Reviews (page 6 of 12)
3.5
Engaging jazz. Not normally my "thing", but Hugh Masekela and the musicians together on this album make it work!
This is a nice straight ahead jazz record with influences of the 70's pushing into a new direction without being some fusion sound exploration nonsense.
Would listen again. The Chisa years comp was good also
good clean jazz... 3-4 stars
I liked it.
Love this. Capital-C Coooool. Smooth and artful jazz that plays with a diverse palette of styles, with a high level of musicianship. Fave Songs: Nomali, Maesha, Maseru, Minawa, Inner Crisis, The Big Apple
Superb …
I can never truly appreciate jazz. The discordance they so love gives me headaches.
I had never heard of this artis before and I very much enjoyed it. Interesting trivia was he was married to Miriam Makeba. This was a long album so I need to listen more but 4 stars because I can’t wait to listen again.
Such a pleasant album and easy to get lost in. I like jazz even though I don't usually listen to it - this is an album I'll play again.
bas mi se svida, opustajuce! Slusat cu dok buden radila/ucila
Definitely a cool change of pace for me. I've been getting more into jazz, and this was a good album to clean the house to.
Jazz.
nisam ocekivala da su pjesme tak duge pa sam tijekom prve mislila kak su to tri razlicite koje zvuce isto i postala ljuta kak je sve dosadno i isto my bad, ups...
Chill, super za učenje
Jako dobro, pogotovo jer inače ne slušam jazz - ugodno iznenađenje!!
Bas mi je dobar, ali mi nije bio vibe jucer tokom dana nikako za slusati jazz tako da cu mu se morati vratiti neki drugi put
Nice vibey jazz album with driving afrobeat rhythms and the occasional burst of bombastic horns. I put it on while distracted with other tasks and found myself getting lost in the songs more than once.
South African jazz . A few nice tunes. Probably 4 out of the ten are good. Some filler (77 minutes is long). Better than I expected. 4 stars
jazz
chill and nutritious. really enjoyable
Really good. Jazz!
I still know so very little about jazz. I’ve never heard of Hugh Masekela before, but this record makes me want to look into more of his work. This record has a lot of good slow jams that I personally love. Despite the slow beat nature of this record, there’s still plenty of good improvisation work going on.
Great work music
Really solid jazz record with a ton of quirks. A lot of the jazz records I hear have one central guy who plays one instrument that all the songs are built around, and this feels like that on the song level instead of the whole album's level. Really cool collection of skills. Favorites were Part of a Whole, Minawa, and Maseru
Rating: 7.5/10 Very good jazz album. Really enjoyed the trumpet and piano throughout, there were a lot of nice melodies. The afrobeat influence throughout this album was a nice touch as well, definitely makes this stand out a bit more than a stereotypical jazz album. The album is a bit too long but still very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Favorite songs: Part Of A Whole, The Big Apple, Maseru, Inner Crisis, Nomali, Maesha. Worst song: Unhome.
Low key, vibing at home getting shit done kind of tunes. Dig
Fantastic album. Great beats, melodies and accompaniment. 4/5!
Relaxing
Some tight and loose jazz. Very enjoyable Drums absolutely popping in Blues for Huey 4/5
Heel fijn jazz album, lekker rustig, goed voor op de achtergrond maar ook leuk om echt naar te luisteren. Zou het denk ik tussen 3 of 4 sterren geven, vind het lastig vergelijken met andere muziek maar wel qua jazz heel erg nice dus ga ik voor 4. Would buy!
this is good. this is real good.
Easy listening, very enjoyable
4-
Nice and laid back.
fav.: inner crisis - when that synth kicks in!
Really liked this one, I'll come back to it
Frábær plata. Extra æðislegt að aðalgaurinn spili á flugelhorn!
Still not really a jazz guy, but this was a good album. There's a lot of variety contained within, and the instrumentation is absolutely top notch.
Hmm. Yeah I quite liked it. Didn't necessarily make me want to listen to it more though.
Hard to review playing this skillful. Double albums are a bit tiring in this format but the performance is very strong.
Really good production. Sound is crisp. Fun listen. I will probably revisit this. Part of a Whole and Maseru were my top tracks.
A genuinely perfect album to sip a cup of coffee with in a Saturday morning. 4/5
This is a cool record. Some of it is in a mode that is funky but not revelatory, but the album gradually becomes more experimental as it goes on. The individual instrumental performances are really impressive in spots, some truly inspired playing here and there. Great inclusion on the 1001.
A joy from start to finish
First time hearing this artist, wonderful album - this is way I love 1001 albums generator.
I really enjoyed this. A few times it sounded like the Conan Obrien band with emotional and exaggerated horns, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It just took me to a different space for those sections. Regardless, albums like this, is exactly why I am doing this whole thing. I had never heard of and probably never would have heard of this album without this list.
Niiiice
pretty nice
Great acoustic album with some great mood setting tracks. Good low-tempo soundtrack for a peaceful day.
:)
I don't really listen to jazz and I truly enjoyed this album. A few of the tracks had trumpet notes that reminded me of a sketch about a bad trumpet player.
Haven’t listened to much Hugh Masekela. It’s a good album. Makes me want to check out more of his stuff
Jazz
Smooth. Intoxicating. Like honey. You like jazz? Then bee my guest. It's "Kind Of Blue"-esque in its approach to album creation, with hook-heavy, solo-laden charts at the beginning and more unconventional, exotic improvisation session towards the end. All ten tracks, including the intermediary ones, are quite long, the shortest one being over 5 minutes in length. Part Of A Whole and The Big Apple are highlights.
Great listen. I love to listen to Jazz and dont enough
Was not expecting an album like this to be on the list, but I'm very glad it is! This is quite a good jazz fusion album with some great piano work! Every song has a great vibe to it however they often lack a certain quality that would make them great songs in general. Either with solos that are too long and lacking in substances or with melodies that aren't really super memorable. However there are some key songs in this album that gave me a lasting impression. Overall very very good especially considering this is 70 mintues long.
Pretty solid
Jazzy!
Really good.
Incredible, how have I never heard of this man and his music before? The Big Apple is an *excellent* track.
It is a beautiful jazz album, where every song is a unique journey.
#2 #3 #4
Skilful, but very much not for me.
Undeniably good, hence the 4 stars, but it doesn't really do much for me.
No sóc súper fan del jazz però aprecio molt el to consistent de l'àlbum i el fet que sigui molt "beginner friendly" ajuda molt a escoltar-lo. No se m'ha fet gens pesat i del (molt poc) jazz que he escoltat m'ha semblat del més melòdic i fàcil de seguir. M'ha semblat un "jazz per dummies" i això està molt bé
jazz, class start. convenient timing vibes wise. good way to end the week, nice.
Really really liked this. I’ve never heard of him before being “assigned” this album but so glad I was! Added.
A cool, jazz double album. The music ebbs and flows and takes you on a journey, but gives good vibes throughout. Definitely a record I'd come back to if I'm in need of a cool, relaxed evening atmosphere. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Part of a whole Date listened: 19/10/23
Smooth, chill, nice
I really loved this, but not too sure that i would go back to it off my own bat. African tinged jazz is delightful
Interesting album. Felt like cruising around the back roads of some carribean islands in an old jalopy
This was fantastic. Inventive and exciting but also accessible.
While I don't feel equipped to review the merits of Hugh Masekela in relation to anyone else in this genre, I'm going down the McCormick Trail and responding based on my enjoyment level. I like it!
This was cool. A solid jazz album. Nice grooves, good musicianship. Totally solid. I'd never heard of Hugh Maskekela before, and i'll look up more of his stuff.
Really enjoyed this. Felt like the Peanuts at time
Some songs were very long. I’m not usually a jazz fan but really enjoyed this one. Favorite song was Maseru
Muutama tosi hyvä biisi
Very solid jazz
Loved
- Hugh Masekela! A major figure in music history who I have very little experience with. - Let me get two things out of the way. One: this is a jazz album, and while I have a better-than-average amount of experience with the genre, I still consider myself a relative neophyte. Two: this is a double album, which means there's a lot to absorb here. Both of these things, separately, would make it more difficult than usual for me to come to any real verdict after one day. Together, they make that basically impossible. So whatever rating I end up giving this will be EXTREMELY preliminary, and not particularly well-informed. With that being said: - Minawa is gorgeous. Just an intensely beautiful piece of music. - The way the instruments start layering back up after the drum solo on Blues For Huey is so brilliant. - There's a delicacy to this album, it doesn't often reach up and grab you the way that, say, Miles Davis' fusion stuff often does. That's not a critique; it really is beautiful music. - Makhaya Ntshoko's work on the drums here is phenomenal
Solid. "Phenix" by Cannonball vibes 4.3
Excellent jazz album
very groovy and very jazzy. All the songs were really good
pretty nice but didn't stick out that much
This was a fun Jaxx album. Definitely something to put on in the background while trying to focus
Funky. Smooth. Easy listening.
Awesome!
Rating: 7/10
A wonderful album to put on.
Damn, that is some nice jazz to soothe to.
Substantive and enjoyable and excellent overall. The lovely "Minawa", the ebullient "Maseru," the groovily contemplative"Maesha" and the easy swinging "Nomali" are the highlights of a very strong and cohesive set.
First track and the Crisis one were great. Sounds like NPR’s most likely choice to be the house band.
I liked one reviewer’s description of this as soul-jazz. It certainly has a lot of introspection and beautiful moments. Minawa was a highlight. All the players are very strong, but I especially found the piano playing to be fantastic. Loved the instances where the composition turned to a completely solo piano. The mix of cultural influences is also a strong suit, with the players coming from different countries and backgrounds, but they meld it well together. My knowledge of jazz is not as strong as I’d like, but this one was definitely special.
1- great, energetic start to the record 2- purty 3- chiller, best solos yet 4- in one ear, out the other 5- maybe best track yet 6- piano intro & main tune are great in their own ways 7- basically the drummer’s show off piece 8- more bluesy than track 7 (Blues for Huey), cool, nighttime city vibes 9- groovy, at this part starting to feel the album’s length 10- a party (only vocals in the album I think?), but isn’t so much of a crazy grand finale as what sounds like the bandmates letting loose after a hard day at work HL: “Maseru” (5), “Minawa” (2) “Part of a Whole” (1), “Inner Crisis” (6) July 29, 2023
I've never heard of Hugh Masekela before, but I really enjoyed this album. I don't know much about jazz music, so I don't have anything to say about this album from a technical aspect. But, it was really pleasant to listen to, and I can easily see myself listening to it again some day when I want something good to listen to while I'm work.
Part of a Whole Minawa The Big Apple Unhome
Easy jazzy listening
Excellent album with great playing from all members involved. I am so happy to be exploring more jazz with this project.
This is exactly what I needed today. Super into this album.
Great piece of jazz
I liked this quite a bit. It had a different sound to it than the bebop and modal jazz that I'm more familiar with, which I imagine is the South African influence. He can flugelhorn with the best!
I don't have a huge frame of reference for afrobeat, but I like the genre in general, and this is a great fusion of 70s jazz with afrobeat. It's a long album (I'm somehow only on song 4, and it feels like I've been listening to it all day). It's not boring, however. There's lots of different moods and variation in the styles, with some songs swinging more toward jazz and others more on the afrobeat side of the fence. A great album to have playing in the background 4/5
Hugh Masekela sits in my head in between Herb Albert and Herbie Hancock, and Home Is Where the Music Is is the leap in sophistication I'm still mourning we never got from Janis Joslin, having just caught up on Pearl. The jazz is accessible but pointed. There's a kinetic momentum that explodes in some songs and even sneaks into his gentler pieces to prevent them from ever feeling too sleepy. Masekala got his foot in the door via wide appeal pop covers like Grazing in the Grass and Aint No Mountain High Enough but he's fully turned the page here, exploring fusion in its nascency and boy is it fertile soil. We get a really wide spread of influences, and the sequencing is spot on - the first and last track of each side are total standouts. Inner Crisis's second gear takes me by surprise, the ending of Maesha is great and unexpected, and then to end the whole thing on the polyrhythmic goat rodeo that is Ingoo Pow Pow...
Good jazz album. I can't say this struck me one way or another but I enjoyed listening to it and would put this on in the background without hesitation.
Really good! Loved the trumpet on this which makes sense because the artist is the trumpeter.
Overall a very good jazz album with nice songs to listen to, though it does get a bit exhausting towards the middle.
I found this very enjoyable. It was quite long and dragged at points but the music was always very interesting.
I procrastinated this one because it's a double LP, but it's quite pleasant to listen to. Larry Willis' piano playing in particular is incredible here; are we sure he doesn't have three, maybe four hands? The more I listen to this, the more virtuosic and engaging it sounds. I didn't expect to give it 4 stars, but damn this is a good record.
Yes, enjoyable fusion jazz apart from overlong drum soloing and final vocal song. Good fusion, I like the electric keyboards.
I really liked this one, I will enjoy it for a long time to come.
Wicked, funky and smooth jazz/afrobeat album. Lovely bit of business. Best Tracks: Part of a Whole; Nomali; Maesha
I first heard of Hugh Masekela a little over a year ago, watching his spirited performance of "Grazing in the Grass" in Questlove's "Summer of Soul". It's a great segment, but it gives no indication of this kind of magic. Three years on, Masekela swung slightly more left-field with "Home Is Where The Music Is", incorporating sounds and styles from his native South Africa alongside American jazz and soul. The result is a driving, dynamic force of nature that rarely suffers under the weight of its 76 minute runtime. Masekela - and his whole ensemble - are on fire from beginning to end. Masekela is the master of his instrument: perhaps the most engaging trumpet player I've ever heard, and I've enjoyed three Miles Davis albums on this list so far. Listen to any number of his solos on "Home Is Where The Music Is" for a first-rate showcase. The rips! The trills! The rapid double-tonguing! Every note is perfectly placed, spaced and graced. I can't even single out any of my favourite examples, because it's all gold, but the talent is evident from three minutes into "Part of a Whole". This isn't just Masekela's show, though: his band are a water-tight group of instrumentalists, from the dazzling ripples of piano opening "Minawa" to the frenetic drum solos in "Blues for Huey" to the bass anchoring "Unhome" (a piece originally written by Masekela's ex-wife, Miriam Makeba). Does all of this top-tier performance translate into a fun, engaging listen? The honest answer is mostly, yes. Sometimes it's plaintive and introspective ("Minawa" is the best example of this). Sometimes there's an effortless, breezy swinging swagger to it ("The Big Apple", "Part of a Whole"). Occasionally there's a lively third-lap-on-Mario-Kart atmosphere ("Maseru") or absolutely breathtaking symphonic scope ("Maesha"). These five tracks were my favourites, but I found the whole album remarkably easy to listen to… though it did soundtrack a lovely walk through central London on a sunny evening, so I may be biased. Still, some of the best jazz I've heard on the list to date.
Classic. Great work music
Great jazz!
Good jazz, liked it a lot
I don’t usually like 70s jazz, but this was a good album
I love some horns. I love some jazz. Didn’t know Hugh before.
Nice vibes. Heard while going for a walk and it lifted my mood. Loved the parts where the trumpet quivers. Interesting instrumental (except for the last song I think) album.
I'm not usually a jazz fan, but this is quite funky in places, mellow in others - very enjoyable.
4.5
Excellent jazz album. Perfect while driving and also listening at night. Didn’t even know about this musician before but glad this one is on the list!
Jazz is always welcome. I know nothing of Hugh, but he did right by me. Some really cool, compelling tracks on here. Nothing blew me away, but I felt good for the duration. Solid stuff. Favorite tracks: Minawa, The Big Apple, Blues for Huey, Maesha. Album art: Picture of Hugh with some very matter-of-fact framing. Very unassuming, I would never think to listen to this. 4/5
Awesome Jazz album. It's over an hour long but what jazz album isn't. Thoroughly enjoyed it but didn't care too much for the final song. Score: 80 Art: 40
Definitely, one of my favorite Jazz albums ever. Smooth trumpet sounds throughout. I've heard this album at least 100 times in the past couple of years. Favorite tracks: Part of a Whole, Blues For Huey 4/5
Again, I don't know a lot about jazz, but this one I liked a lot. The drums and piano especially. Favorite track: Maseru
Some good stuff in there, some parts were just a little bit less to my taste to give it 5 stars.
Dobry jazzowy album do pracy z nutą afrykańską.
Very cool
Funky, uptempo jazz. Good times ahead.
Enjoyable. Minawa is the early standout. Big Apple is dope. Solid jazz record.
Beautiful
never heard of him, he's a great trumpeter and jazz man
I LOVE JAZZ Ne uyutacak kadar soft , ne de konsantrasyonumu bozacak kadar keskin. Ve hani klasik jazz'ın tüm elemanları var. Ayrıca vokalsiz, sırf enstrümantal, tam bir banger. Ders çalışırken açtım arkada akıyor mis gibi.. Odamda açmak isteyeceğim arka plan jazz'ının mükemmel bir örneği. Hani müziğe de odaklanabilirsin, işine de.. Overall 8.5/10
Good jazz fusion.
Masekela and co. print lots of energy and passion on each of the songs included on this album. It reminded me some 80s Davis (like those long tracks on Dark Magus) and some Hancock work, too. Great album, some of its songs are going to my jazz playlists
A quite enjoyable jazz album, or so it seems. I haven't fully explored it, but given how uselessly "selective" Dimery and co. are for that overall genre, I'm placing it as a potential candidate for my own list. Hope to revisit this record soon... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 700, I've temporarily lost count here... Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter
nice nice nice
Listened to this on a lazy, Kid free Saturday morning, it was glorious
It sounds like an essential album; its name sounds like a very important name, and I guess it influenced many things worldwide. The only bad thing I can't stand is the album length. It's not something annoying, but I'll enjoy these songs much more if they were shorter. I hope to receive more of this kind of album on this list.
I do this challenge to come across superb discoveries like this. This is a very good jazz that shows a lot of versatility. The trumpet of Hugh Masekela shines a lot here on the many different jazz-styles that are presented. I think that the piano work by Larry Willis is also a big highlight of the apple. Will definitely come back to this one ! 8,4/10
I've never heard of Hugh Masekela but I enjoyed this album. I didn't love all of it and IMO it's a little bloated towards the middle end but I could see myself listening to this every now and then. I enjoyed most of it. I'm happy with this discovery
Nice, chill jazz with interesting themes. My son turned it off when he was playing because he wanted to listen to Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Easy jazz to start, and got funkier as it went (which I increasingly liked!).
Late evening vibes, borderline spiritual. Am absolute keeper
Great jazzy album
Listened while putting my clothes away
I used to listen to a lot of jazz, so I was surprised at not knowing this excellent album. Regarding uniqueness, I don't have much to say: The afrobeat is definitely present in some of the tracks, but otherwise, this is just some well-crafted, classic-sounding jazz. I dig it.
Very smooth
What's great about this album is that it makes jazz accessible. The pace changes effortlessly between tracks and themes. Some of the softer tones on the trumpet are stunning. Masekela puts the brakes on leading to some understated playing. He is so confident in his abilities that he can afford to hold a little back. Then the pace picks up. It's here where the album is at its best with the multiple trumpets playing a brash sound together.
C'est vraiment super bon, j'ai adoré, en plein mon genre. Cependant, ca dérape un peu vers la fin pour mes goûts personnel. C'est quand même un super album jazz et une super découverte. 4.85
I had never heard Masekela before. Very good sound! Is amazingly soulful, contemplative playing.
I really enjoyed this. I think jazz has been my favorite genre discovery while listening to these albums. 4/5
What a pleasant surprise! Extremely nice jazz from the African continent, which I will have to dig a lot deeper into.
Just an excellent well rounded jazz record.
Definitely a unique listen to anything in my life so far. Never listened to anything that has combined jazz and afro beats before, but here we are. It's actually one of the better albums in both fields I've heard from undertaking this generator journey. It goes pretty smoothly despite the lack of vocals, instead the trumpet takes that place. A couple of tracks could have been cut to make it a better experience if listening to this back to back, but it's actually better suited to pause midway through, and hop back into again later. And although I can't give it top marks, it is a recommended listen.
A lovely meander through the creative pathways of some talented musical minds. Each song unfolds dynamically, themes flowing one into the other, at once both cohesive and distinct. For me, it was like each song was a short story depicting the sights, sounds and energy of a person in movement through one setting or another. A couple of songs that evoked this sort of imagery most vividly for me were 'The Big Apple' and 'Maesha'. The latter of those two, being my personal favorite of the album.
Confirma a necessidade de escutar mais jazz instrumental. Execuções sonoras que garantem um clima magnético.
I have discovered so much jazz that I enjoy through this project. I am thinking that jazz is maybe best enjoyed in the long form of an album? I also appreciate the number of African musicians I've gotten to listen to. And this one has a Miriam Makeba composition on it! This was solid, and a perfect accompaniment for a walk on a cold but sunny wintry afternoon.
I’m a big fan of Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” and some of his other pop covers. So there is a familiarity to these songs - definitely feel the connection to the songs I knew. This album is more jazz, a genre I still feel is new to me. While I keep having this nagging feeling like I’m missing out on something, I am enjoying the jazz that has been coming up in this project more than I expected. This is no exception. A lot of it I liked. Some of it I loved. And part of it left me feeling like I should be getting more out of it than I was. Still, I can recognize that this is a great album and will likely grow on me in the future.
Great Jazz
Just the right side of noodly
Quite lovely. I don’t have much stamina for double albums, but I really enjoyed every note of this one. Paired nicely with the rainy weather today, bopped along while cooking dinner and it set us all in a nice relaxed mood.
This is great jazz
Nailed the mood for my day
Fun collection of swinging, grooving jazz bops.
Rich and expansive and proving out that (South) African jazz is very much a thing. So why isn't there more of it in this esteemed list? Great playing throughout. "Minawa" is lovely, with impassioned soloing upping the emotional stakes, and "Maesha" beautifully contemplative, then engagingly energetic.
Delicious record!
Such a great showcase of musical talent...amazing piano, amazing drums, amazing horns! The album had great flow and I loved the different elements of jazz, afro music, and big band sound it combined!
This was a great listen. Really enjoyed this entire album. 4 stars
Such a great vibe! I loved the production quality, keeping in the fracking and imperfections. I felt like I was sitting in a coffee shop with a live jazz band playing.
Fairly funky, 70s type jazz. Straight ahead feel.
Usually when I get a jazz album I groan a little bit. I'm always like, sure it's fine but it just doesn't do much for me. This however was a really pleasant surprise. Maybe it just hit me in the right mood for today, but I'm loving it. It's just so cool and interesting and intricate and groovy. The Big Apple surprisingly reminded me a lot of Traffic's Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. I started out thinking 3 stars but now that I through I'm upping that to 4 stars.
Fire
Intriguing piece that can both be used for concentrated listening and relaxing hangouts
Very good, what an amazing musician.
Nice and jazzy
Solid Jazz Album.
honestly a pretty damn big pepeJAMMER to me. jazz is music for the soul.
nice and relaxing. no complaints, super smooth. 4
Swag å epic
Banger!
Not a fan of jazz but the drumming in this album is awesome 3,5/5
A lovely jazz album - impeccably produced - you can almost hear the sweat dripping off the musicians’ brow - and whoa what musicianship.
Disquito agradable de jazz que al final se clava un poco (pero poquito) en lo africano. Cuando empezó me imaginaba que la parte de jazz iba a tener mucho estilo africano y de hecho no, si no supiera que el artista no es americano, hubiera pensado que es música de NY o Chicago. Tiene bonitos momentos muy melódicos y unos solos de trompeta y de piano tremendos.
Pour du jazz j'ai bien aimé
O_b
good jazz
Long chill jazz songs and pleasant sounds, good listen. The final song slaps even if its a children's song :-)
favourite tracks: the big apple, inner crisis, and maesha
jamzz
This is jazz I can listen to. Contrary to some of the other 'jazz' albums which are just the players furiously wanking their instruments dry, talented but with no actual song for the listener to follow, this feel more like a soundtrack without words. Songs with structure, identity, melody and hooks - and emotion. This makes me think of how a jazz club SHOULD feel - sitting at a round table in a darkened corner with friends, and whiskey, the players illuminated at front through the cigar smoke, feeling the electric excitement of NYC. I like that the first and second half of the album are different - the first half is american jazz - the second half is more african music - and it's refreshing!
Jazz, blues. Nice stuff. But a bit too much for me all in a row. Fav songs: The Big Apple, Inner Crisis, Maesha
Amazing jazz
I did my jazz phase but this is one I wish I knew about when I was into the genre
Really enjoyed this one! I put it on while working and I must have listened to it front to back 3 times. Very accessible but still throws in some free jazz at times to keep you on your toes. I’m giving this 4 stars because I’m worried I’m inflating the value of 5 stars? Like this was a great album but my gut tells me to slow down 5 star distribution. Oh well
Good Jazz, African sounds in last song(s).
Never really got into to his music. But I love the fusion of African chord progressions and rhythm with the contemporary American sound.
4 Yes yes yes. This is my kind of jazz. I think it’s like Fusion/BeBop. Uptempo and consistent. This was a really really fun listen. Every player was on point and kept me guessing around every corner. Got a little whatever near the middle but I think it finished out strong Favorites: Part of a Whole, Minawa, The Big Apple, Unhome, Maesha
Soft jazz. Han bara lyssna första 3 låtarna.
I don't feel qualified to comment much on this album, except to say I really enjoyed it and I feel it would definitely be something to put on in the background for a dinner party.
Holy moly this album is an incredible listen. It's soulful, spiritual, and takes advantage of every silence and open space to immerse your brain. This is worth a million listens.
Pretty straight-ahead jazz album but with enough clever takes and lines that it's above-average.
The dynamics change on Maesha hits so hard The drums on Blues for Huey are legendary The harmonies with the sax and the horn on nomali are smooth while the keys go nuts Interesting mix of jazz styles
Iha viddun hyvä! Kunnon afrobeat meats jazzybazzy! Todella tiukka meiniki ja sopivan mittainen paketti tavaraa. 4/5
Uuh olipa huikea alkupuoli. Kunnon eeppistä kaupunkikävelyjazzia. Lopusta vähän liian pitkä ja meni enemmän taustamusaksi. Silti selvä 4/5. Tuntuu että genressä kuin genressä tykkään 70-luvun alun menosta.
Olipa poikkeuksellisen hyvää jazzia! 4/5
A very pleasant soul-infused jazz record. Great background listening. And quite amazing in contrast to the previous record, which was also jazz fusion and a possible contender for worst album on this list. That contrast gives this album the push to round it up from 3.5 to 4.
A great album with excellent musicians, pulled together by the brilliant Masekela. Each track has its own voice and yet fits into the whole.
very nice jazz
I enjoyed this album and it is something I need/want to listen to more as I think I have only begun to experience it
Hell yeah!
Beautiful and relaxing, perfect for a variety of settings. Great drumming and piano work in particular!
For all you horny folks, this album here has some great horn action. Really enjoyed listening to this album. Though I was a little horned out by the time I got to that 10 minute track. Felt like I needed some Gatorade and Cialis to complete the rest of it. Regardless, this was probably the best horn I've received in quite some time. Four stars!
The previous day brought us Bowie's "Young Americans," and I found the horns on that album tremendously annoying. Not so with "Home is Where the Music Is," which is filled with warm and exuberant horns. I was not at all familiar with Hugh Masekela, the "father of South African jazz," but I love his style.
As far as jazz goes, this isn't so bad. All the skill that you expect from a highly-rated jazz album is there but the afrobeat influence gives "Home Is Where the Music Is" an edge over its contemporaries. The extremely strong emphasis on the rhythm section gives the music a structure and drive that's missing from most jazz songs. Very solid entry. Especially for a jazz album.
I happened to be driving through Arizona while listening to this album. Which was kind of interesting since it feels like an album for a rainy city day. Lot's of beautiful moments and melodies and it was cool to hear him do so much with a saxophone. I get a little bored with jazz, possibly because I'm not smart enough, but I liked it.
Sublime
I'm never 100% sure how I feel about jazz records, but I find this more than satisfactory. Some solid grooves on this.
Wouw. First time listening to this, and really positive. Warm and cozy.. a nice extension of the 60’s be-bop jazz into the 70’s. References to both African music and funk here and there, just making it even more exciting.
Delightfully enjoyable fluglehorn jazz. Easy to listen to all the way through with Maseru being my highlight.
Maybe its because I've seen him live and heard a lot of his work. Love it.
Somewhat surprised but I loved this! Will definitely be adding to my playlist.
This album is interesting and engaging all the way through.
Jazz instrumental
what a beautiful, delightful album! well deserving of its place among the 1,001 albums. a well done instrumental album. it's fantastic to have on while driving or working. i appreciate the combination of afrobeat and jazz, because this album really became something unique. can't wait to listen again!
Part of a Whole reminds me of Sim City. Nice.
Album cover doesn't give too much of a clue about what's inside. Some kind of not too crazy jazz maybe? Wait, does he have a trumpet? Ok yeah, definitely expecting something nice and jazzy. Yep track list and song lengths confirm my suspicions. At 1 hour 16 min I hope it's good. Here we go! Yep, nice bright horn driven jazz, medium chill with some soul. Basic horn, sax, piano, guitar, drums. Engaging melodies interleaved with solos in a traditional format that's easy to wrap my head around. By turns catchy, pretty, melancholy, and technically impressive; all of it interesting but accessible. Loving this vibe, just the right energy level for me right now. Great stuff. I'm sure I'll be back to visit often.
I always had Hugh Masekela down as an upbeat afro-jazz style artist, but this being one of his earlier albums its interesting to see his roots began in slow jazz. Almost reminicent of Dizzy Gillespie with the focus on the trumpet and interesting motifs. A very enjoyable album, mixing mood and speeds across the entire album.
Fun to listen to. Would for sure listen again.
Something of a classic. I have a sneaky suspicion it'll grow on me even more. An unexpected gem.
I really like the piano playing. I don't listen to jazz a lot but in my opinion this is a good album.
I really enjoyed this one… well compared to the jazz album from a few weeks ago. It’s trying to hush mega leak- this jazz thing is alright
Ils m'ont perdu sur du 4/4, bon travail.
I enjoyed the heck out of this one. Thirty seconds into Parts of a Whole, they had me. I loved the unison trumpets and how the style borrowed a lot from American jazz yet was different from what I would expect in the genre.
For someone like me who doesn't quite "get" jazz, this was great.
First track is a fire-breathing monster. Wild, yet controlled and soulful - just my favourite kind of jazz. On first listen, the rest of the album was a bit of a come down. Now I've revisited a few times, actually I'm loving almost the whole record. Great compositions, great passionate musicianship, and a few African sounds coming in (though these aren't uncommon in American soul jazz anyway). My only complaint is the final track, which I don't find a satisfying way of rounding off an album that is already 70 minutes long by that point. Overall, highly recommend this. 4.5*
pretty slick, hugh's got a very unique sound on his trumpet like. it's nice.
This album exists in the space between enjoyability and innovation. First of all, the album is very accessible and has a great groove. The bass lines stand out to me the most aside from the trumpet and flugelhorn. This music is infused with a healthy dose of soul making this album a sort of fusion more than straight jazz. This album still features Miles Davis like passages and modal jazz chord changes that appeal to jazz snobs. Overall a great album.
Good jazz album.
Knew nothing about him. Now I want know more. What a cool album.
Ktebt 4 Saf7at Men 3l Bouheli Mte3 Dostoevsky. Still Sick As A Mofucka. Probably Getting Depressed. I Slept For Like 19 Hours
Very nice jazz album. Not blown away enough to give it 5 stars, but the overall sound of the ensemble is very good and there are some great moments, for example when the funky electric piano kicks in.
Enjoyable, though not world-changing.
Like this album and his music now, back in ‘72 when I was a Black Sabbath devotee..NOT!!!…times and tastes change…real fine listening
If it's possible to divide all Jazz into three categories, "Hot", "Cool", and "What Time Does The Tune Start", as my mom does, then this falls squarely into "Cool"... 😎 A very pleasant listen, and I suspect repeated plays would reveal more and more each time. Fave track - "Minawa" maybe, or "Unhome"...
Bom instrumental
A cool mix of jazz and afrobeat. Pretty solid arrangements throughout, and Hugh has a great time on the trumpet. I liked this a lot.
Really liked this. Funky jazzy vibes with a dose of sunshine. Great tunes.
Jazzy blessings that are almost instrumental Chicago tracks at times. Fun!
I've always wanted to like jazz but never really known where to start. Turns out this was it. I like jazz now.
Talent everywhere on this album. What a wonderful sound. Hypnotic, life affirming jazz.
Afro jazz-funk, NICE!
4.0 - Subtly fuses Afrobeat and jazz, leaning much more heavily on the latter. A warm and inviting sound that showcases skilled electric piano, trumpet and drums. Standouts: "Part of a Whole", "Blues for Huey", "Maesha" and "Ingoo Pow-Pow."
A wonderful album. Very much in the style of Miles Davis Prestige years; Cooking, Working, etc.... I really enjoyed this album and plan to listen to it tomorrow again. 4 🌟
Very good liked it quite a bit. Nice melodies and good rhythms. Rating: 8/10
-The piano and horns be groovin' in "Part Of A Whole." The drumming really picks up in some spots, and the trumpet too -"Minawa" sounded like "Love Reign O'er Me" with the rain sounding piano, and then "Charlie Brown" for a second -Generally solid jazz-y stuff. I'll put it on my study playlist
Me sorprendió mucho por lo bueno que es. Lo volveré a escuchar.
8/10
Perfectly lovely jazz.
This was some really great jazz, really pleasant and ACCESSIBLE. I would say anyway. The music felt very lyrical, but didn't feel like it was missing anything
Perky jazz. Very NYC.
Really nice start. Overall beautiful, especially Ninawa. Towards the end more "fanfare" and other music. Doesn't really fit the album.
Nice album, although I'm not a big fan of the last 2 songs.
Beautiful music and voice
“Home is Where the Music Is” by Hugh Masekela (1972) Music lovers may be familiar with ‘African Jazz’ trumpeter Hugh Masekela from his pop hit “Grazing in the Grass” (1968) (which, incidentally, has the most virtuoso cowbell performance ever). Or more internationally engaged listeners may know his anti-apartheid protest song “Soweto Blues”, or his political anthem “Bring Him Back Home” (the “Him” being Nelson Mandela, that is). But on this album, the title “Home is Where the Music Is” reminds us that the South African Hugh Masekela was unable to pursue a career in his home country because of apartheid. In 1960, after the Sharpeville massacre, South African authorities selectively banned “gatherings of ten or more” people in the townships, effectively killing the career of an aspiring jazz musician (illustrating what happens when governments prohibit freedom of assembly in the guise of “public safety”). So Masekela left South Africa and became an international agent of jazz, soul, and social justice. On this record, Masekela successfully resists the temptation to hog the spotlight, thereby revealing the not inconsiderable talents of other members of his jazz ensemble. Pianist Larry Willis is exquisite (the first 2:23 of “Minawa” would make Franz Liszt proud). Drummer Makhaya Ntshoko has innovative rhythms and percussive colorings for every mood (with shining solos on “Blues for Huey”, the end of which contains [almost] the only lyric on the album: “Call an ambulance!” You’ll laugh out loud.) But when Masekela steps up with brass, it’s breathtaking. His pitch-approximating approach to melodies, especially in duet phrases with alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, requires some getting used to. But Masekela’s languid vibrato, piercing staccato, double-tonguing, lip bends, trills, mini-slurs and dips are entrancing. What he lacks in range he more than makes up for in mellifluous resonance and flair. “Unhomé” is some of the saddest music you’ll ever hear. Yet “Maseru” grooves, swings, and otherwise romps through jazz progressions that are dazzling. If you’re unfamiliar with jazz, please, please listen to this track for its sheer entertainment value. Hope it hooks ya. The most ‘African’ track is the closing children’s song “Ingoo-Pow-Pow”, delivered with such humorous drama, that I’d love to know what in the world they’re saying to the kids (before playing it for my grandchildren!). The only significant weakness here is that bassist Eddie Gomez seems to be intent on ‘lifting’ the group’s pitch throughout the album. In an ensemble that revels in the “flats”, Gomez seems to be pushing the “sharps”. I hope it’s not just my faulty aging ears. This is good music for all humanity, folks, especially for “gatherings of ten or more”. I don’t give a damn which governments don’t think so. 4/5
Nice
really enjoyable, but it didn’t quite hold my attention through the (pretty long) runtime. every instrumentalist on here had some stellar performances. 7/10
I liked it but it was pretty long. 8/10
Good Jazz album. 4
A lengthy album but manages to stay interesting and enjoyable throughout
digging it so far. -1 star for being a little too brassy. its funny how easy it is for an all instrumental piece to be my jam. last song is in an african language and is stressful.
An absolutely awesome soul-jazz album. Groovy, a little funky, and a lot of soul all throughout give the record a cool lean against more traditional jazz albums. The music goes a long way in making you feel it, and you can also groove to it effortlessly.
Good listening, not blow me away great, but good
Pretty good stuff, real nice to chill to, but way too long of an album, especially since there's not a ton of variety going on. Says the guy who likes metal where every song is the same.
straight ahead jazz. nice and warm mixing style. some interesting instrumentation. big fan of the twang and thunk of the drum tones here. an instant recommendation if you already like this genre.
I'm not nearly as knowledgable about jazz as I should be considering I played a decent amount of it in highschool. So I don't have the ability to really compare this to jazz of the era, or much else altogether. But I did really enjoy this album. I'd like to start listening to more jazz, and I would certainly consider Hugh Masekela as an artist to listen to more of as I get further into jazz.
Impressive
A very cool album.
A wonderful album. Very much in the style of Miles Davis Prestige years; Cooking, Working, etc.... I really enjoyed this album and plan to listen to it tomorrow again. 4 🌟
This will be a new staple in the house! Loved it
Jesus fucking christ, this man can play. Whoever's on the keys is a fucking god. // Favs: Minawa / The Big Apple / Maseru Score: Decent 4
A joy to listen to, fun from start to end. Loved the overt african vibes towards the end too.
From the first notes of the first track I knew I’d like it. I’ve listened to music by Hugh Masekela in when he passed away in 2018, don't recall if I listened to this particular album. Probably going to put this into my rotation.
Super cool jazz
Really nice, pleasant blues (jazz...Idk) music to listen.
Jaaazzzz
Dit was eventjes tot rust komen, maar heel af en toe wat langdradig
Like a Dutch prostitute shitting down the back of my neck, as I smoke a cigar and read short stories about medieval torture. The best days of my life.
false
Afro jazz, un album exquisito.
On par with Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" in terms of sound and scope.
Nice and cozy jazz, but with a bit of avantgarde vibes.
Wish there were a little bit more standout moments but overall was a really engaging listen and can see it being groundbreaking at the time
Me gustó, sobre todo el solo de batería en Bluess for Huey, pero no tengo mucho que decir en esta ocasión. Supongo que por no saber de teoría musical, lol. En verdad a veces no entiendo este estilo de jazz, me parece sumamente técnico y a la vez como si se equivocaran a media canción y les valiera verga y siguen tocando, pero pues npi donde o cuando. Mood: fumando elegante y pretenciosamente un cigarro hecho por mi mismo en un barcito de Nueva York. Mood: ...
I like this style of post-bop-ish-borrowing-from-the-less-structured-60s-without-going-all-Ornette-Colman-on-us jazz. But, do I have to compare it to the 1001 jazz albums we must listen to before we die? I wouldn't have known it was Hugh Masekela until the last song. But I do like it. It's better than the pop covers he did in the 60s but I think the music he put out later in the decade was more influential (believe I said the same thing about JB). If the 10 point scale wasn't narrowly defeated yesterday I'd give this a solid 7.
Great! Good chill album to put on background
Jazz and good for jazz. But I don't like jazz
8/10 bueno para cierto mood