Reissued by Tapestry Works, first published in 1969. Malombo Jazz Maker“Unknown Third Album”Down Lucky’s Way‘. The core trio featured flutist and saxophonist Abby Cindy, Malombo drummer Julian Bahra and one of the greatest African guitarists of his generation, Lucky Rankoo.
The liner notes include an interview with Julian Bahra and a 2014 interview by Francis Gooding with Lucky Rank, who passed away in 2016. Initially, the band was only paid for session time, not royalties from Gallo and HMV, but Julian pursued it. A South African court at the time of the fall of the apartheid regime. He managed to recover outstanding royalties, publications and copyrights. This reissue has been officially licensed by Julian, with the funds going to Abby Cindy and Lucky Rankoo’s family in South Africa.
This is a significant album and the first to feature additional instruments: Dick Cosa on drums, Zeix Mukbre on bass and Andrew Mfandi on organ. It was the first time that Abby Cindy played not only the flute but also the soprano saxophone. Even lucky people were shocked when they showed them this album in 2014. he had never seen it before.
The album’s notes emphasize both the musical and political significance of their performances.
Julian Bahla’s introduction of the Maropo drum into the original Malombo Jazzmen’s music was a defining moment of political and cultural radicalism for South African jazz. Traditionally used by the Bapedi people for healing, the Malombo music Malopo Drum rediscovered the heart of jazz with its indigenous sounds and cultures, and in the decade that followed, the Malombo Jazz Makers took political action against apartheid. became deeply involved in anti-social activities. With the restoration of Indigenous sounds, they became musical bannermen of the Black Consciousness movement, and toured South Africa in secret with writer and anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. They also broke apartheid laws by performing with white rock group Freedom’s Children, sometimes appearing on stage wearing masks and UV paint to avoid detection by authorities. They appeared regularly at rule-breaking Free Peoples concerts hosted by David Marks, where Marks cleverly exploited loopholes. That meant mixed audiences were prohibited from attending ticketed concerts where anyone was paid, but the law made no mention of private events held by artists. Free – meant people could unite against apartheid laws. Some notorious special chapters raided their concerts. Lucky remembered police storming the auditorium and hurling smoke grenades.
Following in Julian Bahla’s footsteps, Lucky Rankow left South Africa for London in 1974, and has also spoken about the terrifying experience in interviews. In London he joined Bahla’s group ‘Jabra’. Although he played in many bands in post-apartheid Britain, he recalled never recording an album as a bandleader. This album comes closest to that experience as his playing showcased throughout the album is on another level.
Listen to the track “Matshenyogo”. It translates as “struggle” and describes their struggle for democracy and their stand against the apartheid regime in South Africa at the time.
The album is available in digital and vinyl versions. Bandcamp digital edition comes with liner notes and interviews.
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