With the Chicago Marathon done and dusted, my attention turns back to focus on the wonderful Ubuntu series that has taken over New York City, most specifically, Carnegie Hall. The opening night reception was lovely – it was already going to be an incredible evening with just the lineup alone, but to sit inside the hallowed space of Carnegie Hall and listen to Vusi “The Voice” Mahlasela and Hugh Masekela bring their songs to an American stage, with special guests, was beyond what I’d hoped it would be. Backed by a supremely talented band – Mongezi Ntaka on guitar, Bakithi Kumalo on bass, Ian Herman on drums and Francis Fuster…
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Hugh Masekela Turns 75
Trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, lyricist, singer, bandleader – Hugh Masekela is many things. But he’s also a legend, an icon, in a time when those labels are all too-easily thrown around. An elder among South Africa music history, “Bra Hugh”, as he’s affectionately known, is the real deal. And not just because he turns 75 today. But because he actually earned his respect – his contribution to music, not just South African but the greater jazz genre, cannot be denied. From the Billboard-chart topping, 1968 Grammy-nominated single Grazin’ in the Grass, to the esteemed NYC jazz circles he moved in, which included the likes of Harry Belafonte, Miles Davis and John Coltrane,…
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Grammys 2013: The One Where The Guys Had all the Fun.
If last year’s Grammys were owned by Adele (and they ever so thoroughly were), then this year’s ceremony saw the men take back the reigns. The top awards were all won by men – Gotye got Record of the Year, for Somebody That I Used to Know, while the male trio of fun. got Song of the Year for We Are Young, and Mumford & Sons picked up Album of the Year for Babel – an album that made a major impact on the US Billboard 200 chart last year, selling over 600 000 copies upon release. Miguel won Best R ‘n B Song for Adorn and the Black Keys…
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Let’s Hear it For The Boys – The Grammys a-Go
It’s dubbed as “music’s biggest night” and while a woman may have dominated the proceedings last year, this year, the guys are the ones with the most nominations. 6 of the top nominees, with 6 nods each, are male artists: Frank Ocean, fun., The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Mumford & Sons lead the nominations, but which one will actually rule the night? It seems that Fun. is the band this year with the most to win – being nominated in the 4 major categories of of Record, Album and Song of the year, as well as Best New Artist. No mean feat there. But what about…
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And the 55th Grammy Nominees are…
The period between the 1st of October 2011 and the 30th of September 2012 seems to have been a good year for male artists and a good one for rock music too. 6 of the top nominees, with 6 nods each, are men, and 4 out of the 5 albums up for Album of the Year are from acts considered to be rock. Here, then, are some of the nominees competing for honours in February 2013…plus a special one for South Africa at the end! Super thrilled for Alabama Shakes scoring a Best New Artist nod too! Album of the Year: El Camino — The Black Keys Some Nights…
