Home Is Where The Music Is

Solid jazz

Groovy Jazz

Fun jazz

Great stuff!!

Never heard this one before but I really enjoyed the Afro-jazz vibe.

Wonderful gem

it’s good, I baked some banana bread in my pajamas on a sunday while listening. Vibes? Immaculate. That said, Hendrix has never been 100% my style

I was a lazy bones. My bones were lazy. I missed the Friday review. This cycle of five days committed to a failing corporation and two days to do everything needed to maintain my life force for more siphoning from said corporation is taking a toll. After recharging in my pod to provide more shareholder value, I realized I didn’t give ol Hughie a listen and hung my head in shame. You see, home is where the music is, and hopefully this music enters my home office and whisks me away from the waking nightmare known as employment under late stage capitalism. You have 76 minutes. Good luck. Oh my god. Is it going to be jazz? YES. Very funky start. Upbeat as well. Very nice. The way this fades in and out of atonal jazz wildness and this fun little pseudo-chorus is very cool. Yeah I obviously don’t have the literacy (musical or otherwise) to describe why this is so great, but the improvised feel to everything mixed with the anchor to that driving groove makes this song an all-time classic. Absolute monster. Some quietude. The thought of a song being “piano heavy” usually fills me with dread. But with jazz, all instruments are welcome. As long as there a no bad vocals. Doesn’t seem like there will be. Jubilation accompanies every key stroke. Both of the piano and of my own digital dopamine portal. This song doesn’t go quite as hard as the first, but it is still a peaceful reprise. An oasis in the desert of overrated Britpop that my life has become stranded in. Oh hell yeah. Back to the groove. This is just so good. My word. The spine of the song is sturdy and even accessible while the instruments explore around it. Is this the proverbial “pocket” they speak of? AND? It’s about New York, which is the capital of moody saxophone music. I am become gentrification, raiser of rent. Someone has to have sampled this bass line. How cool is that? Kept going throughout the song. Man. Coolest song about forced homelessness I’ve ever heard. Well. I assume that’s what it’s about. Wait. If home is where the music is, if Hugh were to unhome somebody, would he just stop playing? We are veering ever so slightly towards salsa dancing. Let’s not stay there. Luckily the variety in instrumentation is enough to keep us in the jazz zone, but I was afraid there. I don’t love the “chorus” in this one. The percussion is still excellent though. Oh HELL yeah. The minor keys. The groove. Hugh launches another nuclear funk missile directly into the face of the Verve and whatever terrible artists I’ve heard in the last fortnight or so. Oh yeah, T-Swift was in there. How is “evermore” in the same realm as this? Whatever. Inner Crisis rules. Blues for Huey. I had stylized it “Hughie,” making me wrong. That kick drum sounds a little soupy, but the drum solo breakdown is so cool, I don’t even really care. I don’t know how many blues tracks have thunderous god damn drum solos, but I’m in favour of it continuing long into the genres twilight. When alien thunder house takes over Electropop on the oldies station, so too will blues emerge with kickin’ drum solos. Don’t love the horns in this one, but Huey’s blues is my gain overall. This is a happier one. What can I say at this point. This bad boy keeps chugging. Part deux of previous track review. This one is a cool groove. Mayyybe unnecessarily long considering we’re up over an hour already here. It’s not hitting me as hard as some of the others, but there are some riffs in here that still kill. Can I just get an entire standup bass album? That would be cool. VOCALS????? Hugh. No. Luckily they’re also sick. Who am I to question the taste of big Masekala. The horrors of the plains of South Africa might terrify the children, but I’m jacked up on this one. Well that was something. Fire up the helicopter baby, this Huey is gonna soar. I can’t fault any of this to any severe degree. The songs are long enough that even during the rare weak spots, I know an absolute behemoth groove or wicked solo is around the corner. Jazz is such an incredible opportunity to make of art what you feel. As a listener, I can fill in the blanks in the improvisation and glean my own interpretations from the flurries of notes and outpouring of passion exhibited throughout. The better the musician, the more potent the emotions in the instrumental. The musicians on this album were/are top tier and so much of this is exactly what I want from a record. Hugh came up Hughge™️ on this album, and me? Well I feel right at home. 4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Part of a Whole, The Big Apple, Inner Crisis, Blues for Huey, Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children’s Song)

Really enjoyed this one. I am familiar with Masekela, but this album was all new to me. The rhythm and grooves are great, and his trumpet playing is fantastic. 4.5/5 Will listen again

I don’t really have too much to say other than this is a great jazz album, with a slightly world infused sound. If you like jazz, you’ll love this.

So far, great background music for me to be productive with. Most music without lyrics doesn't evoke too much emotion out of me.

Very tasteful jazz

3,75

I’m going to be honest. My heart sank when I saw the terms “jazz” and “double LP” together. Over an hour of jazz music? This album had everything going for me to hate it. My only reaction was “This better be some great fucking jazz. Not decent, not ok, not even just good, great fucking jazz”. Anything less would be terrible. So after seating through this album, I’m inclined to say, it was indeed some great fucking jazz. The big thing this album has that a majority of other jazz albums didn’t is variety. Every track feels different from each other, which helps it stand out from other jazz albums that merely sink into the background. It isn’t just 6-minute of random sax, bass and piano music track by track. Every song here has a personality. From the slow and serene Minawa, the drum solo in Blues for Huey, and the funky Inner Crisis, there’s enough character here to carry this album for its 70-plus minutes. Hugh’s influence by his African roots within the confines of jazz help escalate this album past its predecessors. I am genuinely surprised by this one. Hugh Masekela, you made me enjoy jazz, you lucky mother fucker. Favorite track: Minawa Other hits: The Big Apple, Part of a Whole, Inner Crisis, Maseru, Nomali, Unhomé, Blues for Huey

Really really good, smooth and groovy

I can't say I heard of Hugh Masekela before. From what I can gather, he was a renowned South African trumpeter, flugelhornist and jazz composer active in the anti-apartheid movement. As such, his music, even in an instrumental sense, could be viewed as a desire for political change in his homeland. In the case of this album, Home Is Where the Music Is, the marriage of bebop style jazz and South African folk rhythms can be viewed as an homage to his upbringing and a celebration of black African culture and talent amidst racial segregation. The album starts nicely with Hugh's staccato trumpeting on the opener "Part of a Whole", to the lush tickling of the ivory keys on "Minawa", to the bustling New York busy vibe of "The Big Apple" to establish the musicianship on display. After that is when the challenge kicks in, from the more experimental spare horn arrangement on "Unhome", to the complex rhythm pattern and sway on "Maseru", to the harsh stomp of "Inner Crisis" and intense percussive roll of "Blues for Huey". There's a bit of a rest after the onslaught with the wonderful jazz ballad "Nomali" and the poignant soul of "Maesha", before ending on the most overt homage to Hugh's roots on "Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song)" with the Afrobeat percussion and passionate chanting. By the end, the journey taken is clear, from the comforts of jazz music into more challenging and daring ideas as Hugh showed his love and support towards his country. Honestly, my only gripe with this album is that it is a rather long listen, clocking in at over 76 minutes. I can imagine someone putting this record in the background, and they can certainly enjoy it in passing. It probably takes a level of attention and engagement to follow the path that Hugh set forth back to his homeland. I consider Home Is Where the Music Is to be a rewarding listen, one that spoke about Hugh Masekela's cultural heritage in a way that mere words would not have done it justice.

The problem with a lot of jazz is, if the musicians actually care if it sounds good, it's usually too smooth. This sounds good and isn't too smooth. Great record. Favorite song: part of a whole.

Gotta respect performance like that!

It was good! I don’t know much about jazz but I enjoyed listening.

Well this is just some damn good upbeat jazz - definitely hit the spot for me :) I've known about Hugh Masekela from his later stuff, where there's a lot less jazz and a lot more singing, and never really knew there were albums like this in his catalogue -will definitely have to go on a bit of a dive!

This one was great! A jazz feel that was more produced, which I appreciate. Some really interesting instrumentals. Would listen again. Favorites: Minawa, Maseru, Marsha Least Favorites: Blues for Huey, Ingoo Pow-Pow

Enjoyed this jazz this morning. Idk found it relaxing

This comes under the heading for me as “modern” jazz. It’s mostly the sounds though. I really notice a shift in the way instruments sound as the years change. Sometimes it’s just the recording technique or lack there of because everyone is still learning. I think Minawa is my favorite track so far.

Aside from the album title this was fantastic! Maseru is the standout track for me.

Nice and smooth. I was surprised that I like it so much. I’m not a great jazz fan usually

beautiful, cathartic and life affirming music. i could play this any time of the day and still be happy

Sublime. Had never heard before but has some proper put you in a trance stuff. Kinda like humans being attune to certain smells I feel like most humans would enjoy some of the sounds off this album.

Smooth

Really enjoyed it. Made me realize I should listen to more jazz, excellent album to listen to while working.

The first song was one of the best jazz tracks I've ever heard. I thought I was done with jazz. Many good tracks soon follow suit. "Home is Where the Music Is" is a brilliant name for an album. I didn't know what a flugelhorn was until I heard this record. 4 stars for "Home is Where the Music Is".

a mix of feelings, which takes you through a journey in a way. playing is on point. Trumpets get a bit repetitive as they are generally quite simple (which works in some areas). Favourite songs: Part of a whole, minawa, unhome, maseru. Overall around 8/10

Interesting spin. The songs flow into each other in a way that made me lose track of how long I'd been listening. But they keep inventing melodies and little flair things that happen, which keep it interesting.

Good melodies, lot of fun. Not my favorite of 70s jazz, but I enjoyed the afrobeat elements, and I'll likely explore more of his catalogue.

This was the first time I’d listened this album. I’d never heard of it. I loved it.

Favorite tracks: Part of a whole Good album. A bit too modern for my taste but enjoyed and will listen again

Good jazz. Definitely not much of a jazz guy.

Just a smooth chill listen. Fantastic musicianship.

Entre expansion et retenue, on sent la réflexion qui a présidé à la construction des pièces de cet album, c'est un jazz mûr

A glass of champagne in a cool dark jazz club or a chill Sunday afternoon. Vibes.

jazz funk thing... good for a walk around a busy city.

Charlie Brown Xmas music for the discerning Quaalude user.

Home Is Where The Music Is is the kind of album you can just vibe to. Masekela’s blend of African rhythms, jazz, and funk isn’t trying too hard—it just works. The horn’s got soul, the grooves are infectious, and it’s got a way of making you feel like you’re part of something bigger. Jazz isn’t my go-to genre, but this just worked for me. It’s not in-your-face political, but it’s definitely all about identity and resilience. Throw this on, kick back, and let it do its thing.

/jazz/

Holy crap, this is good!

Great album. It's no Fela Kuti, but few are. This is solid jazz with a healthy injection of afrobeat. Really fun to listen to and never gets stale.

A wonderful and seamless blend of funk, swing and African styles. I really need to check out more HM.

Great and more relaxed jazz album!

Really enjoyed this - well worth a listen.

First Jazz album I’ve listened to from start to finish and made for solid heads down working music. I’ve heard a few of his songs, including “Riot” which was sampled in an Earl Sweatshirt song, “Riot!” He’s a very talented trumpeter and his backstory is very interesting. He’s known as “The Father of South African Jazz” and defected from SA in the early 60s with the help of Dizzy Gillespie and Harry Belafonte. I’ll need to read more about him and listen to some of his other notable work. 🎺 Update: TIL that Earl Sweatshirt is Hugh Masekela’s nephew. Definitely going to go down a wiki rabbit hole later.

Great sound

This is the kind of album I want on vinyl in my home. A delightful listen, every song gave me something a bit different.

See me scrunching my face immediately at the audacity of the keys and horns to start off because I LOVE IT. OH SHIT THIS IS JAZZ. I think? It has moments of congrats-you-just-won-mario-kart or college-gameday. Guessing this was inspirational for most conductors of people with a trumpet or other horn in the band. bassist was not paying attention on Maseru and that is my expert opinion. OKOK this album is NEARLY perfect. But I couldn't get on board with the Ingot Pow Wow - I am uncultured swine. 4.25, harsh but dems the rulez. I want to give this a 4.5 but I think Unhome is just "meh" because that bass line is like what I play on the low e string when I'm bored and waiting for someone to stop talking. EDDIE GOMEZ THIS IS ON YOU. Otherwise 4.5/5 nearly perfect album.

Very pleasent jazz with good variety of sounds.

Nice album. Has its differences from what you'd initially bring to mind when you hear the word "jazz", but not in a bad way. No bad ones here. Each song brings its own different vibe and the album just rolls along.

That was almost the perfect Friday album. Easy to listen to and interesting enough to pay attention to the music. I will definitely be adding this to my playlist.

I like this one! The looser feel and relaxed vibe, especially of the first few tracks, is right up my alley. My only real complaint is that drum-only solos don't do a lot for me and Blues for Huey did nothing to change that.

Pretty groovy record with some stand-out tunes. I hadn't heard this one before but will play it again.

Not super familiar with Hugh's larger body of work and have never heard this one before. Not sure how to describe it beyond it simply being "a lovely album". I think I need to find a copy to add to the collection.

great sound, iconic

I put off rating this one for a while because I felt a need to keep coming back. a few listens, especially over the course of a day, didn't feel like a fair shake. I knew upon listening that this was a *good* jazz album; but how good? great, even? First off, there's nothing truly outstanding or experimental here. However, I can't seem to find a situation I wouldn't play it in. Hugh Masekela's jazz is infectious and you remember less of how the song went, and more how you felt listening to the song. Having poured over many an "essentials list", I have never seen Hugh Masekela mentioned, which seems wrong to me. This is an enjoyable listen for anyone already into jazz, as well as newcomers to the genre; complex enough to keep interest, but tame enough to not be intimidating. Cheers to you, Hugh Masekela.

Groovy

++: Part of a Whole, The Big Apple, Unhomé, Maseru, Inner Crisis, Blues For Huey, Nomali, Maesha +: Minawa, Ingoo Pow-Pow 9,0/10

Phil Spector had his wall of sound. Len Houmous had his Wall of Trumpets. An incredible technique to make one instrument sound like 4 trumpets using only a fish tank and a french horn! Very glad Hugh used it on this. 3.7

Great. Loved it. Perfect for studying to. I wanna listen to more of this. Long songs without lyrics. Just some beautiful jazz compositions and improvisations :)))

Another good 70s jam session. Smooth jazz this time.

4.5

Quite good - better than background music, would be good to chill to. I think 'pleasant' sounds like a backhander but I was happy for this to just keep going. Reminds me a bit of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, but that could be just because I don't know jazz

I think this is the best of the traditional jazz albums I've heard so far. I enjoyed it, and will definitely listen to it again but, I still didn't love it, just liked it.

now this is jazz! loved it but have to dock a star for the last track which completely killed the vibe for me

The title is right: I felt right at home listening to this :) For real, lovely compositions and melodies throughout. Everything tied together cohesively without feeling like it overstayed its welcome. I enjoyed pretty much all of the arrangement choices and instrumental performances. No bass solos? No problem! Drum solo was a bit eh but not because it sucked, just felt a little overbearing. Larry Willis stole the show for me. I could not get over his choices on piano - consistent wow factor. Loved listening to this; can't wait to come back! Favorite tracks: All but blues for huey and ingoo pow-pow

8/10 Jazz is the closest thing to “spiritual” music that exists, not on a grander metaphysical scheme or whatever but on a visceral feeling. I couldn’t describe to you in technical terms what makes it work, for sure none of it is accidental, but what’s important is that I feel the music. For an album named “Home is Where the Music Is”, we travel all around the world musically, not restricted by any borders, which feels intentional, everything is beautifully arranged and performed, it’s aa if you’re exploring different parts of the planet on every song, with a catch, which is the very somber and melancholy core of the album. It’s no doubt apartheid had a huge effect on the artists in question, there’s a duality in pride and pain, culture and oppression, diaspora and home, and we see the whole painting in its beauty and its tragedy.

Great jazz album

Trompeten-heavy Jazzalbum, i like. Interessanter Typ. Lieder im Album alle so 7-10 min, ziemlich fuckin long. Ist eher was für Hintergrund finde ich. Nach dem halben Album doch ganz nice eigentlich. Zu energetisch um sich auf andere Sachen zu konzentrieren.

Great album.

отличный инструментальный альбом, для меня не вариант слушать на постоянке но если где-то на фоне играет то шик джазовая кайфуля дядька тоже очень интересный, сам активист и был женат на Мириам Макеба,а ещё он дядя Эрла свитшота и одну из своих труб ему подарил Луи Армстронг

oh yesss, da ischmer hugh eine inejazzt worde, was füren spass das album hett sich trotz sinnere längi spannend ghalte und isch super gsi zum chli im zug schäfferle und sich jetsetig fühle bitte meh so sache und au gern mal chli was mit chli afrikanische ihflüss (wo isch de fela wemmern brucht!?) alles ih allem kriegt das album mitem qualitäts-gütesigel DIN gnormti 4 dachziegel uf huus wod musig spilt ps. @Nonschg, I absolve you from your sins 🙏🏼

grosses kino gsi bi de zu trümmlige solopassage hani amigs aber scho chli müeh gha da drücki drum 4 zigarre ufm loungetisch us

Enjoyed jazzy trumpet music. Add some to jazzy dinner tunes playlist? A little backgroundy

We are starting off the new year with jazz, more jazz, and all that jazz. This music is some groovy jazz. I dig it. It's got a great smooth 70's horn sound but the afro/world fusion gives it a creative twist. Some songs are a little too slow for my speed but they are beautiful. When I listen to good jazz music, it's like the instruments are having conversations with each other and I get that from this. Inner Crisis is my favorite on this album.

This is pleasant jazz. I listened through several times: while reading, while making art, while cooking. The longer it goes on, the more lived in it feels. Excellent!

Two days in a row of live jazz. Wasn’t excited about that when I saw this album, but I actually really enjoyed this. So chill and smooth and you could feel the emotion in the songs. It hasn’t converted me to a big jazz fan yet, but it was quite good!

I haven't heard of this guy before, but I like what I'm hearing. It's mellow, but groovy. The Big Apple is the vibe. Unhome has that noir sound. Makes me want to kick back with a glass of scotch. Inner Crisis has everything I want. Chef's kiss! Excellent jazz album. 4

A lot of more abstract jazz is hard for me to get my arms around. It can seem impressive and interesting, but it's about as fun to listen to as doing trigonometry. This album walked that line at times but was usually rooted in something, maybe a funky groove like that in "Inner Crisis, " that helped hold things together for me.

Excellent album, and that's some damn impressive flugelhorn playing - especially the rapid-fire technique which there's probably a name for. Although it's not as mysterious or adventurous as my favorite jazz albums after an hour had passed I guess I'd enjoyed the trip more than I thought as I immediately replayed it. The advantage is that these really did come across as individual compositions rather than (which I admittedly often love) free-form off-on-a-tangent jazz. Feels caught between a 3 and 4 but even if it's not the dark weird I like most in this general genre, there were no low points at all and the pure enjoyment pushes it to a 4 for me (and as a bonus got me learning more about Hugh Masekela). 7/10 4 stars

3.8/5 the first jazz album i quite enjoyed.

Equal parts funky and harmonious! Quite polished and refined, and not afraid to get the whole band involved - a very pleasing South African jazz album.

Highly recommended for those who have anxiety

Personally, I would probably give this a 3.5, because I was surprised at how much I did like it, but it did go on too long, and I still found parts too much like hotel lobby jazz. I do understand the significance of it, though, and I do think it is better than just fine, if you factor in the composition and the performance. It's hard for me to distinguish between the albums I give a 3 just because they "aren't bad," and the albums I give a 3, because I have a hard time putting them up to a 4. I really wish I could give half-stars so I'd have 2.5, 3, and 3.5 to distinguish those. :)

Home Is Where The Music Is is another solid jazz effort, quite funky and accessible for the genre, but also has a pretty chilled vibe running through it that almost distracts you from listening to it. Enjoyed The Big Apple most of all the tracks, it's not excellent or anything and we've had better jazz overall, but this is an easy high 3/low 4 effort. Very cool.

Really great at times but a little long.

Quite enjoyable when I want something chill in the background. I will definitely note it down!

Absolutely lovely. Great music to work to.

I really dig this! Never heard of Hugh Maskela before.

It's been snowing here today, so this album was great to sit inside and do some work to. Excellent sax playing.

Jazz. Trompetenlastig

This hit just right. Sounded excellent in my car, and was captivating. On the YouTube offering, the 53 minute track had to be skipped due to time, but it will get a revisit

Very cool jazz music album I enjoyed it a lot while cleaning. It had such chill vibes that had me in a rhythm while delivering some hard stuff here and there.

I know Masekela’s name primarily from the fight against Apartheid in South Africa, very little about his music. This is a double album of entertaining, if relatively unchallenging, soul-jazz with an Afrobeat flavour in many tracks. Really well played by the whole band with Hugh’s flugelhorn and Dudu Pukwana’s saxophone in particular standing out, the tone of each is excellent. Nothing earth shattering but a really pleasant chilled listen.

Nice jazz album to relax to. Great horn and piano sections throughout. Inner Crisis being a personal favorite.

super cool

Fav: Maseru Least Fav: Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children’s Song) For every track being long, this album didn’t feel like a slog

Ya like jazz?

La verdad no soy mucho de escuchar música instrumental, hasta que se trata de jazz. No tengo mucho para decir, buena instrumentación, interesantes sonidos, definitivamente un álbum que pondría de fondo en cualquier situación.

pretty good muzak

Favourite tracks: part of a whole

Gentle jazz compositions compiled as a beautiful album

First listen. Quite good.

This was the first album I think I feel like I really connected with on here that I did not know before. Puts everything together in a way that feels right. Not challenging, not aggressive, but sits comfortably there and rewards you for careful listening. I'll be listening to this one again.

Deeply enjoyable & listenable jazz music. Hell of a drum solo on "Blues For Huey" - mans was firing on all cylinders!

Great African Jazz album

Great Album

Stupendous. Carefully walking the line between acid/avant jazz and afrobeat fusion jazz. Its wildly improvisational without comprimising traditional jazz tonalities and instrument voicing. Similarly, the unique hastness of the rythmn section at times allows this album to really stand in its own lane. Additionally, this album borrows from lots of other jazz influences. I can hear McCoy ,Monk, and Guarladi in particular.

It was pretty good, just long

Groovy, funky jazz, både tempofyldt og afslappet, skidegodt

Interesting side note, not only is this guy the father of Sal Masekela of X Games (as noted by James), but he is also the uncle of Earl Sweatshirt. Standout for me was Maseru. Love the piano-bass interplay around the 5 minute mark in particular. Otherwise I didn't pay much attention to the song names as this one washed over me. Just some tasty jazz that made for a very enjoyable listen. Solid 4 / 5

Some sweet sweet Jazz with a flugelhorn as the leading instrument which may be my favorite instrument name to say out loud. Just a solid hour and 16 minutes which didn't feel nearly that long. Perfect background music for me. Holy hell this guy is the dad of X-Games own Sal Masekela. I thought I was an idiot for looking that up just because they have the same last name but i am glad I did

Had this one while doing stuff around the house and that made it feel like it flew by even though it's over an hour. Real interesting jazz fusions on this one.

pura pedrada. mais um pra lista de álbuns que evitaram que eu tivesse um surto psicótico antes de meio dia por conta do trabalho

sou mto de jazz não, mas que pedrada. bom pra trabalhar tranquilim.

Very nice instrumentals.

jazz

good trumpet

Awesome album. Really enjoyed it

It's an interesting jazz album, that opens the door to the genre outside of the US. However, perhaps because I prefer particular jazz musicians (Davis, Coltrane, Monk), I feel I need more time to let it sit.

It was good jazz. Then it wasn't jazz. Then it was jazz. Then it was kinda jazz. Then it was again. Then it wasnt. It was good the whole time.

This is jazz, really good, really chill. Nice to hear the interplay between musicians. Really helpful for understanding jazz.

Nice instrumental Jazz, some more esoteric things later on

9/10. Oh, this one is definitely nice! Smooth and ethnic jazz! :)

Giga Chad jazz ez dump on bads. 4.5

Very good 4.5

Good relaxing walking music. No great highs or lows just good

Fun

A nice surprise in this list of albums. A terrific album from start to finish.

Pretty good Jazz! Had a nice enough time. Solid 4*

Jazzilicous, you can tell they’re having fun. I likey

Afrobeat and Jazz are both genres I haven't listened much of, but have been wanting to dive further into. This album was a lovely surprise! wasn't expecting myself to dig it as much as I am currently. A lovely easy listening experience paired with some incredible musicianship.

I enjoyed this. A little too jazzy for my liking but then I suppose that it would be.

Beautiful. Clean. Groovalicious. Sounds like Donald Fagen borrowed some ideas from this album.

Boy can these guys play. Very funky, very groovy, very... jazzy? I don't listen to a lot of jazz, but this may be a contender for one of my favorite jazz albums. high 4.

Well, shoot. There's no denying it at this point. I really like jazz, don't I? You know what? I'm gonna admit it. I like jazz. Sure, was today the best day for me to get a 76-minute long jazz album seeing as I got a really long album yesterday and a different jazz album the day before? Well, no. But darn it I still like this! The instrumental talent of jazz musicians like Hugh Masekela is something that I have learned to really appreciate. His trumpet playing in particular is awesome. The piano playing in here is also great. The compositions of these pieces is just crazy and it's amazing. This isn't the best jazz album I've ever heard. I think some songs go a bit too long and not all of them stick out to me. However, I enjoyed this album a lot and that's all that really matters. Light 4/5.

It's laid back. A slow breeze cool.

Big city vibes

Fantastic range, very long songs but all enjoyable.

I enjoyed this jazz album. While the songs kind of blend after a bit, I did feel like this one had more variety than most. The piano was a nice touch and the tempo felt upbeat.

Solid 4. It's very nice music to listen to, great to have on in the background. It doesn't really grab my attention and demand I give it respect but that's okay not every album needs to do that. I thought everyone played their instrument really well, they sounded really good, the sounds sounded different so it didn't just feel like one gigantic song for an hour (I feel like some jazz albums do that). Overall nice listen would put on again maybe not regularly though.

Nice jazz

Smooth jazz

3.5☆/5 09.21.2024

I don’t have the knowledge of the context this record was released into but the playing certainly sounds capable and the tunes are tight and enjoyable. Minus one star for the saxophone solos.

This was a good album. The opening song 'Part of a Whole' reminded me of The Sims. 'Maseru' was my favorite from this album.

Great jazz for foreground or background, orchestrated for long grooves. The venture into electronics even seems natural. I’ll have to remember Masekela.

Jazz isn’t really my thing but I found this very enjoyable.

Very nice album

Not my usual taste but soothing

Masterful jazz that I was totally unaware of. Sumptuous stuff.

Jazz!

Riding on the 7 train to the US Open with this in my earbuds, Queens NYC feels like heaven on earth

Oh, joyous jazz! When jazz fusion rose to prominence in the late '60s, purists and traditionalists alike would denounce it for not being "real jazz". Others, such as Miles Davis, would embrace the genre. Hugh Masekela's anti-apartheid afrojazz would gain him the recognition he deserved for his artistry. Home Is Where The Music Is shows Masekela's foray into jazz fusion by utilizing the ever-smooth electric piano. It's a rousing success, with beautiful songs that showcase the simply incredible sounds that a jazz album can contain. An easy listen for even those who do not fully enjoy jazz and it's intricacies.

oooh some Jazz!! I'm jazzed about this. So far so good. I enjoy me some good jazz! It was pretty good. 4 stars

Enjoyable on a summer day

Very good, maybe a little long but that doesn't really matter with an album like this.

Perfect music for walking around the city on a rainy day, particularly if you're sleuthing

Cool and jazzy.

Cool

Beautiful jazz album!

Great fucking jazz

This is the best jazz record we’ve had on here. Not my genre but I could happily listen to this.

Das Ist ein Jazz-Album, dafür muss man sich Zeit nehmen. Die Instrumental Nummern sind sehr unterschiedlich von verspielt, melodisch bis verträumt und melancholisch. Die Trompete und das Klavier sind im Vordergrund. Das Album hat mich abgeholt und mir Freude bereitet.

Warmly graceful and brightly energetic. I've yet to really get into jazz, so I feel like my appreciation of it could be lacking, but subjectively, I enjoyed this a lot. Every instrument has its strong moments in the spotlight, and always backs the others up in a very fluid, dynamic way.

I don’t have much context for this album, but it feels like part of a larger whole— a contemporary high point between classic jazz and fusion.

Ganske banger d og, må være i jazzhumør tho

This is a new favorite. I like some jazz but I have never really explored the genre in any depth.

-This is very nice jazz, I liked the afrobeats in some of the songs. Was good to have on as sort of background music too -Favorites are Minawa, The Big Apple, Inner Crisis, and Ingoo Pow-Pow

Truly excellent modern jazz. Not annoying or demanding. Intellectual without being up its own ass. Just really well-crafted compositions, played beautifully. Good for background music. 4.5/5

Relaxing, cool, inspired. Just a good listen; the songs were emotionally and rhythmically diverse and was easy background music for any situation.

Solid jazz fusion

This was a surprisingly pleasant listen. I’m not the jazziest of people, with most jazz being a bit too messy for me. However, this didn’t tread too far into wacky waters and made it much easier to appreciate. I’d often find myself tapping away and trying to guess where the walking bass lines would be going. Overall, this is probably one of the better jazz albums I’ve come across.

While featuring a fairly standard lineup of instruments (though Masekela himself plays flugelhorn rather than trumpet throughout most of the album which is interesting), the percussion and overall composition on the album feels more derived from Afrobeat. It’s a really interesting fusion of styles, with themes that pay tribute to black American as well as African themes, heroes, and places. The style of spiritual funk-infused jazz feels similar to what American jazz musicians like Charles Mingus and John Coltrane were doing a few years earlier: fusing anger and spirituality into critiques of the status quo while remaining hopeful for a better future. In this way, Masekela protests apartheid while conveying the joy of black Africans.

Lots of good energy. I sometimes find jazz difficult to listen to, you kind of need to dissociate and let the groove take you. I also feel like it's hard to have specific recall of songs, because of their wandering nature. But overall a worthwhile listen.

This is exactly what I want from jazz. Perfect balance of written riffs and improvisation, with a variety of instruments features across the tracks.

Good jazz I do like the pieces that have more of a non traditional sound like Maesha

Super liked it

I'm not good at deciding if jazz is "good" or not. But I liked this. It seemed to me to be experimental at times, but it didn't get too "out there" for me to still enjoy it.

Loved it. It seems like background music, and really that's how I treated it, but it had focus for more of my workday than I would tell my boss.

Beautiful

Not bad, jazz isn't my thing but this was easy enough to listen to

It'd be great to hear it live. 4+

Schöner Jazz, nichts zu anstrengend.

This was a very nice surprise. I usually prefer a little sax with my jazz, but I can hang with Miles too. This is a great combination - great drums and the piano surprised me more than once. Terrific stuff.

07/10/24 S Tier————————— Maseru A Tier—————————4 Minawa Blues For Huey Nomali Inner Crisis Part of a Whole The Big Apple B Tier—————————3 Maesha Unhome Ingoo Pow Pow C Tier—————————2 D Tier—————————1 Nice easy listening

Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Mesekela Wednesday 7/10/24 10:00 A Tier————————— The Big Apple Inner crisis Maesha Nomali Maseru Minawa Part Of A Whole Unhome C Tier————————— Ingoo PowPow

Ooh this is nice. I kinda wish I could just have the slow, opening solo bits of a lot of these tracks. Like the piano solo that begins "Inner Crisis." Definitely gets better as it goes along.

Great

What? Some jazz rather than ANOTHER UK electronica album that the artist's mother is the only other listener? WOW. That said, excellent Afro-jazz album.

maybe a bit long but quite nice jazz overall. 7/10

Day two. Seems like a nice album. Kinda jazzy, but there's some funk in it. Fusion too

I like Jazz

Maybe some of this jazz stuff is starting to stick. If I had to describe this in a word: cozy. Sunday morning coffee kinda music. The trumpet (sorry, flughorn!) and piano are great. Bass has a supporting role but still sounds good. One to play again for sure.

Less dinner party jazz and more 4am cigars, cocaine and bourbon jazz - what’s not to like

Always been a fan of Hugh's and this is great. Not poncey jazz, just a funky trumpet, a bit of piano and great drumming.Think they say jazz meets afrobeats which is fine by me. He's up there with Herb for me. If it's a listen again it's a 4.

More nice jazz

This one flew by. Really nice album and a genre of jazz I’d like to discover more.

So far this week I've had a triple album (\"All Things Must Pass\" by George Harrison - 104:12), a double CD album (\"New Forms\" by Roni Size/Reprazent - 139:54) the very challenging 47:20 atonal slab of \"Junkyard\" by The Birthday Party, and now this Jazz double LP weighing in at a hefty 76:33. What next, possibly \"simulated_worlds\" by NǽnøĉÿbbŒrğ VbëřřĦōlökäävsŦ (80:49:58) or perhaps Bull of Heaven's \"210: Like a Wall in Which an Insect Lives and Gnaws\", a piece lasting exactly fifty thousand hours? All told I have to put in 6 hours and 7 minutes, and it's only Thursday! Good thing I like Jazz! This is a good album but not an exceptional album excepting the fact that it's Hugh Masekela from South Africa, not exactly a Jazz hotbed before this (so very groundbreaking in that respect), and the high quality of the music across the length of it. Subjectively speaking of course. I do like Masekela's spare style and bright, melodic approach to the horn. At times blasting out hard bop like Dizzy Gillespie or gliding into the long breathy single notes like Miles, where he tries to coax every last drop of life out of that one sound. All without being overly cerebral or challenging, making this a fairly accessible work for Jazz fusion (which is definitely what this is). The best tunes on here are the more funk-driven ones where the band is not meandering as much, like on "Inner Crisis." Bringing in some textures that haven't been played to death for the 25 years prior. The drumming was a little heavy-handed I thought, great nonetheless. There are probably some number of Jazz albums that could be on this list instead of this one, but it's an enjoyable, uplifting entry.

"Home is Where the Music Is" is a jazz and Afrobeat double album by South African trumpeter, cornetist, singer and composer Hugh Masekela. The album was produced by Caiphus Semenya and Stewart Levine and recorded at Island Studios in London. Semenya was the writer of many of the songs. The songs span jazz styles from blues soaked jazz to township bop. The band includes Masekela (flugelhorn), Larry Willis (acoustic/electric piano), Dudu Pukwane (alto sax), Eddie Gomez (bass) and Makhaya Nitshoko (drums). Piano and a drumbeat open things in "Part of a Whole." The flugelhorn and sax leading the melody. The bass is sort of funky. A jazzy drumbeat backs the horn and piano solos. "The Big Apple" is more dramatic with Willis on both pianos. An interesting dynamic with the drums, bass and piano playing a piece with seemingly the horns taking off in another direction. "Maseru" is much faster paced with a rolling piano, drums and bass with the horns over the top. "Blues for Huey" showcases the outstanding drumming of Nitshoko with a intro drum solo and he never let's up. The album closes with "Ingoo Pow-Pow." Vocal chanting, multiple percussions and piano. Here is the Afrobeat. The song ends with all instruments in chaos. I always like that. Well, mostly. This is a great sounding album; the clarity is there for each instrument. Songs are in the six to ten minute category with gives time for extended jams. And the extended jams can be solo or layered. The jazz differences to me were really the song pace and particular drumbeat. This is a really good album and one I would not hesitate to pick up.

Fantastisk musikk.

Lovely jazz record. There are so many motifs and rich melodies I nearly came away from this thinking about it like a pop album, humming the at random one of the myriad hooks these songs contain. After this and In A Silent Way it is obvious to me Jazz Fusion was what I'd been missing from my jazz listening. Maybe that makes me a casual but there is so much wonderful music in these two albums. I was definitely trepidatious about listening due to the 75 minute run time but few seconds were wasted. Minawa is amongst the best jazz I've ever heard. The piano was beautiful (and at times otherworldly, sounding almost like Avey Tare of Animal Collective), the sax and horn soulful, the bass melodic and powerful, and the crashing drums set the stage so well for the melodic brilliance of the piano/brass in the climax. Totally flawless track. Another highlight is Maseru, trading the ethereal beauty of Minawa for breakneck pace and a horn melody that, in the face of the songs rapidity, resolves itself with sadness rather than triumph. Also, the drum solo on Blues For Huey is nuts. "Call an ambulance!" indeed. The albums only real misstep for me was the final track, those vocals did nothing for me just like that Sabu album.

Pretty interesting mix of jazz and African influences. The horns are great, but the drummer has been going crazy. I'd definitely listen to this again.

Very smooth. Nice and varied compositions managed to keep my interest for the entire running time.

Thank you 1k generator. Another exceptional joint I've not had the pleasure of hearing before. Brilliant stuff.

very good jazz album, added it to my playlist!

No expectations, but really liked it

A nice, interesting jazz album. Probably not an enduring favorite, but an enjoyable listen. 3.5 rounded up

Well done. Enjoyed the grooves, beats and overall vibe.

Every track is easy to enjoy Ima big Abdullah Ibrahim fan off the South African sound and this is consistently more accesible

Very cool, jazzy and fresh, with a spicy world flavor. Four stars.

Some fantastic South African-inspired jazz. I really enjoy this and wish there was more like it on this list. Especially from the Africa and not just African jazz.

This is an easy 4 stars.What an enjoyable listen, the piano.The drums the entire arrangement.This is the type of jazz.I hear in my head when I tell people I listen to jazz

I went back and took an edible and this album still couldn’t do it for me.

I saw it was jazz, which isn't my favourite genre, and didn't expect to enjoy it much. However, I really enjoyed it. I'd love to know what makes this album different so I can figure out what jazz albums I should listen to.

I love some good soul-jazz and this certainly fits the bill. Cool vibe and it's great for both background music and active listening. Very enjoyable from front to back. 4-4.5/5

Lovely jazz from someone I hadn’t heard from before. I enjoyed it.

Well this one was a delight. No vocals (until the last song, where there is some kind of chant), but the instrumentation was sufficiently interesting the whole album. Each song is on the longer side. I’d say the primary genre is jazz, but not the chaotic, pretentious kind.

Today’s selection is entirely new to me. My knowledge and appreciation of jazz is fairly basic, but there is enough variation in styles within the genre on this album to keep the listener engaged for the duration. A pleasant and uplifting surprise - I really enjoyed this album a lot.

4.5

One of the first jazz albums on this list that I enjoyed immensely. Might be one of the best I've ever heard. Interesting takes and each instrument gets the spotlight for solos without becoming a meandering mess of getting lost in the woods. Typically don't care for jazz that turns into self-masturbatory "I can play ALL the notes!" solos that get lost in themselves. This is the opposite. Tremendous musicianship all around and sticks with the theme of each piece in a way that sounds melodic and accessible throughout. Definitely will come back to this one! (Would give it a 4.5 stars if I could.) Standout Tracks: Part of a Whole, The Big Apple, Blues For Huey

smooth as eggs.

Very enjoyable jazz album that turned into a kind of afrobeat. Felt it went a little too long but it went perfectly with my early morning drive to work.

A great jazz album. The last song was incongruous with the album, which I didn't care for, but otherwise I really enjoyed it.

Groovy, rhythmic and sultry jazz sounds. Some real funky and mysterious tunes on this record. Hadn’t heard of this before but it is a very welcomed surprise.

This is so smooth

I don't know much about jazz so I'll refrain from writing like I do. I really enjoyed listening to this so I'm giving it 4 stars.

Happy to have listened to this. Very good jazz record.

While the music was strong, it really began to drag. What could have been a strong single album was s long drawn out double.

best jazz album so far?

Solid jazz all the way through, but the Afrobeat coming through(especially on the latter half of the album) puts it over the top.

I keep finding more Jazz that I like. I had such difficulty looking on my own, but these from the list have been hits.

4.0

amazing !! Minawa and Maseru are quite melancholic. i really recommend listening to it.

Hugh Masekela really rose to prominence in the US doing afrobeat/trumpet covers of pop tunes. He really had a hand in exposing afrobeat to a larger audience. This album was obviously an attempt to be taken more seriously as a jazz artist. I think it succeeds. He blends the popular soul-jazz sound of the time with a tinge of funk and afrobeat. The standout here is the bass player. Some of those bass lines are so groovy. The drum solos on Blues For Huey were awesome as well.

I liked it ... 4 stars

Great jazz album, added to my collection, just a little long for me to put up there with my favourite Jazz albums, got a bit bored by the end of the album.

Dangerously close to 4.5 stars. Perhaps could get there one day. The length did wear on me a bit, but I liked everything and loved most everything. Very cool find. 4/5

Now that's jazz! Compared to the last jazz album this one is much better. There are awesome melodies mixed with sick improv. I also really dig the bass player. They were doing some tasty bass lines. This album has soul baby. Favorite track was Minawa. Added to my Spotify library.

Cruising with the windows open on a sunny day, there ain't nothing better than this music to accompany my journeys. This is the type of jazz-esque music I love. This was the soundtrack to my weekend and it will be utilized again in the future.

The only thing better than jazz, is groove based jazz. This album jammed hard.

Pretty fun and upbeat for the genre. Femme fatale film noir smoky bar vibes.

A pretty good album. I liked the way some songs started out quiet and built up, like "Inner Crisis."

I went to a university that was pretty well known for its student jazz ensemble. Many of my friends were musicians, and I had an opportunity to watch their various performances and rehearsals. I relished this time. I could get some studying done, I could support my friends, and I was treated to some fun music at the same time. Understand that these friends weren't in the #1 prestigious ensemble. I'm not sure that they ever really wanted to be. They still loved music, and they didn't want high pressure to perform to take that love away from them. This album reminds me of that. I'm not utterly blown away my the sheer art on display (re: Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert). That's not to say it's bad. Not in the least. I'm loving this album. At the same time, I'm not sure I'm going to keep coming back to this one like I would with, say, the Vince Guiraldi Trio's Charlie Brown Christmas, you know?

Always enjoy a good Jazz album.

I have heard of Hugh and spree of his music - first time listening through an entire album. Very pleased! Great sound and rhythm. A treat. One of the rare "fonds" of the list so far (#153)

This album is a great reason why I’m so excited to be doing this music generator. I really enjoyed it. It was a great album to get my day started. Easy listening, calm, chill, but also very unique and stands out from a lot of the other jazz albums I have listened to. This definitely isn’t my go to type of music, but this is definitely an album I’m going to try and keep track of so I can play it again in the future.

South African soul-jazz. Part of a Whole and Maesha are probably my favorites, but it's a solid collection of songs that feature afro-cuban rhythmic influences, melodic leads from the flugelhorn and alto sax, and the distinct electric piano offering a bit of american funk and soul.

nice

Jazz makes nice background music.

An excellent listen. No more comments, I just enjoyed my time overall.

Smoother that Ron Burgundy and his Yazz Flute.

Hey, now, this is a real nice one. I hadn't heard of the artist before or heard any of his music, and this is some truly cool stuff. All the performers are outstanding, and the compositions are great. I'm re-listening to "The Big Apple" right now because the piano playing on that track is superb. Hugh Masekela's flugelhorn is amazing on this whole album.

And so the streak continues. The day I find a jazz album I don’t have a deep love and respect for is going to be an interesting one. It isn’t even a genre I actively listen to on my own time that much. But when I put it on and really sink into it, it hits just right. Sadly, I think I’m conditioned to look at an album like this, that I’ve never heard of, and that seems to be relatively unknown, and assume bad things. It’s a habit I’m still trying to break. But this was a pleasure to listen to. It has almost all of the things I look for in a solid jazz album. I love how long the songs. There isn’t one track that feels like it doesn’t get enough time. But they also don’t go for too long, which is nice, because this is around 75 minutes long. And the way the songs build up and down is perfect. They keep things interesting, and move from section to section very smoothly. And the band is fantastic as well. This might not have been released during the jazz golden age of the mid 20th century, so you won’t hear any big names on this. But every musician still has just as much musical prowess with their own instrument. And they each one of them gets ample time to show off their abilities. The drummer in particular has a great solo that takes up the majority of Blues for Huey. Overall, this album takes the best parts of jazz and fuses it with funk, soul and Afrocentric sounds to give it even more snap. Great stuff. Rating: 8/10

Part of a whole isch max groovy. The big apple findi au sehhhr vibey. Uhhh s end vo maseru isch so verspieltt und toll! Hey ganz cool? Sorry hi max müed mag nöd meh schriibe

Minawa is the best song on the record. I haven't even listened to the whole record yet. I just know. Feel like I should be wearing a tiny hat and walking in a cool way down a rainy street. This record is very good.

Jazz with some fantastic and sometimes magical moments. Jazz-fusion always brings interesting new sounds. While it's focus is trumpet, it's the piano that really blew me away. It reminded me of Soul the way he just floats around the keys. I gotta say some of the trumpet techniques were re-used a bunch.

I love this kind of jazz. It reminds me of early Miles and Herbie electric jazz.

Great album, can't believe I've never heard it before! Easier to separate into in two discs, since it's hard going in one continuous listen.

Beautiful music in a range of Jazz styles. I was expecting more African influencd music from other Hugh Masakela music I've heard. The musicianship is outstanding and an album I didn't know. I will definitely be returning to it on lazy Sundays and late evenings x

I'm not really a jazz person. That said, jazz is objectively always good, and this made me feel like playing the Sims 1. 4/5

Solid jazz for work.

Pretty good

This is the first instrumental album I've been assigned and it is a joy. Lush electric organs, tight drums, and of course the horns are fresh and buoyant. I love that the album closes with the only vocals and that it's on a track secondary titled "A Children's Song." Sort of an encouragement to approach music and life with a child's heart and joy. This one is going to take a few listens since I'm not as used to writing about Jazz, but it's an easy 4 stars for skill and musicianship alone. "Maseru," "Nomali," and the opener "Part of a Whole" were standout tracks.

Easy listening. Enjoyable.

Good album.

This was a great jazz album. Cool to hear music from different parts of the world (South Africa here) and their influence on the greater jazz genre. I liked this! Four stars.

Cool, I listened to it while doing stuff at home and it made me smile multiple times. Really nice atmosphere

If you don’t like this, then I’m sorry but you don’t like Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Masekela.

Ya like jazz?

a really enjoyable, chill "soft" jazz album. i really enjoyed the vibe of this one. i don't know if i would consider this album mind blowing in any capacity but it was certainly a nice album to listen to at the office on a friday after a long week. i found it to be pretty zen-like. nice stuff

I really like the uptempo tracks. This is some absolutely stanky jazz and when it hits its stride it just infects you with the groove. I love the improv work, primarily because them are some talented musicians. There is an amble mixture of tones and instruments, and the composition of the songs is so widely varied that it creates some excellent area for exploration. Exciting, groovy, tasty jazz.

First Jazz album I can say I can say I ever listened to all the way through.

Very nice jazz album! Easy to listen to and/or have on in the background.

Nice jazz

Jazz was never my bag but this is enjoyable and very accomplished

I don't normally like jazz but this is a fuckin viiiibe.

Sophisticated and fun!

fabulous southern african jazz

I've been seeking more Jazz artists to listen to and Hugh Masekela is a refreshing and interesting choice. This album was relaxing and an excellent background soundtrack to my day. Smooth, without being too slick. Will definitely listen to more from Masekela and a repeated spin of, Home Is Where... will happen soon!

I love Hugh Masekela. and this album has a few of his standards on it. Flugel horn has such a beautiful sound.

Really solid jazz fusion. Bro was absolutely shredding that trumpet

Wow this was a delight. Every bit of it. What’s that he’s whaling on in track two, Flugelhorn? Rad. I was told he was part of the Graceland tour. Too cool for that if you ask me!

Good album. I was thinking a 3 but I reckon it’s more of a 4. Good album following a pretty bad one imo. Day 21.

A great Jazz Album that you can easily listen on repeat

I don't normally sit down and listen to a jazz album, but the weather has been rainy around here lately and this feels fitting. I'll say that I did enjoy listening to this, I don't have enough experience with the genre to comfortably rate the album, but as far as my enjoyment went? I'd put this on in the background of a rainy day again.

6.5/ 10 Song 2 is amazing. Great album

Vibey 4or5/5

Effortlessly cool blend of jazz and Afro beat that fills an entire double album without pausing for breath. Some funky uptempo beats mixed with some slower tracks for variety. Excellent listening.

Was happy to have this one pop up, I am not familiar enough with this legend.

Nice Jazz album. Great for background music.

Album 301 of 1001 Hugh Masekela - Home Is Where The Music Is Rating : 3.5 / 5 Enjoyed listening to this. Very relaxing, mellow jazz. Fine background music for going about your day.

Nice jazzzzz

Good! Instrumentals

Cool