Prom 56: The South African Jazz Songbook (28.08.22)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Sunday 28 August 2022
Royal Albert Hall


Siyabonga Mthembu (vocals)
ESKA (vocals)
Soweto Kinch (saxophones)
Theon Cross (tuba)
Metropole Orkest
Marcus Wyatt (conductor)

‘I don’t think any musician ever thinks about making a statement’, said Hugh Masekela, the late, great 'father of South African jazz' – ‘I think everybody goes into music loving it.’ Tonight’s Prom showcases the most dynamic sounds in contemporary South African jazz, including those of Cry Freedom’s Jonas Gwangwa, genre-crossing composer Abdullah Ibrahim, Dudu Pukwana and Johnny Dyani of The Blue Notes, and saxophonist Winston Mankunku. Singer Siyabonga Mthembu makes a special appearance, together with Mercury Prize-nominated ESKA, double MOBO Award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch and tuba sensation Theon Cross. Plus, if there’s one group that’s absolutely guaranteed to set the Proms on fire, it’s Metropole Orkest – the globetrotting, genre-defying ensemble behind recent Proms tributes to Nina Simone, Charles Mingus and Quincy Jones.

[bluestateprommer]

Once past the "invocation to the audience", two selections by Dudu Pukwana are starting the proceedings off. Couldn't register the name of the first song, which Sarah Walker mentioned, given my illiteracy with respect to South African jazz. Soweto Kinch is holding forth well on saxophone(s?) now in the second Dudu Pukwana selection, "Mra". Will be following the BBC R3 page to try to log the playlist in semi-real time.

[DracoM]

Many of the vocal i.e. on-stage intros were appallingly incoherent / murmured etc. If it was like that in the Arena too, I wonder what a few got out of it.

[Serial_Apologist]

Many of the vocal i.e. on-stage intros were appallingly incoherent / murmured etc. If it was like that in the Arena too, I wonder what a few got out of it.

Inexcusable, given that microphones are allowed at non-classical Proms...