Hugh Masekela - Phola (Sudafrica, 2009)

Hugh Masekela - Phola (Sudafrica, 2009)

       

Phola (Mejora, curar) celebra el setenta aniversario de Hugh Masekela y marca el medio siglo durante el que el trompetista sudafricano ha llevado la música de su tierra por todo el mundo. En su nuevo trabajo (ha publicado ya 35 discos), Masekela reflexiona sobre la vida, el amor, la política y la conciencia social. Nada soprendente ya que, considerado un verdadero héroe en Sudáfrica, es un experto en tales reflexiones. Es un disco hecho, como el propio músico declara en las notas de folleto, para ayudarnos a "mejorar, a curarnos. A relajarnos, a estar a gusto."  Como hizo con su disco anterior de música africana, el gran trompetista sudafricano se ha puesto en manos del multiinstrumentista y productor Erik Paliani. Siete de las nueve canciones del disco s on piezas vocales acompañadas por el fliscorno de Masekela. Desde la autobiográfica "Sonnyboy" y la semipolítica "Bring it back home", a la canción "Ghana" (que recuerda a su deliciosa "In the market place" de 1974) y, la más brillante de todas, "Weather," que parece tratar del cambio climático. De las dos instrumentales, "Moz," nos trae a la memoria su gran éxito de 1968 "Grazing in the grass" (estupendamente acompañado al clarinete por Stewart Levine, productor de "Grazing"), y "The joke of life," de Jon Lucien, es una nueva versión del éxito de 1985. "Phola" contiene uno de los mejores trabajos de Masekela al fliscorno, y, alejado de los clásicos trucos de estudio de sus discos anteriores, muestra al músico más directo, sincero y puro, como lo hiciera en "Home is where the music is", "Hope" y "Time". Duración: 55´18" 

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Hugh Masekela es uno de los compositores sin los cuales no se puede entender la evolución de la música moderna africana. Nacido en 1939 en la República Surafricana, el sonido de su trompeta ha sido un pilar imprescindible del jazz realizado en el gran continente negro (formó parte del grupo The Jazz Epistles, considerada la formación que registró el primer disco de jazz africano en el año 1959). Masekela cogió su primera trompeta a los catorce años y ya no le   caería nunca de las manos, aunque, como muchos otros compatriotas, sufrió la brutal política del apartheid. Al contrario, utilizó su música en los años más terribles de la represión para retratar el conflicto social, la agonía de un pueblo, el abuso del poder, pero sin olvidar nunca, la pasión y la alegría que hicieron mantener viva la dignidad de una gente abandonada. Este compromiso personal y político ha hecho que dos de las piezas más relevantes de su repertorio sean “Soweto Blues” (1977), cantada por Miriam Makeba, otra leyenda musical surafricana, y que recuerda los graves disturbios ocurridos en el año 1976, y “Bring him back home” (1987), convertida en himno de la campaña por la liberación de Nelson Mandela. Durante el largo periodo del exilio (casi treinta años) se reconectó a sus raices africanas, conexión que ya nunca ha abandonado y que está muy viva en “Phola” (Four Quarters, 2009), su nuevo trabajo discográfico.

 Phola celebrates Hugh Masekela's 70th year and marks the South African trumpeter's half century of bringing the music of his homeland to many ears throughout the world.

As such, this musical statement—the 35th under Masekela's own name—seems to call for a glorious, celebratory mood. Instead, it is more of a quiet reflection on life, love, politics and social consciousness.

Nothing wrong with that. Masekela, a true hero in his homeland, is an expert at such reflections. Phola was made, as Masekela's liner notes indicate, to help us "get well, to heal. To relax, to chill." Certainly, he achieves all of this and more here. But, unfortunately, it offers less than it promises. This is the smoothest Masekela has ever sounded.

As he did on his previous studio disc of African music, Revival (Heads Up, 2005), the great South African trumpeter has put himself in the hands of a producer, and the result is something that sounds like a whisper of Masekela's former self.

In this case Masekela has turned himself over to Malawian multi-instrumentalist and producer Erik Paliani, who'd proven himself to Masekela in his work with performers like Lee Ritenour, Mavo Solomon and Zamajobe Sithole.

It all sounds technically beautiful. But something is missing. The hook? The message? The joy? The anger? Who knows?

There is a reflective, autumnal feel to much of the music that suggests someone who has, late in life, found God, and rather than celebrate the joy and happiness he's discovered, resigns himself to regret and sadness—something much opposed to the celebratory happiness Masekela shows on the front cover.

Seven of the disc's nine tunes are vocal pieces that fade out with Masekela soloing on flugelhorn. These range from the autobiographical "Sonnyboy" and the semi-political "Bring It Back Home" to the story song "Ghana" (which recalls Masekela's delightful "In The Market Place" from 1974) and, perhaps the disc's sole highlight, "Weather," which seemingly has something to do with climate change.

Phola's two instrumentals are Masekela's "Moz," which oddly and rather successfully re-thinks the trumpeter's 1968 hit "Grazing in the Grass" (and nicely pairs Masekela with "Grazing" producer Stewart Levine on clarinet), and Jon Lucien's "The Joke Of Life," which Masekela had a hit with back in 1985.

Masekela soars throughout on flugelhorn. Phola, in fact, features some of Masekela's finest work on flugelhorn in some time. Rather than continuing with feats of studio wizardry from the past—namely the brilliant Tomorrow (Warner Bros., 1986)—Masekela seems switched on, up front, honest and pure here, much as he was on Home Is Where The Music Is (Verve, 1972), Hope (Triloka, 1993) and Time (Sony, 2002).

In the end, perhaps, Masekela's horn work is Phola's greatest attribute. Forget the songs here. His playing, long derided by jazz purists, is right on. This is what gives Phola the poetry it possesses. 

Review by Douglas Payne

Relación de Cortes:  

  

1. Mwanayu Wakula

2. Ghana

3. Bring It Back Home

4. Malungelo

5. Moz

6. Sonnyboy

7. Weather

8. Joke Of Life, The (Brinca De Vivre)

9. Hunger 

Personal 

Hugh Masekela: flugelhorn, vocals

David Klassen : drums;

Denny Lalouette: bass

Fana Zulu: bass

Rick Paliani: keys, acoustic guitar, accordion, drum programming, backing vocals

Harold Wynkwardt: electric piano, keys

Mutangwa Ntshauba

Putuma Tiso: backing vocals

Linda Jamisse: backing vocals

Sheila Maxhlungu: backing vocals

Elhadji Ngari Ndong: percussion

Erik Paliani: synth bass, bass, guitar, keys, drum programming, producer, arranger

Ezra Erasmus: electric piano, piano, keys

Ayo Solanke: tenor saxophone

Speedy Kobak: trombone

Neil Engel: trumpet

Mingas: vocals

Sinao Nhacule: african percussion

Amos Mahaule: african percussion

Rolando Lamussene: african percussion

Amade Nharuluque: african percussion

Jimmy Dludlu: acoustic guitar

Stewart Levine: clarinet

Arthur Tshabalala: electric piano, Rhodes

Hugh Masekela - Phola (Sudafrica, 2009)