 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |
"The CHISA Years" |
 | ||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
 | ||||||
ROOTDOWN COMMENT >>
All tracks produced by legendary South African trumpeter and all round Muso-god Hugh between 65 and 75 for the New York CHISA label and all great, top-notch afro soul jazz gems - this is absolutely essential for HM fans and newbies alike...
EDITORIAL REVIEW >>
BBE Records is proud to release the new album from World music and South African trumpet great, Hugh Masekela, Presents: The CHISA Years 1965 – 1975 (Rare & Unreleased). The tracks on the album come from the vaults of CHISA Records, the label formed and run by Hugh Masekela and producer Stewart Levine.
Hugh Masekela has enjoyed major success as one of the earliest leaders in fusing Pop, Funk, R&B, Disco, Afropop, and Jazz. Masekela’s vibrant trumpet and flugelhorn solos have been featured on hundreds of recordings. He’s had American and international hits and worked with bands all around the world, including Paul Simon’s Graceland. In addition to being an accomplished mucician, Masekela has produced for World music great Miriam Makeba and others.
Stewart Levine has produced music over the years for Hugh Masekela, Simply Red ("Holding Back The Years"), The Crusaders, Dixie Dregs, Minnie Ripperton, Sly & The Family Stone, and B.B. King. Recently, Levine has produced Jamie Cullum’s Twentysomething and Catching Tales albums.
 |  | 'A Cheeka Laka Laka' Baranta |
| | 'Afro Beat Blues' Ojah |
| | 'Ahvuomo' Baranta |
| | 'Amo Sakesa' Baranta |
| | 'Aredze' The Zulus |
| | 'Awe Mfana' Johanesburg Street Band |
| | 'Joala' The Zulus |
| | 'Macongo' Letta Mbulu |
| | 'Mahlalela' Letta Mbulu |
| | 'Melodi (Sounds Of Home)' Letta Mbulu |
| | 'Tepo' Baranta |
| | 'U Se Mcani' Letta Mbulu |
| | 'Witch Doctor' Baranta |
| | 'Za Labalaba' The Zulus |
LISTENER REVIEWS >>
Obscure joints from a musical legend
There are two types of African music aficionados. There are those who delve deep into the music and unearth gems from across a continent whose musicality has essentially been ignored by the West and there are those who only know Fela Kuti and Hugh Masekela. This record is one that should both appeal to and teach something new to both of those camps.
CHISA was Hugh Masekela's label, both creatively and as a business venture. In partnership with producer Stewart Levine, the label made its name by releasing more than a dozen albums of Masekela's own work and another dozen or so records from The Jazz Crusaders. Neither of those very well-known bodies of work are represented on this CHISA retrospective.
The artists highlighted here represent the more obscure side of CHISA's ventures into Africa. Much of it still involves Masekela as a creative force (The Zulus were he and Levine's group). It also includes unreleased material from notable African artists including Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbulu, Ojah, and Miatta Fahinbulleh. The overall feel of the record is one of fusion. Masekela's involvement in most of the recordings means his Afro-jazz leanings influence and are influenced by the varying musical stances of those he collaborated with. This record is substantial in that it completes the picture of Masekela's evolution as both a musician and a purveyor of music.
OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIKE "The CHISA Years" ALSO LIKE >>
 | "Still Grazing" by Hugh Masekela MORE INFO |
 | "Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela" by Hugh Masekela MORE INFO |
 | "Live at the Market Theatre (2CD SET)" by Hugh Masekela MORE INFO |
 | "20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection" by Hugh Masekela MORE INFO |
 | "The Collection" by Hugh Masekela MORE INFO |
