May 21 2021
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5
This is the jazz album I didn't know I was looking for, but definitely was. Blown away.
1. Love the groove. The trumpet/flugelhorn riff is fun. The sax quality has a Canterbury scene sound, which I'm into. Here's the trumpet solo---what a intro!!! Holy cow I am so into this... Piano solo ugghhgbfffnnn
2. Slowing things way down---lovely cocktail bar/impressionistic style piano to start. Trumpet solo starts to heat up... tasty alto sax solo. The band is so in sync, it just feels incredible. The technical imperfections are part of the magic.
3. Another tasty groove holding us down with the winds blowing strong in the skies. The break before the piano solo stops you cold, and in fact you notice the bass before you realize the piano is even taking it, but it gets going. Could be a stronger climax here though. A minor complaint about a great track.
4. Fun bass line. Quiet and kind of mysterious. This doesn't sound like American jazz---it's just more fun. This song by itself doesn't go anywhere new... Except into a fun solo to start the next track!
5. This has a Mariachi/Super-Mario vibe! Moving into a hard swing. To be honest this isn't my favorite part---it almost sounds like the band is having trouble holding it together. But now we're onto solo piano... And back to impressively high speeds. Really in sync at the end here---still a satisfying close to the weakest track so far.
6. Dreamy dark piano. oOOh mmmhm into a funky funky funk! This track is definitely not disappointing.
7. Drum solos!
8. Sounds like a lazy summer day in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. I'm into it. The piano solo adds a just a hint of mystery, drums add some edge, open up some new dimensions. I love the unison melody that takes us out.
9. Rhodes piano? Mellow opening into a triumphant wall of horns. back to the mellow groove... Lovely keyboard solo, and now we have a groove going. Very nice. Mmm heatin up. I'm bobbin my noggin. Ready for the trumpet solo when it comes---hits perfectly. I love the topography of this piece.
10. Jungly drum intro with some wanton sax. And vocals! Bantu? Love this as a cap to the album. I assume the vocals are placing the album in South Africa, where Masekela grew up. It's a departure from the rest of the album, but a good one. The final trumpet note leaves you hanging---there is definitely more to come for me: I am going to check out the rest of Masekela's catalog.
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Nov 15 2021
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2
One thing I’ve learnt from 1001’ is that I can’t really handle Jazz in most forms.
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Jun 13 2022
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3
Nothing quickens the pulse but then again it's not meant to. By the end you realise that what's seemed like exceptionally good background music has actually occupied the forefront of your mind for an hour and a quarter. Hell of a trick, that.
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Jan 17 2021
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5
Great walking album. Sunset album. Goood vibes all around
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Feb 02 2021
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5
5/5. Funky and Jazzy, rambles from awesome big band blues to more mellow, wandering piano solos. A new favorite. Big horns, jammy piano and lots of hi hats. Feels like Art Blakey with slightly more blues/rock influence.
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Sep 30 2021
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5
A great listen, love it!
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Mar 20 2021
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2
Too long. A few highlights. Mostly not for me.
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Aug 10 2021
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4
Slick and cool. Not normally my thing (I know little about jazz) but this was an easy and smooth listen. I quite enjoyed Ingoo-Pow-Pow with some vocals. The album had some touching pieces and some uplifting ones. Grab a scotch and let this album play.
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Feb 04 2021
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4
This was a fun one to explore. Big fan of jazz and while I love my jazz to be “unstructured” from time to time, there is nothing more satisfying than a properly laid out jazz tune. Enjoyable from start to finish.
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Apr 24 2021
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2
Clearly talented but couldn’t really get into it
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Sep 15 2021
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5
This is a kick ass jazz album. His connection to Fela Kuti is fascinating as well. Weirdly it reminds me of SimCity 3000 music a bit!
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Aug 12 2021
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5
What a great feast of music this is
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Sep 21 2021
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4
This album is exactly what I needed to hear at the time that I did. This is a record that takes you through a journey of emotional and geographic artistry. The instrumentation is not over the top, it’s precisely structured that the artists play to each other and never leave an empty void in their sound (even in times of silence). The accompanying keyboard is such a nice addition and shake-up to the traditional piano jazz sound. This is probably one of my favorite jazz records ever, I never want it to stop.
Favorite Song: Inner Crisis
Least Favorite: Legitimately don’t have one…
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Aug 16 2021
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4
Now that's what I call background music. I've been listening to these albums mostly as I do my daily walks, and while this wasn't the best album I've heard so far, it was probably the most enjoyable walk I've had. Energetic but serene, with killer horns, drums and bass, this is exactly what I want to hear out of jazz musicians. You could probably cut a track or two, but at the very least, the ones that feel more like filler make me appreciate the standout deviations more.
Key Tracks: Minawa, Maseru, Maesha
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Jul 29 2021
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4
Nice and refreshing album. Not my usual style but I wouldn't mind listening to it while reading or working.
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May 16 2021
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4
Warm, soft jazz perfection-- I can actually feel the waves of calm come over me as I listen to this, it's incredible.
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Feb 02 2021
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4
First, double albums are notoriously hard to produce with high levels of quality. There are a handful of 5 star examples ("The Beatles" "London Calling" "1999"). This is a solid 4, and some may say 5, because it changed direction and did something new and important -- the fusion of African and American spiritual/soul into jazz.
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Jan 15 2021
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4
South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who has been described as "the father of South African jazz". Great living room lounging album.
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Aug 04 2021
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5
another i'd never heard of, and would totally have missed - but holy cow, does this album RIP. there's a lot to love here, but i especially liked the panning of the drums at the very end of the last track. it was the best kind of unnecessary.
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Jan 20 2021
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5
What a great album. It's an amazing blend of jazz with african rhythms and instruments.
So glad I found this album and this artist!
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Nov 01 2021
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4
Super solid jazz/funk/soul record with a touch of Afro-Beat thrown into the mix. Very reminiscent of similar era Crusaders, Mizell brothers, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Headhunters and so forth. As good as anything in this vein from any of those artists and the era in general. You can play this as background music, or you can really dig in and listen to the musicianship. Either way is rewarding. Also check the horns on ‘Inner Crisis’ that Theo Parrish sampled.
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Sep 28 2021
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4
I don't think of myself as a jazz fan... but this site is going to make me one. I don't listen to jazz often and I'm not too familiar with classic records in this genre but so far I've been enjoying most of the jazz records this site is throwing at me. This is another good one.
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May 23 2021
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4
T'as un peu commencé à m'agacer sur la fin mais je t'en tiens pas rigueur.
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Dec 21 2020
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4
I actually really liked to work to this. Lots of character in his playing.
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Apr 11 2024
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3
good jazz music, great for feeling like chuck mcgill
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Dec 15 2023
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3
This is comfortable, familiar and long, like an amiable work Christmas party conversation that, despite similar will on both sides, neither of you can bring to stop, though you are really very tired and just want a slice of cold pizza and to go home.
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Apr 18 2023
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3
Elvis never meant shit to me.
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Dec 17 2021
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3
Nothing particularly bad about this album. Also nothing I would call exceptionally good. Just some easy listening music I suppose.
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Aug 16 2021
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3
Good but a bit too long and repetitive.
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Apr 19 2021
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3
Despite it being jazz, I quite liked it. Nice and easy to listen to, good rhythms and flow.
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Nov 24 2021
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1
no jazz pls
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May 20 2021
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1
boring
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Dec 01 2024
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5
Very good
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Dec 01 2024
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5
Since embarking upon this project, I've come across too many albums that once played, I couldn't wait for them to end. This is the first album I have listened to that I DIDN'T WANT to end.
Just blissful to listen to, and I always thought I hated jazz. May have to reevaluate that assumption. This one is going in my tidal library and getting five stars!
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Nov 30 2024
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5
Damn, fire
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Nov 26 2024
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5
an absolute fucking tome, not cuz its the longest album in the world or anything (its a mere double LP) but because of how constantly rich that runtime is...i can already tell even after a dozen listens i wouldnt be done with this. the record's biggest virtuoso is larry willis, who's piano can be jarring yet soulful yet spicy yet melodic...sometimes in turn, sometimes any number of those things at once. featuring a songbook of south african composers and released in the heart of apartheid which was keeping masekela from returning to his home country, the record is eclectic in style but constantly emphasizes the Roots of its styles to extremely potent effect. have i ever mentioned that jazz is just clearly the absolute best cultural thing to come out of the united states of america
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Nov 17 2024
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5
I worked in South Africa for a year, and going to jazz shows was a weekly must. And this is the godfather of the unique aesthetic that I've come to love.
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Nov 14 2024
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5
Yeah. Groovy, man! 4/5. Only a couple of tracks are stopping this from 5/5. On a second listen, on speakers instead of headphones, this gets a 5 :)
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Nov 11 2024
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5
Absolutely stunning piece of jazz. Invigorating as active listening, chill and a vibe in the background. Stellar performances all around, and I really enjoy the African influence in the rhythms and song styles.
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Nov 06 2024
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5
Loved this album even more than I thought would.
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Nov 05 2024
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5
A very nice surprise. Exceptional playing all around and some beautifully arranged music
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Nov 02 2024
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5
Outstanding!
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Oct 29 2024
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5
Brilliant. Brought joy to my day.
Never heard it before and loved it .Wonder if this influenced early Jazz Funk pioneers like the Crusaders?
Shut up and take my 5
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Jan 29 2024
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5
How often do you listen to a 76 minute album, from an artist you've never heard before, get to the end and wished it kept going?
This is just fantastic.
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Oct 22 2024
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5
Great jazz album, African beats
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Oct 19 2024
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5
Minawa is peak, such a beautiful song.
Probably my favorite jazz album i gotten from this site
Slightly unrelated but hugh was sampled on Riot! by earl sweatshirt and knowing that makes me like this album more despite the song that was sampled not being on this album
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Oct 19 2024
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5
Great jazz!
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Oct 16 2024
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5
This album is energetic. Masekela's playing is lyrical and emotive and the band offers a dynamic canvas for Masekela to work with.
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Oct 13 2024
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5
9/10.
Oh, this one is definitely nice! Smooth and ethnic jazz! :)
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Oct 12 2024
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5
Love Hugh Masekela. Never did a deeper dive. Perfect for a fall Sunday. Added to my APPLE music
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Oct 07 2024
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5
I like this one
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Oct 07 2024
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5
cool
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Oct 04 2024
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5
Could be my favorite jazz musician of all time. The more I hear the more I like
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Oct 01 2024
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5
Loved the jazz.
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Oct 01 2024
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5
Smooth jazz, perfect to read or work to because of the groovy flow
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Sep 26 2024
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5
parasta taiteilumusiikkia vähään aikaan
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Sep 24 2024
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5
Great album. This type of record is a great example of what this list can bring: exposure to great music that I could not know otherwise.
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Sep 23 2024
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5
Lovely jazz album
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Sep 18 2024
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5
Expectations Demolished.
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Sep 17 2024
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5
Very good
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Sep 10 2024
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5
I’ve heard a decent amount of Hugh’s stuff, but not this album. Even so, I knew this would be fire and there was no disappointment on that front. From start to finish this is an album full of jams to get you grooving. Funky jazz throughout and it was a great soundtrack to my Monday morning!
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Sep 03 2024
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5
Love jazz, love this album. Will listen again!
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Sep 03 2024
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5
A lilt, a groove and a sound that, for reasons unknown, hit the spot - and then some.
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Sep 02 2024
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5
Quality jazz, well put together 5*
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Aug 28 2024
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5
This is what I signed up for.
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Aug 27 2024
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5
I had never heard of him before but something about this album just was the perfect soundtrack to my morning. I listened to it twice back to back. 5 stars for me.
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Aug 27 2024
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5
This was a fantastic listening experience. There's a looseness to the grooves that is very refreshing. Not very adventurous from a harmonic standpoint, but it doesn't need to be. There's some questionable tuning between the trumpet and the sax making some of the harmonized lines (and even some of the unison lines) extra spicy. That would normally knock a couple stars off for me, but within the context of this vibe, it works. 5 stars.
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Aug 21 2024
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5
I think I'm in love with jazz
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Aug 20 2024
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5
I just love jazz so much.
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Aug 01 2024
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5
Would be so good to listen to this while watching a snowstorm. Warm and fuzzy. Dramatic softness.
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Jul 28 2024
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5
This was great jazz that I had never heard before. Just fantastic. I will be listening to this again and delving further into the rest of his catalog.
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Jul 13 2024
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5
My only previous exposure to Hugh Masekela was documentary footage of him absolutely melting faces on the Monterey Pop stage. This was just as awesome.
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Jul 13 2024
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5
Wow, from the first beat I'm in. 2nd jazz album this week and I'm not upset.
Instrumental, enjoyable albums are always high stars for me. 5*
Highlight: inner crisis
Ingoo pow-pow came out of nowhere -- i know the description says afrobeat but I didn't get any of that in the other tracks.
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Jun 22 2024
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5
Excellent jazz. Practically feels like classical music in its execution and it happens to be just as good.
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Jun 17 2024
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5
I enjoyed every moment of this album, excellent trumpet. Thank you, jazz!
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Jun 17 2024
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5
This was very pleasant background music, really moody and cozy. I liked it a lot and will return to it if I ever want that kind of jazz in my room. The only song I didn't care much for was the addition of the Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song) at the very end, because the singing and identity of the song clashed with the rest of the album.
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Jun 07 2024
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5
knew the name, but not the music - very cool jazz, trumpet/flugelhorn, sax, piano & drums, nice
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Jun 04 2024
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5
Nice jazz to listen to in the morning, no real flaws.
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Jun 02 2024
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5
This album swings. Loved it on the first listen. Got to get this on vinyl.
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May 26 2024
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5
If your knowledge of Hugh Masekela’s music starts and ends with “Grazing in the Grass,” you owe it to yourself to listen to this album. A mix of jazz, blues and traditional South African music, it’s complex and joyful.
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May 18 2024
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5
I like jazz, and this is great jazz.
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May 12 2024
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5
This is great music. Hugh Masekela was unknown to me until now. I liked the album very much. I will certainly be listening to more from Masekela.
5/5
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May 07 2024
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5
Super
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Apr 30 2024
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5
I have loved Hugh Masekela since high school. His effortlessly cool style combined with the feeling of . . . sunshine? He does happy music the best I've ever heard. Without it sounding too sweet and disingenuously positive, he creates melodies that just brighten the mood, which all makes his deeper, slower songs so much more memorable. I have nothing to complain about. The length and production could be an issue for some, but neither bother me. I enjoy this album and every song on it thoroughly. Love it. 5/5
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Apr 30 2024
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5
New to me. Funky and fresh and fun.
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Apr 27 2024
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5
Great album
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Apr 26 2024
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5
absolute vibe
talented man
4.6/5
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Apr 23 2024
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5
This was fantastic!
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Apr 22 2024
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5
Transports me to a smoky jazz club, puts a whiskey on the rocks in front of me, and a cigar in my hand. I could stay in this club all night.
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Apr 19 2024
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5
First saw High Masekela at Artists Against Apartheid, Clapham Common, a great day, generally, and Coal Train (not on this album) still sends shivers down my spine. Great man, great album.
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Apr 13 2024
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5
Cool
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Apr 05 2024
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5
Not just easy to listen to, it makes me feel unbelievably cool while its on. Masekela is crazy talented and versatile. I typically dislike albums with tracks exceeding 6 minutes in length, but this isn't in the same realm. Makes me want a martini, a 70's pantsuit, a jello mold dessert, a Virgina Slims with one of those long filters attached, and a government that gives a fuck about human rights...
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Apr 02 2024
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5
Absolutely loved this album. The blend of horn, piano and other instruments was incredible. The Big Apple and others were long pieces that allowed the listener to be washed away in the beautiful music.
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Apr 01 2024
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5
Jazz/jazz-fusion with an ebb and flow to the compostions that I really liked.
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Mar 29 2024
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5
It was great, never heard this before so it was a nice surprise.
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Mar 27 2024
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5
Surprisingly amazing! never heard of them and I'm thrilled to add this to my playlists :)
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Mar 26 2024
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5
I loved this record. It was varied and really interesting. You'd have more upbeat songs and then a slower song to break things up. Things got really jammy towards the end. The drum solo in Blues For Huey when the riff started coming back in, followed by the whole band was so sick. The trumpet solos/riffs were so good and the harmonies were amazing. I also loved all the piano noodling. It was the perfect album to listen to as I drove to the canyon early in the morning to ski powder. I'm also just really stoked on the name of the album. It really resonates with me.
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Mar 26 2024
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5
Wow. This one blew me away. The trumpets, the drums, the bass lines. It was so varied throughout. Each song flowed smoothly into the next, but kept you engaged and interested the whole time. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will revisit frequently.
Also, shoutout to Selema Masekela's Dad! Been a fan of his for a long time.
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Mar 24 2024
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5
Jazz Masterpiece.
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Mar 23 2024
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5
bravo!
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