Modes Of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds
Release Date: 2020-04-03
Country: US
Tracklist
- Yehlisan'uMoya (7:54)
- Saziwa Nguwe (2:53)
- Beneath The Earth (7:45)
- Unyazi (9:49)
- Isithunywa (5:10)
- Umlotha (9:51)
- Shine (9:10)
- On The Other Side (4:41)
- Umyalez'oPhuthumayo (6:16)
- Indawu (8:33)
- Emaphusheni (2:35)
Nduduzo Makhathini
Nduduzo Makhathini is a South African pianist, composer, producer, and educator, and one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary South African jazz. From KwaZulu-Natal, he brings piano improvisation, African musical traditions, and spiritual inquiry together. For him, playing is not only the shaping of melody and rhythm, but also a way to listen, tell stories, and connect with others.
His work is rooted in the history of South African jazz while entering into dialogue with the spiritual-jazz traditions of John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, and others. Flowing piano lines, insistent rhythmic cycles, singing, and chant often combine to shape a piece’s narrative. The ensemble retains the openness of live jazz improvisation while creating an atmosphere that can feel almost ceremonial. Makhathini has long explored Zulu ideas of knowledge, memory, and healing, turning them into a musical language for the band to investigate together.
Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds (2020) brought his work to a wider international audience through Blue Note. In the Spirit of Ntu (2022) and uNomkhubulwane (2024) deepened his exploration of African thought, collective memory, and improvisational form. The 2026 release The Myth We Choose continues this creative path and reveals his role not only as a pianist and bandleader, but also as a conceptual artist.
Makhathini’s work rewards listening to each album as a whole: themes, parts, and rhythms echo across tracks. Whether in the close conversation of a trio or an expanded ensemble with singers and additional players, he brings South African musical experience and the wider jazz tradition together in a shared performance.
Aleke
Release Date: 1980
Country: US
Tracklist
- N'Gwode (11:38)
- Keep New York Clean (7:58)
- Mothers Day (5:40)
- Home Sweet Home (13:00)
International Songs (M*shi Klangprodukt)
Release Date: 2006
Country: Germany
Tracklist
- International Songs Mix (68:00)
Love, Libation, Liberation - Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra & Odadaa!
Release Date: 2007
Country: US
Tracklist
- Rhing Shout (Peace Of Mind) (6:46)
- Awo (0:37)
- Libation (1:51)
- Home (Family) (15:51)
- Timin Timin / Fireflies (Children) (9:02)
- Sunday Markket (Women) (7:25)
- A Jeseke / Jookin' (Mysterious Fish - Men) (8:04)
- Bamboula (3:50)
- Place Congo (Old Folk) (8:49)
- Tsotsobi (The Morning Star - Children) (7:36)
- Bamboula Dance (5:27)
- Logo Talk (Men) (8:00)
- It never Goes Away (Women) (5:24)
- War (Discord) (11:20)
- Hedzole Baba (Old Folks) (4:50)
- Sanctified Blues (Family) (4:05)
- Kolomashi (5:04)
Morogoro Jazz Band
Biography
Tanzanian group from Morogoro also known as [b]K.Z. Morogoro Jazz Band[/b] (K.Z. standing for Kuliko Zote, Swahili for "better than the others").
The band originally played live at the clubs and bars of Morogoro and became very popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The leader of the band was guitarist Mbaraka Mwinshehe, who dropped out of school to join the band in 1965. Coincidentally, the band was formed the same year Mwinsheshe was born, in 1944. The original lineup of the band featured [b]Makala Kindamile[/b], [b]Joseph Thomas[/b], [b]Seif Ally[/b], [b]Daudi Ally[/b] and [b]Shaabana Mwambe[/b]. [a1212087], who would later found [b]Cuban Marimba Band[/b], was also an early member of the band.
Mwinshehe left Morogoro Jazz Band in 1973 to found another very successful muziki wa dansi band, [b]Super Volcano[/b].
Also known as: K. Z. Morogoro Jazz Band, K.Z. Morogoro Jazz Band, Moro Goro Jazz Band, Morogoro Jazz, The Morogoro Jazz Band
Members: Mbaraka Mwinshehe, Choka Mzee
Super Jazz Des Jeunes
Biography
Super Jazz des Jeunes are an institution of Haitian music. Headed by saxophonist and arranger [a=René St. Aude], they developed what they termed ‘Voudou Jazz’, blending traditional folk songs and rhythms with big band arrangements – something also promoted by the more uptown orchestra of [a=Issa el Saieh].
Also known as: Jazz Des Jeunes, L'Immortel Jazz Des Jeunes, Le Jazz des Jeunes, Super Jazz De Jeunes
Members: Rene Saint-Aude, René St. Aude
Links:
- http://www.strut-records.com/tag/super-jazz-des-jeunes/
- http://musique.haiti.free.fr/haitian%20records%20vol%2001/fiches/superjazz0000pagedr.htm
- http://www.lameca.org/dossiers/konpa!_haitian_popular_music/eng/p1.htm
- https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/super_jazz_des_jeunes
Grand Kalle And African Jazz
Biography
Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz (often referred to simply as African Jazz) was perhaps the first full-time, professional band in what was then called Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded in 1953 by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala, popularly know as Grand Kalle. The band has split in 1963.
Members are :
[a=Joseph Kabasele] (leader & vocals)
[a=Dr. Nico] (guitar, 1953-63)
[a=Dechaud] Mwamba (guitar, 1953-63)
[a=Emmanuel Baloji Tino Baroza] (guitar)
Albert Taumani (bass)
Joseph Mwena (bass, 1953-63)
Baskis (percussion)
[a=Antoine "Depuissant" Kaya] (percussion, 1953-63)
Isaac Musekiwa (saxophone, 1954-?)
[a=Roger Izeidi] (vocals, maracas, ?-1963)
[a=Menga André] (saxophone)
Dominique [a=Willy Kuntima] (trumpet)
[a=Tabu Ley Rochereau] (vocals, 1959-63)]
[a=Vicky Longomba] (vocals, 1960)
[a=Brazzos] (bass, 1960)
Pierre "Petit Pierre" Yantula (congas, 1960)
Charles Hénault (drums, 1960-?)
[a=Manu Dibango] (saxophone, piano, 1961)
Joseph [a=Mujos] Mulamba (vocals, ?-1963)
[a=Papa Noel] (guitar, 1963)
Jean [a=Bombenga] (vocals, 1963)
Mathieu Kouka (vocals, 1963)
[a=André "Damoiseau" Kambite] (guitar, 1963)
[a=Casimir "Casino" Mutshipule] (guitar, 1963)
Also known as: Afr. Jazz, Afric. Jazz, African Jazz, African Jazz 1960, African Jazz Orchestra, Club-Kale, Club-Kale Et L'Orchestre African Jazz, Dechaud, Dechaud et L'African Jazz, Dechaud-De La France, Grand Kalle & African Jazz, Grand Kalle & L' African Jazz, Grand Kalle & L'African Jazz, Grand Kalle & l'African Jazz, Grand Kalle - African Jazz, Grand Kalle Ronde, Grand Kalle et L' African Jazz, Grand Kalle et L'African Jazz, Grand Kallé & African Jazz, Grand Kallé Et L'African Jazz, Joseph Kabasselle Et L'African Jazz, Kabaselle Et L'African Jazz, Kabaselle et L'African Jazz, Kabasellé Et L'African Jazz, Kale Et L'African Jazz, Kale Et L'Orchestre African Jazz, Kale-Roger, Kalle & African Jazz, Kalle & L'African Jazz, Kalle Et L'African Jazz, Kalle Orchestre African Jazz, Kallé, Kallé Et L'Orchestre « African Jazz », Kallé-Orch. African-Jazz S direction de Kallé, Kalé Et L'Orchestre African Jazz, L'African Jazz, L'African-Jazz, L'Ensemble L'African Jazz, L'Orchestre African Jazz, L'Orchestre African-Jazz S / Direction De Kallé, L'orchestre African Jazz, Le Chanteur Kabasellé et L'African-Jazz, Le Grand Kalle, Le Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz, Le Grand Kallé, Le Trio Vocal De L'African Jazz, Le Trio Vocal de L'African Jazz, Orch. African Jazz, Orch. African-Jazz, Orch. African-Jazz*, Orchestre African Jazz, Orchestre African Jazz - Direction Kalle, Orchestre African Jazz - Direction: Kalle, l'African Jazz
Members: Manu Dibango, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Eyenga Moseka, Dr. Nico, Vicky Longomba, Joseph Kabasele, Bombenga, Dechaud, Pierrot (8), Brazzos, Charlie (108), Edouard Lutula, André "Damoiseau" Kambite, Casimir "Casino" Mutshipule, Alex Mayukuta, Mathieu Kuka, Jean "Rolly" Nsita, Isaac Musekiwa
Links:
Malombo Jazz Makers
Also known as: (Malombo Jazz), Malombo Jazz, Malompo Jazz
Members: Lucky Ranku, Julian Bahula, Abbey Cindi
Links:
Nuta Jazz Band
Biography
Established in 1964, and named after its sponsor, the National Union of Tanganyika (NUTA) was the main Tanzanian trade union. In the early years of Dansi, the NUTA Jazz Band was very influential both artistically and in terms of financial organization; namely, it was one of the first Dansi bands to constitute itself into a "cooperative" of salaried musicians (a model that would become widespread in the 1970s). In the 1960s, NUTA Jazz Band was led by trumpeter-singer late Joseph Lusungu and saxophonist Mnenge Ramadhani, who defined the brass-centered sound of the band. NUTA Jazz Band held its position as one of the major Tanzanian Dansi bands throughout the latter half of the 1960's and most of the 1970's. In 1977 it experienced a major change in personnel, with many of its most talented musicians (including Muhiddin Maalim Gurumo and Hassani Rehani Bitchuka) leaving the band to form a new ensemble, [a1227567]. In 1977, the band changed its name to [a1789256], after the Swahili name of its sponsor (NUTA), Jumuiya ya Wafanyakazi Tanzania. At about the same time, guitarist Saidi Mabera became the new leader of the band. He wrote several of Juwata's hit songs of the 1980's. After Mabera, both Maalim and Bitchuka (who rejoined the band in 1991) became leaders. Muhidini Gurumo is credited with on the major hits of Juwata in the 1990s, Usia kwa watoto. The band changed its name again in 1991 from Juwata Jazz to [a1227572], when the trade union that sponsored it was renamed Organization of Tanzanian Trade Unions. The band is currently active as [a3978338].
.
Also known as: Nuta Jazz
Members: Hassani Bitchuka
Jazz Ministers
Also known as: The Jazz Ministers, The Ministers
Members: Victor Ndlazilwane, Johnny Mekoa, 'Boy' Ngwenya, Nomvula Ndlazilwane, Shepstone Sothopane, Aubrey Simane, Daniel Sehloho
D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz
Biography
Kenya's most successful band ever. It started as Luo Sweet Voice, became [a3203917] around 1972 and, in 1975, changed in D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz with all the variations in the name. The "7" possibly signifying the number of letters in his name.
Also known as: Central Shirati Jazz, D. O. 7 Band, D. O. 7 Shirati Jazz, D.O. 7 Band, D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz Band, D.O. 7. Shirati Jazz, D.O. Misiani y Shirati Jazz, D.O. Shirati Jazz, D.O.7 - Shirati Luo Voice Jazz Band, D.O.7 Band, D.O.7 Shirati, D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, D.O.7 Shirati Jazz Band, D.O.7. Shirati Jazz, D.O.7Shirati Jazz, D.O7 Shirati Jazz, DO 7, DO 7 Band, DO 7 Shirati Jazz, DO-7 Shirati Jazz Band, Do 7 Band, L'Oches. D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Oches. D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, L'Ochestre D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Ochestre. D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orch D O 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orch D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orch. D. O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orch. D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orch. D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orch. D.O.7. Shirati Jazz, L'Orchestre D O 7 Shirati Jazz, L'Orchestre D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L'och D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, Loch D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Loche D.O7 Shirati Jazz, Lochestre D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, L’Orch D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, L’Orch. D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Oches. D. O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Oches. D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Oches. D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, Ochest - D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orch D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orch. D. 07 Shirati Jazz, Orch. D. O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orch. D. O. 7 Shiratti Jazz, Orch. D.O. 7 Shirat Jazz, Orch. D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orch. D.O. 7. Shirati Jazz, Orch. D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, Orch. Shirati D.O. 7 Jazz Band, Orch. Shirati Jazz, Orch.D O 7 Shirati Jazz, Orchestra D.O. 7, Orchestra D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orchestra D.O.7 Shirati Jazz, Orchestre D. O 7 Band, Orchestre D. O. 7 Band, Orchestre D. O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orchestre D.O. 7 Shirati Jazz, Orchestre D.O.7. Shirati Jazz, Orchestre DO 7 Band, Orchestre Shirati Jazz Band, Shirati, Shirati Band, Shirati Jazz, Shirati Jazz Band, Shirati Jazz Band Of East Africa, Shirati Revolution 73
Members: D.O. Misiani, Juma Sammy, Akida Nyagando, Pasy Aloo, Juma Obai, Okech Oro, Ouma Orwa, Caleb Odemba, Nyabuon Nyang, Ochieng Oninga, Willy Jamika
The Cairo Jazz Band
Biography
The Cairo Jazz Band was the first Egyptian jazz big band, It was formed by [a=Salah Ragab] in 1968.
Also known as: Cairo Jazz Band, The Cairo Jazz Orchestra
Members: Hartmut Geerken, Salah Ragab, Saied Salama, El Saied El Aydy, Sayed Sharkawy, Abdel Hakim El Zamel, Khalifa El Samman, Sadeek Basyouny, Abdel Atey Farag, Mahmoud Ayoub, Mohammad Abdel Rahman, El Sayeed Dahroug, Moohy El Din Osman, Fathy Abdel Salam, Abdel Hamd Abdel Ghaffar (Toto), Khmis El Khouly, Zaky Osman, Farouk El Sayed, Sayed Ramadan, Ibrahim Wagdi, Mohammed Abdoe
N'Goma Jazz
Biography
The band, formed in 1964 by core members Garcia Kipioca (voice and percussion), [b]José Manuel[/b] (Zé Manuel, lead singer) and Petengué (congas), was firstly named Ritmo Jazz, then Quinteto Angolano and, finally, in 1966, Ngoma Jazz. But it was electric guitar player [b]Matumona Sebastião[/b] that accorded the group its most distinct sound. Other members were Caetano Lemos (percussion), [b]Augusto Pedro[/b] (rhythm guitar), Ferreira Domingos (bass) and [b]Joaquim Pedro Manuel[/b] (Mangololo, percussion)
Also known as: Conjunto N'Goma Jazz, Ngoma Jazz
Members: Sebastião Matumona, Augusto Pedro, Joaquim Pedro Manuel, José Manuel (7)
Volta Jazz
Biography
Longstanding Burkina Faso (West Africa) collective formed in 1964.
Sometimes referred to as Orchestre Volta Jazz.
Formed in 1964 by [a=Idrissa Kone], this band started out playing a Cuban style, later adding elements of their native Bobo styles. The band peaked both musically and in popularity between 1967 and 1972, touring several neighboring countries and recording the majority of their output. They went into the studio again in 1977 with a new lineup.
Also known as: International Jazz, L'International Volta - Jazz, Orchestre Volta-Jazz
Members: Cheikh Lô, Coulibaly Tidiani, Idrissa Kone
Afro Jazz
Biography
French Hip Hop Group from 93 (Seine St Denis) for Jahyze, 77 (Seine et Marne) for Daddy Jockno & Robo
Also known as: Affrojazz, Afro-Jazz, Afrojazz
Members: Daddy Jockno, Jaeyez, Robo (8)
Links:
Bembeya Jazz National
Biography
Guinean jazz group that gained fame in the 1960s for their infectious Afropop rhythms. They are considered one of the most significant bands in Guinean music.
Their very first name was [a=Orchestre de Beyla], the area where they come from.
Also known as: Bem Be Ya Jazz National, Bembaya Jazz National, Bembeya, Bembeya - Jazz National, Bembeya Jazz, Bembeya Jazz National De Guinee, Bembeya Jazz National Of Conakry, Bembeya-Jazz National, Bembéya Jazz National, Bemeya Jazz National, Lorchestre Bembiya Jazz, Orchestre Bembeya Jazz National
Members: Sékouba Bambino Diabaté, Dielly Moussa Kouyaté, Salifou Kaba, Youssouf Bah, Kova Bavogui, Sekou Bembeya Diabate, Mohamed Achken Kaba, Conde Mory Mangala, Demba Camara, Hamidou Diaoune, Mamadou Camara, Bangaly Traore, Siaka Diabaté, Alpha Camara, Ibrahima Somano
Links: