Home Is Where The Music Is

pretty cool mix of styles while still being easy to listen too

consigo ver a importância cultural, mas não é pra mim infelizmente

dios mío, tortura China, canciones de 10 minutos sin letra, solo instrumental. Pa tenerla de fondo en plan tienda va bien

No patience for fully instrumental album... Maybe another time

I am not a jazz enthusiast. so my opinions are naive (at best). But I'm glad I listened to this. More importantly, I enjoyed. Again, I will be delving into my regularly prompted "What jazz albums do I need to have/buy/listen to...because I'm an ignorant indie listener....". So on that note, 5 "embarrassed/ignorant" stars.

Another album that was so much better than expected. I was figuring this would be light pop-jazz or jazz-pop à la Herb Alpert. Instead, we get an actual jazz album with good playing and improvisation from Masekela and his sidemen, with stretched out tunes rather than the radio-friendly ready-mades characteristic of Alpert. I would listen to this again, I might actually seek it out to purchase it, and I would be interested in exploring the rest of his catalog.

Good jazz. Nice mix of slow “kind of Blue” and bop. 1 stand out song had neat breathing/horn cadence.

I liked it, definitely something I have to be in the mood for. But great for studying.

Good jazz

em no. Es solo instrumental wtf

This is something really special — I’ve never been so thoroughly blown away by a jazz record before. The interplay between the horns and the piano as the drum and bass provide the background for each track’s progression gives me the chance to enjoy each instrument individually and how they blend together. Sometimes I feel like jazz loses the plot, but these compositions feel extremely grounded while still leaving room for experimentation, playfulness, and emotion. I wasn’t bothered by the length because I was too excited and interested to see what the album would give me next. If there’s a weak spot for me, it’s really just the last song being a bit too chaotic. My dad always told me jazz was the superior music and he thought I’d come around in time. I wish I could share this listening experience with him. Brilliant stuff.

Fine but not for me

I had this one over the weekend. Listened to it a couple of times. To be frank, the first time I wasn't paying as much attention to it as I normally do to these. But on Saturday, I listened again and rather enjoyed it. I can rarely put my finger on what it is about certain jazz albums that I enjoy. So, I'm not going to attempt to summon up the words on this. It's cool though. This will end up in the "gotta listen again" pile.

I so not have the ear for jazz.

Nah, not my tempo

Ha, zanimiv začetek, in medias res. (Sm se pa že podučila, da me spet na petek čaka več k 70 minuten album - očitno moram nehat si tok stvari schedulat na petek, ker me algoritem konsistentno presenet z najdaljšimi albumi - sj mi zmer uspe, sam sm za brezveze živčna, da mi ne bo & who needs extra stress?) Anyway. Fino spet dobit neki totalno nepoznanega. In so far, enjoyable. "Maseru" je fajn. Bl hiter, poskočen. Ma na splošno, isti problem k ga mam ponavad pri albumih kot so ta: zelo očitno objektivno dobra glasba, kompetentna; just not for me.

This was an easy listen but I did find it a bit repetitive and not really expressive enough for me. (Cultured jazz listener now)

Really like this, loads of interesting ideas and textures. My kind of jazz.

This is such elite background music for work. I'm so partial to trumpet and this sort of easy jazz. I'd love this on vinyl. One of the only albums where I haven't minded how long each song is!

fine

I think I wasn't in the mood for this for the first half of the album. I paused it and returned and found the second half more to my liking - nice and soothing for this savage beast. I will likely want to revisit this jazz album and hope I'm in the right mood for both halves.

It's pretty good for what it is but not something I would listen to but good enough

Perfectly fine jazz. With a little flare. I enjoyed it. Don’t really plan to listen to again. But it’s good.

kind of unsatisfying

Can appreciate the skill, but not my jam. 2.5

Man I hate Jazz

A nice surprise with this little beauty- wow, “Minawa” what an excellent track, reminds me of Miles Davis Kinda blue, I’ve downloaded the album, loved it -the sound is so pure 🍀

Nice surprise

Groovy soundtrack jazz

I’m not sure I love jazz. This was fun though, sometimes it was too jazzy, but can appreciate the artistry.

Lovely jazz album! I am still a beginner on this genre of music, with my knowledge being mainly the big names like Coltrane. This was right in my comfort zone on chill vibes with a little virtuosity.

I must have been in a really good mood to have not fired my phone through the window listening to this.

Vibey

One of the better, more structured jazz albums

Great jazz album Favorite track(s) Part Of A Whole The Big Apple

4/10 He's playing the fuck outta that trumpet but overall this isn't my type of music.

Enjoyed this! Opening was like hearing Zero 7’s influences before other tracks were clearly much more experimental. Will definitely listen again and get to know it better.

24/05/2026 I have no real great feelings towards this. Take it or leave it. Spotify listeners: 359.6k

Second jazz album in a row, but this time, I'm less knowledgeable of what they've done. This is a really nice and diverse set of jazz tracks, and a very enjoyable listen.

Fantastic.

groovy, cool. felt nostalgic in a joyful way listening in bed on a rainy saturday morning. read the wiki article after and didn't really square the sound with the resistance music thing, but you know what this is a vibe and if you have a good aura and your enemy's is bad then you will win. fave track maseru

First introduced to Hugh Masekela when I saw Paul Simon’s Graceland tour in the 80s and have LPs such as Tomorrow, Techno-Bush, Waiting for the Rain and his later LP collaboration with Tony Allen. However have never heard this before and it’s brilliant. Lovely township jazz crossover and with the fantastic Dudu Pukwana too. Will be playing this a lot more.

Not a jazz fan at all.

Solid groove. Solid jazz.

Definitely Jazz. Very intense jazz and not my vibe of Jazz. Love Jazz tho. Mmm jazz

Divino.

Overall I really liked it! It was good jazz, not super experimental, but solid. It was also raw, sounding like it came straight out of a jazz club rather than a studio. I'll listen again.

It’s Jazz…..nice! Actually ok as background music, but not my thing really.3

Rate: 8/10.

V nostalgic to what my grandparents listened to growing up

One of the better jazz albums I've listened to but still mostly background noise.

This one hit today. Scramble time at the brewery, I’m multi tasking, I hit the perfect flow state with this shit playing on the PA. It was a 4 star experience for sure

Holy stank face on track one. Instantly knew I was gonna dig this. Can't really get much better when it comes to jazz for me and it's hard to explain why, it's just really engaging and a fun listen that overcomes the things that jazz doesn't retain from the more popular forms

Not a huge fan of Jazz but it was a nice experience and an enjoyable listen

Great great jazz album. A revelation for me.

Squerk! Skronk! Keraang! There is a time and place for harsh atonal jazz, but now is not the time and my ears are not the place. Not enough groove for my listening needs. But if you like the jazz guys being jazzy for their jazz fans, this album will levitate you.

El jazz no es lo mío

Don’t you think that sounds good? Then tell me what does.

Might smooth......mighty jazzy. Great listen.

4/10

Good music, however not enjoying. Maybe I'm in the right atmosphere to feel the vibe.

Some damn fine jazz

Fantastic album. I’d never heard this artist before, and I really enjoyed the blend of styles and the variety of songs, all infused with those African touches. It honestly feels like I can now imagine what a part of Africa sounds like

Something I could listen to while writing or drawing I guess. I'm too lyricspilled I need to songwritingmaxx to enjoy anything.

Album #155 Hugh Masekela: Home Is Where The Music Is I thought that the length would hinder this album more than it does; when I saw an hour-plus 70s jazz album, I prepared myself for a snooze-fest, but to be honest, the music is far more enjoyable than I expected. I find that I don’t even know what I want out of jazz, and my enjoyment of it is seemingly random. Sometimes I find it to be a great enabler of atmosphere, and other times an overwhelming nuisance. Every track here either fades into the background nicely or catches your attention in a good way. The only track I didn’t like was the last one, which was more of a tribal song than the traditional cool jazz on the rest of the album. Though this album is definitely an undertaking, and if you’re not treating it as a soundscape for your evening, than it’s presence may annoy you. Best Songs: Minawa, Part Of A Whole, The Big Apple Worst Song: Ingoo Pow-Pow Score out of 10: 6.5

A new favorite jazz album

Very nice

Vinyl

Wow. Never been a huge jazz guy, but the sound here was so tight and good. Perfect background music. I mean that as a compliment.

Part of Whole - Really Good Minawa - Pure Blissful Jazz The Big Apple - Saxy Unhome - Subtle Maseru - Beautifully energetic Inner Crisis - Really Good Blues for Huey - Huey and I don't have the same taste unfortunately Nomali - Decent Maesha - Decent Ingoo Pow-Pow - Not my cup of tea

Long, but super fun tracks! Seems like a really fun album to sample from. Lots of great horn lines.

bring back long albums !!!!!! this is peak

Great jazz album. Masterful playing. Most jazz albums I listen to are slow and a bit too same-y the whole runtime but this was nice and varied. Not much of a jazz person myself but it made my journey to uni enjoyable. 3.5/5

Fun

A jazz album I enjoyed more than most on this list.

Endeavoring this list has forced me to listen to Jazz. I find that Jazz I like is piano and/or drum driven. On that, Minawa is nice, even with the brass that follows. I still had a hard time sticking with it. Maybe I need to do psychedelics to Jazz or something, expand my mind or something. I dunno, but this isn't bad even for a jazz idiot like me.

Classic South African music from a true South African legend

Decent Bebop music, but didn’t understand what made it distinctly South African. Or Afrobeat. Great jazz horns, but basically copied American jazz of the 50s & 60s. 3 stars

The Best álbum Ever creat

Ziemlich gutes jazz album, war für mich stellenweise etwas zu langsam, aber wär insgesamt eher eine 3,5.

Jazz heavy. Both the good and the bad.

jazz sempre é bom

Really fun, I enjoyed this one quite a bit

Honestly, I love the influences and sounds on this, the groove is great, but didn't stick with me unfortunately. This was the closest to elevator music of jazz that I've listened to so far.

Not a jazz listener and this album didn’t change that fact.

Really nice funk-y fusion. Maybe a little overlong to be something I come back to too often, but the range of styles and moods explored here does somewhat justify the length. It's worth a revisit, that's for sure.

Jazz, cool but not chill or class. More like popular

It’s good. I just felt waaay too stressed hearing this and it just made me even more stressed out. Definitely will give a listen again

Wow! What great jazz album.

very cool

Excelente!! Um jazz excelente, contagiante!

ES UN MIL

Classic Jazz

Absolutely incredible record

Well idk didn’t quite get to me

Excellent palette cleanser. Will return. Favorite track, Maseru.

Pretty decent 4/5

Jazz de pana pa caminar en otoño después de una lluvia, la calle se veía tan poética con este álbum de fondo. Creo que fue el momento perfecto. Igual me puso horny kfkdkf

Great musician, but I can't quite get into it.

This was a great jazz album, perfect for listening at work. Nothing outstanding, but good, solid music throughout.

8-9/10

This was my first time listening to Hugh Masekela. Some good melodies on here. But overall feels long and uninteresting. What I liked the most about this album is the piano. It has the most interesting solos and does a few incredibly wonderful intros to some of the songs, like “Minawa”, “Inner Crisis” or “Normal”. In the end, I think this is great background music, as I did get quite bored trying to give this an active listen.

very nice, fully instrumental, no lyrics. great for switching off and just relaxing....or background for working

I'm not a massive jazz-guy, I'll be honest. This album fucks though. The bass on it is hypnotic, the horns aren't obnoxious, the drums are perfectly balanced. I enjoyed this a lot.

Very pleasant listening experience.

Это просто замечательный джазовый альбом. Мне он крайне понравился, особо отмечу африканские мотивы, которые ловко вплетены в классический джаз. Это сложная музыка, которая тем не менее звучит непринужденно и дружелюбно.

A triumphant jazz album. Perhaps my favorite jazz album I've encountered on this project. The horns and sax are always so good. The final song didn't really land for me, but nearly everything else did.

Fun!

Bliss

(5/7) maybe I was in a good mood but this is some of the better jazz we've listened to, methinks

Heerlie hoor

Hoi, ik ben jazz snob en vond dit wel oké, maar niet denderend ofzo. Leuk van de flugelhorn! Houd iets meer van bebop en free jazz enzo, dit is een beetje braafjes.

meanderde hier en daar wat te veel voor me en het was wat lang, maar heerlijk album

Good jazz music. Once again, not what I want to always listen to but I still enjoy it.

Sympa

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Entspannter Funk-Jazz. Nett und gut gespielt - aber er reißt mich nicht vom Hocker.

Not terrible but not particularly memorable either.

Solid jazz album, but not very mellow.

Pleasant surprise. It was interesting and engaging.

One thing I learned from this project is that I really enjoy Afro Cuban jazz. While this may not be the best of the albums from this style I’ve heard, it is still very enjoyable.

This record really pulled me in. I don’t quite know what Afro-beat is, but I know it’s jazzy and I like it. Listened to this on my drive to Big Sur from San Luis Obispo today and it really fit the mood. 4/5

Again, technically impressive, but instrumental only albums can personally be a slog

Completely lost on me but would be fine in a restaurant. As an aside, how do people decide what to call instrumentals?

Ahahhhh, Build Mode on Sims. The best mode.

A great mix of sometimes chilled out, sometimes even unnerving pieces. Will return to for sure.

nicht meine liebste Richtung im Jazz

A moving jazz record

I’m sure music aficionados will love this. I found it easy to like but harder to love. And I must admit a slight sense of dejavu as I listened through

I appreciate the skill of the musicians and the anti-apartheid stance, but this is a bit bland and rambling for me. The final track, which actually sounded like it came from Africa, was the only tune to really engage me. A soft no.

amazing jazz album

You know when you phone a very exclusive (read expensive) place such as Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland (three golf courses) and to help you, after much apologising, they put you on hold and you wait for the appalling hold music but this comes on and so you are genuinely surprised and it holds your attention for the two minutes it takes reception to find the answer to your query and you are disappointed when a real human gets back on the line because the music was so good. Well this is that music. Should offend no-one, apart from the drum solo on track 7 that is about 5:25 to long, and a good listen but not something you would be left humming tomorrow. All well and good apart from track 10 because that is a children's song and everyone knows children should be seen and not heard. We can't have that sort of carry on around here thank you very much.

Relajante, no invade mi tranquilidad

Part of a Whole - 4/5 Minawa - 4/5 The Big Apple - 4/5 Unhome - 3/5 Maseru - 4/5 Inner Crisis - 4/5 Blues for Huey - 3.5/5 Nomali - 3.5/5 Maesha - 3.5/5 Ingoo Pow-Pow - 3.5/5 A more structured form of jazz, even though he lets some of it go free in a few tracks to his detriment. Good as lounge or background music but doesn't give enough of that "oomph" to boost it up to the top. Overall: 3.5/5 Favorites: Part of a Whole, Maseru

I have never heard of this guy before. Seeing a double album on this list always makes me sad, but it's not his fault! Sounds like jazz, nice jazz, cool jazz, long jazz. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? No Owned: No: 68/276 (24%) Will I get: No

jazz, sin letra, melodico, trompeta, suena clasico pero no viejo,

An interesting mix of jazz and African rhythms. Had some stand out tracks and some that washed a bit over me. But overall a good, catchy listen

Didn't care for it.

great elevator ride

I enjoyed the vibes of some songs, but jazz just really isn’t for me.

Good jazz, I wouldn’t say smooth. Seemed unpolished, in a sense. Still, a good album.

I’m no fan of jazz, but this was ok. I didn’t hate it, and that’s an achievement for a jazz record.

I wish I had heard of this artist and this album long before today. I have enjoyed the jazz that I have listened to before and due to this list, but this is thus far my favorite jazz album. The music is beautiful and for lack of a better word "peppy" but that is not to say that this is easy listening or background music. There is a lot going on musically but this manages to maintain a coherence. Wonderful album.

la trompeta uffff

This was okay. This is like something I would put on to just blend into the background at a chill party, and not anything I would go out of my way to listen to. I just didn't understand why it was included on this list, as it didn't seem to be special or especially notable based on my research or its overarching influence. I did think "Ingoo Pow-Wow" was a cool merging of sounds and styles.

Basic jazz.

2/5. i mags einfach nit, aber grundsätzlich is es gut i guess

I think this person is obviously extremely talented. But that would send me doolally if I listened to the whole album. Has to be 1 as I turned it off

Without lyrics

Awesome jazz album

It truly is.

Vite lassant même si je pense que c’est objectivement bien ?

ça change de ce qu'on a écouté jusqu'à maintenant

Its an okey album each song here does its own thing and has its own personality dont think i can give it more than 3 stars, I am not use to this type of jazz or use of instruments need more time and listen to a few more albums to get it

Not huge in to jazz, but I'm kinda digging this one.

This is fine. It's really pretty and cool at parts, but I'm just not really an instrumental person. I need lyrics and vocals. If it had really good lyrics and and someone like Olivia Dean over it I'd probably love it and it'd be a 4 or a 5.

As someone who needs something new on a regular basis to function properly, this album gave me just that this morning. Positive and fresh vibes

Decent jazz…

A nice, easy listen after gangsta rap the day before! I see Hugh Masekela's work listed as Afro-Jazz, but to me, it just sounds like jazz—the horns, the piano, the bass, the light percussion. There's a drum solo in one of the later songs, but it's not aggressive. It was smooth accompaniment to my workday until the final track, Ingoo Pow-Pow, which did a left-to-right-channel back-and-forth amid its repetition that just annoyed me.

More background jazz. This time of the South African variety.

Goddamn this album title is so true and it delivers with some gas jazz piano and trumpeting. These songs never get too repetitive and have driving energy that really feels infectious. Wonderful stuff all the way through it all just grows and becomes even more beautiful.

I can't with this one. this kind of self indulgent jazz is just so not my thing. DNF track 2

I don't think any particular tracks stood out as memorable here but whereas this might be a criticism I have leveled at other albums, here I don't mean it as one. Rather, this felt like a cohesive hour of jamming and I do like a solid jazz jam. The introduction of vocals in the final track however, is a jarring misstep.

Some songs are good for background music, would never add these to my monthly playlists. First half is definitely better. Last song was the final nail in the coffin…

It's a good jazz album, but not something I'd listen to again.

Espectacular álbum, gran acompañante de momento especiales. La trompeta es la estrella principal. No hace falta grandes voces para un gran álbum. Lo viejo funciona Juan, y lo simple también.

i'm sorry. i can't. don't hate me

Anything by this artist is exceptional. His music is quite unique and very enjoyable.

i like this type of Jazz!

Not really my choice, but far from bad

Not usually that into jazz, but this was pleasant.

What a cool find. Great melodies

Jazz?! Afrobeat?! Yes please!

I famously dislike jazz, and I doubt anything in this list will change my mind but I'm trying to be open Playlist add: "Inner Crisis"

‘What do you mean you hate jazz?’

the album as a whole might be a bit long, but It's nice when the music is just kinda jamming out for an extended period of time

Never like Masekela's sound. Can't explain why.

May god strike me dead for disliking jazz music so strongly...

Like being in the middle of an intense thriller from the 70s

coffee shop vibes i love

Énorme coup de coeur pour le solo de batterie

So so

i like it hehe

Would like to listen again

Bops Bigly

3.7 stars

Sure is jazz

Pretty good jazz

very relaxing to work to. like actually i think there's something in this that makes it easier to do my work. Especially Maesha. That was really good. I did my taxes to that.

Muy bueno.....super recomendada 👌 👍🏻 😉

Yet another album I would've never discovered, this whole genre I probably would've never found

Jazzy

This was the jazz album that I have been looking for ages

Felt like perfect cafe background music

Very good listen

Hugh Masekela – Home Is Where The Music Is (1972) On Day 110, I found a project that never failed to deliver. It was exactly what I intended it to be: a great fusion of Jazz and Afrobeat that feels powerful and grounded. The musicianship is top-tier, and the production is immaculate throughout the double-LP. I was drawn closest to "Minawa," "Maesha," and "Nomali." These tracks showcase a vocal triumph through the instruments that made the whole experience feel blessed. This is a high-level body of work that I can definitely guarantee I’ll be returning to. A definitive 5/5.

Pretty solid, jazz album, I definitely enjoyed most of the hits off of this! Not something I would necessarily go back to either, but I appreciate it for what it is.

Ya like jazz? I mean, I probably wouldn't say yes but I did really like this.

Ah yes, this music reminds me of the good old days when I would write communist literature whilst sipping on White Russians at my favorite Bellingham jazz club.

Ingoo Pow Pow was awful but I really enjoyed the rest of this album. Great mix of jazz and blues vibes. Great for a rainy day cigarette out on the porch.

Great jazz album with some excellent beats. It does drag on a bit at times, but overall it's some smooth and excellent listening.

Upbeat and enjoyable Afro-jazz with plenty of horns. A little light on the "Afro" but still very good.

## Overview *Home Is Where The Music Is* is a sprawling double album recorded in January 1972 at London's Island Studios during Masekela's exile from apartheid-era South Africa. Released on Chisa/Blue Thumb Records, the album represents a pivotal moment in the trumpeter's career—marking his departure from the pop-jazz crossover attempts of the late 1960s (following his hit "Grazing in the Grass") toward a more authentic, exploratory fusion of South African musical traditions with American jazz, soul, and funk . --- ## The Music & Production ### Sonic Architecture The album's production is notable for its organic, live-in-the-studio feel. The ensemble—featuring Masekela on flugelhorn, South African saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, drummer Makhaya Ntshoko, American pianist Larry Willis (who also contributed on Wurlitzer electric piano), and bassist Eddie Gomez—creates a sound that is simultaneously tight and exploratory . The production balances the warmth of acoustic instruments with the emerging electric textures of early-1970s jazz fusion. Larry Willis's electric piano work on tracks like "Part of a Whole" and "Maesha" adds a soulful, almost psychedelic dimension that complements the African rhythmic foundations . ### Composition & Arrangement The album features material primarily written by Caiphus Semenya (five tracks), with additional compositions from Miriam Makeba ("Umhomé"), Larry Willis ("Inner Crisis"), and Masekela himself ("Maseru"). This collaborative approach creates a rich tapestry of voices while maintaining thematic coherence . The arrangements are sophisticated yet accessible—ostinato grooves provide hypnotic foundations over which the soloists weave intricate improvisations. The album moves fluidly between uptempo, danceable numbers and contemplative ballads, creating a dynamic listening experience across its 76-minute runtime . --- ## Lyrical Content & Themes ### The Exile Experience The album's title itself is a profound statement: "Home Is Where The Music Is" redefines the concept of home not as a fixed geographic location but as a portable cultural practice. For Masekela—who had been in exile since the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre—this was deeply personal. The music becomes a sanctuary, a way to maintain connection to South African identity while physically displaced . ### Linguistic Fusion The lyrics blend English with Xhosa and other South African vernaculars, prioritizing evocative expression over explicit political agitation. This multilingual approach emphasizes cultural continuity and human adaptability. Rather than descending into lamentation, tracks like "Umhomé" channel the disorientation of exile into rhythmic vitality—transforming pain into joy through musical resilience . ### Cultural Synthesis The album embodies what critic Thom Jurek called "spiritual soul-jazz"—a meeting point between South African township jazz (marabi, kwela influences), American hard bop, soul, and the emerging Afrobeat sound. This synthesis serves as both artistic statement and political act: by creating beauty from hybridity, Masekela demonstrates the richness that emerges when cultures connect rather than segregate . --- ## Standout Tracks - **"Part of a Whole"** (Caiphus Semenya): The opening track establishes the album's template—an infectious ostinato groove with sophisticated harmonic movement. Masekela's flugelhorn tone is warm and vocal-like, while the ensemble interplay is telepathic . - **"Inner Crisis"** (Larry Willis): Often cited as the album's highlight, this track features a Curtis Mayfield-esque soulfulness. The electric piano work creates a dreamy, dark atmosphere that builds into funky release—a perfect example of the album's emotional range . - **"Maesha"** (Caiphus Semenya): At nearly 12 minutes, this is the album's epic centerpiece. It moves from a rainy, introspective opening to an uptempo groove, showcasing the ensemble's ability to sustain interest through extended improvisation . - **"Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song)"**: The closing track is the most overtly African, featuring vocals in indigenous languages and a jungly drum introduction. It serves as a powerful reminder of the cultural roots underlying the entire project . --- ## Critical Reception & Influence ### Contemporary Response Upon release, the album was praised in jazz publications for its vibrant fusion and rhythmic innovation. Critics noted that the ensemble's drive revitalized Masekela's sound after his pop detours . ### Retrospective Assessment The 2008 Verve Records reissue prompted renewed critical attention. AllMusic awarded it 5/5 stars, calling it "one of the greatest recordings in Hugh Masekela's long career" . The album was also included in the book *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*, cementing its status as a fusion classic . ### Influence The album stands as a crucial document of the African jazz diaspora, influencing subsequent generations of musicians exploring transatlantic connections. Its success demonstrated that jazz fusion could be substantive rather than merely commercial, and that political content could be conveyed through musical beauty rather than explicit sloganeering . --- ## Pros | Strength | Description | |----------|-------------| | **Ensemble Chemistry** | The combination of South African and American musicians creates a genuine dialogue rather than cultural appropriation. Each player is "no less than outstanding" | | **Tonal Range** | Masekela's flugelhorn work is remarkable—his use of half-valve tones and slurs produces a vocal-like expressiveness | | **Compositional Depth** | Caiphus Semenya's writing provides sophisticated structures that balance accessibility with improvisation | | **Emotional Resonance** | The album channels exile and displacement into uplifting, life-affirming music | | **Production Values** | The live studio sound captures the spontaneity of performance while maintaining clarity | | **Historical Significance** | A crucial document of apartheid-era exile and cultural resistance | --- ## Cons | Weakness | Description | |----------|-------------| | **Length** | At 76 minutes across 10 tracks, some listeners find the album "too long and repetitive" | | **Drum Sound** | Some critics note the drum recording quality is subpar—"a rock kit available in the London studio, kickdrum as dead as a concrete post" | | **Stylistic Consistency** | A few tracks ("Maseru," "Blues for Huey") are considered weaker than the album's highlights | | **Accessibility** | For listeners seeking edgy, funky jazz, some tracks may feel "light" or "inoffensive" compared to contemporaries like Miles Davis's electric period | | **Muffled Mastering** | The original recording has been described as "a bit muffled," requiring treble boosting on some reissues | --- ## Conclusion *Home Is Where The Music Is* is a landmark achievement in jazz fusion and world music. It succeeds not by diluting its influences but by allowing them to converse as equals—South African rhythms meet American harmonic sophistication, exile meets celebration, tradition meets innovation. While the album's length and occasional unevenness may deter casual listeners, those who invest the time discover a work of remarkable depth and humanity. Masekela's assertion that home resides in music rather than geography remains profoundly moving—a testament to art's power to create belonging in the face of displacement. For anyone interested in the intersection of jazz, African music, and political art, this album is essential listening .

Rv

que joyaaaa porque no lo haia escuchado antes? the big apple fue mi top. sin duda la tendré que escuchar para una tarde de vino

Why can't I just be at Herr Nilsen in Oslito listening this music live?

embarrassed to admit i don’t listen to jazz quite as much as i should! i am a big fan of the genre and this will be a staple in my playlists for sure. a great listen :) hope to see u soon jazz

Never been much of a jazz gal but hey it was actually kinda nice having on in the background!

Almost serenaded me to sleep.

I'm gonna fall asleep this jazz is too smooth!

Better than expected, even the heavy brass parts didn't break me.

It was fine. I lay down with headphones on to listen and was lulled to sleep. It’s a nice album to while doing something else like cleaning the house or sitting by the fire with a glass of bourbon. It certainly not something that should belong on a list like this.

All that jazz! Enjoyed it!

I love this album. Have enjoyed it on vinyl many times. The instruments are all so pronounced and smooth. Sax makes me happy.

I can’t explain why I like some jazz and not others. But I like this one

There’s parts of this I really liked and parts that were too much for me. About double the length it needs to be so probably won’t come back to this vs. other jazz albums I’ve enjoyed

Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? Completely unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? I do not know who this is Favorite song(s)? Maseru Overall Thoughts: I don’t normally seek out jazz, but I don’t mind it. I tend to prefer music with words over instrumentals (that goes for all genres). I listened to this while putting together my new office chair and it was nice, but not something I’m likely to revisit.

I’ve said before that I don’t understand or appreciate jazz, and so it will have a tough time scoring above a 3 for me. This one did it from the start. Masekela’s trumpet playing is great, the music is perky and upbeat. I have a great deal to learn about jazz, but it’s clear to me that it can be as varied as rock, and I’m interested in learning more. 4/5

They say women respond to jazz and I can confirm!!!! Sexy and fun and soothing to the soul. Played this through to its entirety while taking a shower, grooming myself, and then relaxing. Felt pretty royal. Also listened idly once before fully while winding down properly for the night. I have it saved and will certainly listen again:)

Really interesting jazz! In all honesty, I only listened to the first few songs, so I'm not certain my rating is a fair one, but I did hear enough to know that I liked it.

I wasn’t wrong. Fantastic jazz album. Muchas de las canciones me recuerdan al estilo de Hisaishi para la musica de Ghibli. Truly delicious. 5/5

Lovely soundtrack to cleaning up first scorebook (Phillies/Rockies) of the ABS era in Denver airport on 4/5/26

musica para aperturas de espacios de radio.

Very groove-able! At times I liked the backing band, especially the pianist, better than the trumpet.

reasonable

Easy 5

lovely classic versatile trumpet, full of feeling

Pretty jammy. I liked it. Sort of gave me older Chicago vibes at times. 3.5⭐️

I'm always a little concerned when Wikipedia tells me the genre is jazz, but this was a pleasant surprise. Some super groovy stuff here!

Overall Rating - 4.15/5 (8.30/10). This is exactly my jam.

My only experience with Hugh Masekela was through Paul Simon’s Graceland, and based on that mini-glimpse, this could not have been further from what I expected. Where I was expecting some African fusion, I was a bit deflated by what seemed very much like an American jazz record. Not bad by any means, and perhaps it will grow on me over time, but today, not all there.

Had some high points, had some other points that had Christmas music energy.

Pretty good but a bit too long

Two jazz albums in a row - funny. I liked this one much more. Looks like I prefer the bolder variety. This reminded me of Whiplash.

I've had quite a few instrumental albums now often in this sort of genre. This was another good one I found myself enjoying more than I expected. It does have a long runtime but it holds its own for the most part. Top picks: Minawa, Maseru, Nomali.

8/10

Solid jazz album, the songs at the end, though get a little off for me. But I wouldn’t mind listening to one side of this.

This was a nice instrumental jazz album. Probably never would have found this on my own and enjoyed it throughout

Good album but I’ve heard better jazz from others that aren’t on their list. Maybe it was the Afrobeat parts that’s wasn’t for me - not sure why it didn’t resonate for me more since I usually love jazz.

Interesting jazz, nothing too earth shattering to my ears but worth a listen. I find jazz hard to rate, I liked it but I'm not sure I'd ever go back for another listen.

Great Songs: Good Songs: Part of a Whole, Minawa, The Big Apple, Maseru, Inner Crisis, Blues for Huey, Nomali Mid Songs: Unhome, Maesha, Ingoo POW-Pow (Children’s Song) Bad Songs:

Really nice album. The jazz context is very clear, the proto-Afrobeat harder for me to pick out. This is certainly not "trad jazz" of any type that puts me off. (Well there was a drum solo that slightly outstayed its welcome.) Mostly it was very nicely composed, very cool listening. I feel even more positive about it after a little pause, I've come back to say it's Very Good, 8/10.

It was neutral. It didn’t offend me to listen to it, but it’s not something I’ll remember for long.

Absolutely Fantastic, Great grooves, wonderful atmosphere

He plays beautifully, but I only have space in my heart for one flugelhorn master. This album feels more like jazz for jazz people, not jazz for the audience.

Jamais écouté avant. Premier album de jazz de la liste. Pas désagréable à écouter en arrière-plan, et parfois on se laisse prendre par le groove. Mais l'album semble très long quand on y connaît rien... Top : Inner Crisis Flop : Unhome

I was not ready for more trumpet.

The combination of keyboard, drums and trumpet on this album made me think of the incidental music on the Peanuts cartoons from the 60s and 70s. And again I understand the joy that this music brings to people. But I find it a little bit too franetic and noodling. This is especially demonstrated in the track "Blues for Huey". With the only saving grace (for me) in this track being the person who says laughingly "Call an ambulance". Its not really for me. (2.125)

Pretty chill album, would be good to have on as background music at a party

It sounded like he had his band lay down a beat and he just noodled over it after hitting record.

Beautiful. I think I'm discovering I like jazz through these albums-a-day lol. A lot of beautiful moments in this album like drum fills and solo piano riffs. Minawa and Maseru were my favorites. A very valuable album in my eyes. 7.9/10.

El primer álbum de jazz que escucho, y siento que para ser mi primer acercamiento estuvo bastante bien, tiene canciones súper movidas y enérgicas (mis favoritas) y otras super groovy y lentas que te ponen los pelos de punta, me pasó con Minawa, y siento que eso demuestra el poder que tiene el jazz y los instrumentales, que a pesar de no tener letra, sólo el sonido te cautiva y te hace tener sensaciones tremendas, porque en los instrumentales no hace falta tener una voz cantando, los que cantan son los instrumentos.

y está bueno, medio raro y no es mi flow pero cool, muy musical

Never ending trumpet at the local cocktail night.

Legit jazz but I didn't feel like all of it

Niet slecht, maar duurt te lang

The playing on this album is so ridiculously clean it killed every single germ in my body. Gave me immunodeficiency, but it was worth it!!!

Never heard of Hugh Masekela before but these cats are smokin'. Smooth and laid back way to start my Friday. I really dig the horns playing in unison and all the musicians play exactly what is needed. Maesha is the standout track for me. I listened to this most of the day and it's in the top 25 new to me albums on the list. This one is going in the rotation.

26.03.26 klo 13.49, toimisto, earpods, qobuz hyvää paskaa! neljä tähteä iisisti, nyt tuntuu taas hyvältä idealta jatkaa projektia. the big apple on kova,

Casado con Miriam Makeba, conocido por colaborar con Fela Kuti y Paul Simon. No soy experto en Jazz, pero este disco me gusta. Part of a whole no me parece gran cosa, pero Minawa y Unhome sí.

This album surprised me. Now, I am not much of a jazz guy. I don't listen to much jazz because it never appealed to me. I have listened to a couple of jazz albums like Bitches Brew by Miles Davis and A Love Supreme by John Coltrane. Bitches Brew is an outstanding album and A Love Supreme was decent IMHO. However, I found this album to be very good. It's not meant to quicken the pulse or wow you. It's meant to be relaxing and serve as some great jazz. Hugh Masekela shows exactly why he is so talented on the flugelhorn and the other band members do a great job as well. Will I go back to this album a lot? No. Am I happy I listened to it? Yes! Highlights: Part Of A Whole The Big Apple Unhome Inner Crisis

A relaxing and enjoyable listen. I added “Minawa” to my Generator playlist.

I ended up listening to Home Is Where the Music Is almost like background music. It’s easy to listen to, but it didn’t really stay with me.

I just don’t really know how to consume jazz as anything other than background music. It’s a genre that has never really connected with me. I like some of the grooves of main ideas here, and it all sounds well-played. But nothing got me excited enough to give it a high rating.

a surprise. A beautiful surprise

Excellent - first time listener and I will be looking into some more Hugh masekela !

Best of luck to anyone whos gonna take an hour out of their day to listen to this

Favorite songs: Minawa, The Big Apple, Nomali Feels like 70's game show music or incidental music from an 70's NYC police movie.

Excellent jazz record. Some really interesting drum and vocal tracks add the Afrobeat vibe to beautiful brass lines.

Great jazz, maybe not making move that much. Although, in a busy stage of my life, and really contemplating good jazz is not the easiest right nowm

I like this style of jazz

Very cool vibe will come back to this

Jazz is not really my thing but the album was still enjoyable :)

My jazz tastes are hard to pin down. While I like Maekela, I grow tired of the songs and the album. Small doses for me, I suppose.

Jazz

Technically impressive, fantastic groove and vibe, proper jazz fun I just don't know I'f I'll come back to this again - it's not you, it's me

löwenzahn intro

I really enjoyed this. Exactly the sort of thing I wanted from this list.

Nice to listen to something new to me that I really got something from. There are a few lulls through the more lounge jazz songs, but the more uptempo numbers here had a good groove to them and still sounded fresh despite being recoded some time ago. The afrobeat influences are really what grabbed me in this and although the western jazz approaches are still dominant, the percussion and some of the brass here reminded me of Fela Kuti and others. Likely bears repeated listens to get the most from it, but one I’ll be going back to.

That did not feel like a children's song to me

well. it's jazz. the last song was the most interesting

Esta muy bien el disco pero bueno, es algo muy de nicho en el que no estoy interiorizada y termine salteando algunas canciones porque ya no me generaba nada. No creo que sea malo, simplemente no para mi. Y estoy abierta a nuevas experiencias.

a tender caress to the heart

Jazz stresses me out man. Kinda good tho.

I did like a lot of sounds throughout, but something about it all just didn't land well. All of the songs are longer than average, but they really felt like they dragged. I'd give this a 3.5, but I'm not okay with a 4.

This album is incredibly changing and varied, and delivered with such mastery that it is nothing but great. There are so many layers here, being not a very easy album to get into, but, surely, it is worth listening. The music is very unique, each song is a different thing, but it is pretty cohesive as an album too. I'm amazed by how everything is so fantastically delivered, with such taste and, at many times, so groovy. I've loved this album. It's a very interesting jazz record.

Some good melodies on here. This feels more structured than the other jazz albums I've listened to which I appreciate. The weakest sections were the ones with heavy improvisation.

This is shockingly good. It’s 76 minutes long, and it doesn’t feel like it in the way that Double Nickels on the Dime feels long. One of the best jazz albums ever.

Jazz still feels like a wasted genre on me, with it's intricate arrangements and soulful playing. I really appreciate the music, but the lyrics are a sore absence for me. Ironic, considering I listened to electronica for years (which largely doesn't have lyrics and has synthesized soulless sounds). Masekela's trumpet playing is beautiful and controlled throughout the album and his supporting band on keys (I have to put in a special word for Larry Willis, as his piano on Minawa was simply gorgeous) and bass can be given the same praise. I am grateful for each Jazz album that comes my way, as I'm hoping it will further deepen my appreciation for the genre. Favourite songs were "Part of a Whole", "Minawa" and "Inner Crisis".

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the instrumental music from this album.

nothing much, really Today's bird: idk actually and im too lazy to search

2 3/4

It’s cool, he’s certainly an excellent musician but it’s just not what I would choose to listen to.

Growing up loving Chet Baker and John Coltrane, I'm finding it difficult to bridge the gap between that and this record. I mean, reading reviews here that describe these tracks as "tasty" or "fun" or non-ironically comparing them to Super Mario (!) makes me feel like I'm missing the frequency everyone else is tuned into

If i had friends I'd play it at a dinner party

Some nice easy listening Afro Jazz. Listened to it mainly while walking at night and it set the mood just right. Always love these little obscure album inclusions.

Bellisimo

Boring

I wish I could connect with this more but I guess I just don't properly 'get' Jazz. Nice enough background music.

This was such a relaxing listen. Love love looooved