival recordings helps us collectively assemble, re-construct and write the story of South African jazz. It also provides a crucial opportunity to honour the elders of the jazz scene and acknowledge their profound contributions to shaping the genre in our country. Making all this possible is a small but dedicated music community that manifests these artefacts through passionate support. Thank you. We're delighted that Did You Tell Your Mother has reached many of you in lockdown but also a little heartbroken that this reissue has arrived at a time where we can't gather publicly to celebrate composer and pianist Tete Mbambisa in the manner he deserves. While we await a clear view to a Cape Town event, you can seek out a copy of this classic 1979 release on LP from SA record stores, CDs directly from Tete's management or DIGITAL ALBUM.

BIRDSONG ENSEMBLE - Imvuselelo

Trumpet - Mandla Mlangeni

Tenor Sax - Max Treutner

Alto Sax - Benedikt Reising

Trombone - Josephine Nagorsnik

Bass - Oz Yehiely

Drums - Felix Wolf

Composed by Mandla Mlangeni

Album Artowork by Baba Tjeko

Recorded in Bern, Switzerland in 2018

Mixed & Mastered by Gavan Eckhart at Soul Fire

Produced for As-Shams by Calum MacNaughton
Cat. No. SRK 897245
DIGITAL ALBUM

MARCH 2020: Composer and trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni is a dynamic and ambitious young force in South African jazz and has gained traction internationally via residencies in Germany and Switzerland and as a member of Shabaka & The Ancestors. As a bandleader, Mlangeni nurtures a palette of shapeshifting projects from the Amandla Freedom Ensemble to the Tune Recreation Committee to showcase his compositions at home and abroad. The BirdSong Ensemble behind Imvuselelo is a formidable Swiss collective and the recording follows Mlangeni's Berlin-based Bird Song Project LP of 2017. Album artwork was created by South African designer Baba Tjeko and the release marks the 2020 revival of the iconic As-Shams/The Sun South African jazz label. The title track and centrepiece of the album "Imvuselelo" means reawakening and is a 3/4 waltz composed in 2014. Imvuselelo is available in a vinyl edition of 300 copies with an expanded DIGITAL ALBUM featuring an alternate take of "Tau Ya Afrika."