Jun 22, 2010

Spokes Mashiyane - King Kwela

barabara sounds sez:

Who knew you could make such joyful sounds on a pennywhistle? Nobody, until Spokes came along. He even developed a whole new way of playing the instrument. This is the classic sound that emanated from the townships in those vibrant early years of S.African jazz. Yeah, I like it a lot (though I'm not so keen on that dark, dour cover)!


slipcue.com sez:

Bouncy South African pennywhistle, or kwela, music from the leader of the Solven Whistlers, and frequent early collaborator with Miriam Makeba and the Skylarks. Mashiyane pretty much made the pennywhistle a popular sound, and few people could match him for the expressiveness he brought to such a seemingly limited instrument. For an all-instrumental album highlighting a fairly oddball sound, this disc is far more captivating than one might imagine. Recommended!


from the sleeve notes:

Born in Northern Transvaal, Spokes spent his days tending his father's cattle and, to while away the long hours, he tried his hand at the primitive African reed flute... [Later in Johannesburg] one of his first acquisitions was a genuine penny whistle – costing 4s.6d! ...The design of the South African penny whistle is the same as that throughout the world but, by placing the mouthpiece vertically against the side of his left cheek and by introducing an entirely new fingering system, he was able to produce a roundness of tone hitherto unknown with this limited musical instrument.


Some good background on Spokes and Kwela music here at the National Geographic...


And there a great post of Spokes' Sweet Sax, Sweet Flute up at electric jive...

Highly recommended!


Update:

Eectric Jive hs been digging! Check out the fantastic Spokes 78s just posted over here and here...

12 comments:

taro nombei said...

this time (for sure) it:s mp3s...

http://www.mediafire.com/?mgndmywwdjm

comments please... don't leave me whistling in the wind :-)

Kostas from Greece said...

Thank you very much.
Please, you know that track 14 from:Township Swing Jazz,vol.1 is missing?
Thank you again...

Anonymous said...

hi there,

i'm greatly enjoying the recent posts, quite joyous tunes. thank you! -MB

taro nombei said...

hey MB
glad to hear that, and thanks for letting me know!

taro nombei said...

@ Kostas from Greece
Try again with the Township Jazz. It worked OK for me just now.
All the best!

taro nombei said...

Up at the top, I just added a link over to a brilliant post over at electric jive...
Spokes Mashiyane - Sweet Sax, Sweet Flute
highly recommended

Feq'wah said...

Nice music!

Thanks.

bosshoss said...

Greetings!
I've just discovered your eminent blog and Dl'd David T Walker. Many, many thanks for it.
Now, I tried to do the same with this one.
Didn't work... I can open the DL page at mediafire and klick on the start download, but nothing happens. Any ideas? Or could you re-up it??? Anyway, I will continue to follow this great blog, of yours.
Many thanks.
-bosshoss

taro nombei said...

@ bosshoss

welcome and thanks for the comment.
The issue may just be MF playing up — the DL worked fine for me just now. Try again in a little while, perhaps at a different time of day.
TN

orlando portillo (opa) said...

awesome work you do!!

reallyt apprecie it

thank you!!!

taro nombei said...

@ orlando portillo (opa)

thanks for dropping by!

BTW, really nice work on YOUR blog too! great graphics!!

all best!

taro nombei said...

check out old the Spokes 78s that Electric Jive has just posted.
Link at the top, in the main blog!