SOUTH Africa’s youngest Afro-jazz and Afro-pop band, the New AfroTeens, are making waves with their hit song, Siyazazisa, which means “we introduce ourselves”, featuring lyrics and music by SA Music Award winners Phinda Mtya and Laurence Matshiza.
The band’s 10 members have an average age of 17 and are from Port Elizabeth.
These young musicians called themselves the New AfroTeens in tribute to their mentors, Afro Teens, a 1970s teenage band who, under the guidance of Matshiza, Alex Kuze and Sizwe Zako, performed in and around Port Elizabeth.
The 13 tracks on the new group’s debut album include contributions from recording heavyweights Hugh Masekela, Puff Johnson and Master Wakes.
Produced by Matshiza and Zako, the New AfroTeens offer jazzy, upbeat tunes orchestrated by lead vocalists Spoki Mtengwana, Melikhaya Xotyeni and Zizi Bekapi.
Other group members are 17-year-old band leader Themba Jack on lead guitar, Kamva Goba on percussion, 14-year-old Cayla Rose on keyboards and Thoba Goba on drums. Trumpet is in the hands of Xolani Moppie and sax is handled by Mkhululi Gxakesha, with bass played by Grant Allison.
The new-generation jazz outfit have already shared the stage with George Benson, Canadian singer Justin Hines, Jimmy Dludlu, Siphokazi and HHP, among others.
In other recording news, Matthew Morrison, who starred as Link Larkin in the Broadway musical Hairspray, in 2003, and was nominated for Broadway’s Tony Award for his role in the 2005 musical The Light in the Piazza, has released a debut album.
It’s as caring Glee Club mentor Will Schuester in the hit TV series Glee that Morrison is best known these days.
The American is trying to change his song-and-dance image a bit, though, with his newly released, eponymous debut solo album, a 10-song collection on which he proves he can do more than just show tunes.
The first cast member from Glee to release a solo album, Morrison offers a good mix of pop and ballads, showcasing a fine voice.
The opening track, and single, is a highlight – the catchy Summer Rain, which has a Jason Mraz feel about it – but also of note are three covers. Among these is Sting’s 1996 hit, Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot(featuring the former Police man), a great meshing of Elton John’s Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters and Rocket Man(featuring the great Brit) and a sweet version of Over the Rainbow, performed in duet with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Also newly released is Bossa Nova Around the World, covering music from Rio to Paris and beyond, putting a global spin on this popular music style.
Featuring 12 varied artists, it has been released on the popular Putumayo label and features artists from France, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Norway, Germany, Serbia and the US, among others.
Canada-based Brazilian singer Bia opens the collection with Jardem (Jardin D’hiver), a song made famous by the late French music legend Henri Salvador.
Successors of Salvador’s legacy, French musicians Didier Sustrac and Tom & Joy (Thomas Naim and Joyce Hoze-Liwer) demonstrate the unique compatibility between the French language and bossa nova on their tracks Tout Seul (All Alone) and Meditation.
Another standout track has Tito Paris joining fellow Cape Verdean singer Nancy Vieira, who incorporates bossa nova with the flavours of Cape Verdean coladeira on the ballad, Esperanca de Mar Azul( Hope For a Blue Sea), while American Stacey Kent, a darling of the global jazz scene, shines on So Nice, one of the most recognisable songs in the bossa nova repertoire.
Kent is joined by British musician and husband Jim Tomlinson.
Other standout tracks include legendary Serbian jazz trumpeter and composer Dusko Goykovich contributing the swinging instrumental song Menina Moca and a good love song, Railroad, from innovative South Korean singer Monla, who has a knack of blending jazz, pop and other genres.