Hugh Masekela, who bridged jazz and South African sounds, is a truly respected figure w/ a dedicated global following. He passed away earlier this year, but not before he could compile this retrospective, Masekela 66-76, with the help of his friend and fellow musician Stewart Levine. A world-class trumpeter & flugelhornist, Masekela's distinctive playing is captured over 7 discs, and the tracks, 47 to be exact, are selected from 11 albums that varied much in style & substance. It's important to note that some of the materials on here were recorded after he was exiled from SA and residing in the US. The political movements and world affairs (anti-apartheid / black power / anti-Vietnam movements, for example) inform the songwriting, and Masekela expresses his raw emotions arising from said involvements on a lot of the records. This is the definitive collection of the legendary artist's work, and a good chunk of the selections have not appeared on vinyl for decades.

• 7 LP boxet
• includes six-page booklet
• music label: Wrasse Records 2018

reviewed by pocari papi 07/18