In 2003 South African saxophonist and flautist Zim Ngqawana was invited by the University of Tennessee to be the artist in residence. He accepted due to the presence of pianist Donald Brown, whom Ngqawana has been profoundly influenced by in his work with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Whilst there he took up an opportunity to record not only with Brown, but other faculty members Mark Boling on guitar, Keith Brown percussion and Rusty Holloway on bass. The resulting double cd live performance covers many moods, all composed by Ngqawana except for a lackadasical take on Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood. Ngqawana has always had on ear on the US and you can hear the reverence in his music, clearly worshipping at the temple of not only Ellington but Coltrane, Charlie Parker, even Anthony Braxton. His music references South African folk and jazz traditions as well,yet also the more spiritual form of jazz that Coltrane was espousing before he died. There’s no doubting the strength of his convictions which comes across in the power of his music. Yet he has the ability to bring everything right down and craft these gentle melodic lines, creating a stillness, often through unexpected means such as whistles which are nothing short of gorgeous.
Bob Baker Fish
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