We originally intended this "Best of The Beat" to coincide with the upcoming historic reunion concert at New York’s Town Hall April 27 featuring South African music icons Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela celebrating their original Jazz Epistles group founded in 1959. Unfortunately, Masekela was hospitalized last week and cannot travel from South Africa to make the date. (See an update on the new concert lineup here.) Of course that does not diminish the relevance of his position in music history, and so this BOTB goes on with a look at the two veterans from Vol. 7, 1988. At the time of this feature, published three years before apartheid was abolished in 1991, the struggle was continuing in full force.
We have an appreciation of the great pianist and composer Ibrahim, (also known in his early days as Dollar Brand); and a brief, belligerent statement from the outspoken Masekela, expressing his disgust with the apartheid system. Both artists were in exile from South Africa during the regime: Masekela from 1961 and Ibrahim, 1976.
