Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Louis Mhlanga: World Traveller
Louis Mhlanga: World Traveller
ByThis 2005 collection is mostly a retrospective album of Mhlanga's earlier releases for Sheer Sound. However, for people who are familiar with the guitarist's music, World Traveller also contains three new recordings that revisit some of his earlier, mostly pre-Sheer Sound, material.
The selections focus on the artist's more upbeat, danceable side, with tracks like "Rhumba All the Way (featuring Orchestra Baobab), "Mari Hukuna and "Zuva. We only get a taste of his more introspective worktwo sublime duet albums with upright bassist Eric van der Westenon one track, "Kamba Kemaziso. However, the general absence of these albums from this compilation makes for a more thematically unified release, and the curious can always pick up the duet albums later.
Ultimately, World Traveller gives a clear and useful introduction to listeners not familiar with Mhlanga's music, and provides some extremely worthwhile new material for those who have already heard his work. For further listening, check out his duet album with Vusi Mahlasela, Live at the Bass line, and the two above-mentioned albums with Eric van der Westen, Song for Nomsa and Keeping the Dream.
Note: This recording is available from One World on the web.
Track Listing
Rhumba All the Way; Afrika Ya Uya; Shungu Iwe; Spreading Some Love; Hona Ka; Serina; Distant Lover; Gumbo Muchochocho; Kamba Kemaziso; International Rhumba; Mari Hakuna; Zuva; Chifamba; Rudo; Take Me; What the Future Holds.
Personnel
Louis Mhlanga: guitar, vocals; Jimi Indi: bass; Sam Mataure: drums; Basi Mahlasela: percussion; Orchestra Baobab: guests; Denny Lalouette: bass; Sello Montwedi: drums; Elhadji Diop: percussion; Andile Yenana: keyboards; Nomsa Magwaza: vocals; Sipho Nkosiyani: vocals; Ernest Ranglin: guitar; Michael Phillipgs: bass; Sam Mataure: drums; Randal Skippers: keyboards; Rob Watson: drums; Oliver Mtukudzi: vocals; Stella Humalo: vocals; Faith Kekana: vocals; Bushy Seatlholo: synth; Herbie Tsoaeli: bass; Candy Mokwena: vocals; Nurse Matala: vocals; Habib Koite: guitar; Eric van der Westen: bass; Jeroen Van Vliet: keyboards; Busi Mhlongo: vocals; Chiwoniso: vocals; Marcus Wyatt: trumpet; Basi Mahlasela: percussion; Sydney Mnisi: tenor sax.
Album information
Title: World Traveller | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Sheer Sound
< Previous
Fumio Yasuda and Theo Bleckmann: Las ...
Next >
Electropolis