Home Is Where the Music Is / The African Connection

There is stuff here that is certainly good, I especially love when they let the piano shine, but it is still an overly long, somewhat repetitive jazz album. Still, better than most.

Today's album was a little different, and was a step out of my music genre comfort zone. I usually tolerate, but don't particularly like jazz. I view jazz as something to put on in the background while you work, cook, or do other menial tasks around the house. To sit and listen to, jazz is usually not even on the list of what I gravitate towards.

This, however, isn't traditional jazz. This is a fusion of jazz, soul, and the African sounds of afrobeat. I would say that Hugh is Africa's answer to America's Miles Davis; a jazz trumpet player.

There is so much talent on this record, and Hugh rubbed elbows with so many talented African artists. Secko Toure, the president of Guinea from the late 60's to the early 80's also dabbled in jazz composition, and actually wrote the song Minawa on this record. This was before he became president, liberated Guinea, and became a horrible dictator. Also, Hugh was married to Miriam Makeba (I've reviewed one of her albums on here already), the powerhouse singer from South Africa for a short time, and was good friends with Harry Belafonte and Fela Kuti.

Overall, an interesting listen today. I didn't hate it, but it isn't something I would rush to turn on or listen to again. Unlike Fela and Miriam's music, this just didn't pull me in. Maybe it was the absence of lyrics (even lyrics I don't understand are better than instrumentals, and especially jazz instrumentals), maybe the run time was too long, causing me to loose focus, or maybe I just really fucking hate trumpets. If it was playing, I wouldn't switch it off, but I also wouldn't actively seek it out either.

Favourite songs: Inner Crisis, Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song), Maseru, Part of a Whole, Nomali

Least favourite songs: Unhome

3/5

Yes. More jazz please. That was Awesome. Will listen again.

Just average jazz...more meh than anything. The album looped around on me and started over and I didn't even realize that I had head it before it was that generic. 2/5

love Hugh

A lovely meander through the creative pathways of some talented musical minds. Each song unfolds dynamically, themes flowing one into the other, at once both cohesive and distinct.

For me, it was like each song was a short story depicting the sights, sounds and energy of a person in movement through one setting or another. A couple of songs that evoked this sort of imagery most vividly for me were 'The Big Apple' and 'Maesha'. The latter of those two, being my personal favorite of the album.

This is great jazz

I had high hopes for this one after the first song, which I really enjoyed. Then it turned into typical background jazz music. Fine to be on while cooking diner, but nothing I will seek out.

Olipa poikkeuksellisen hyvää jazzia! 4/5

Beginning to think jazz, salsa, etc are just kind of a bad fit for how I’ve been listening to the albums each day, because with every one of these my experience has been enjoying the first few songs, but then getting completely sick of it by the end of the album. Like I think this just probably isn’t music to be listened to in silence, by myself, on headphones! but it’s not like I own a bar or a club, so,

Pretty good. Jazz is still not my favourite genre, but the African influence was clear to hear and very enjoyable. I didn't pick up the names of any songs, so don't know which were my favourite, other than ingoo pow pow (children's song), which was great

I was in that lift a LONG time

I think this is gonna be my first five star rating that's going to an album I hadn't already heard previously. Such moods and grooves here. Downtempo numbers are absolutely my thing. Uptempo numbers are breezy and enjoyable too.

Some albums need more than a day to appreciate them.

Hadn't heard of Hugh Masekela or this album before. Without a doubt he's highly talented. Good vibes.

From my one-time listening, it felt like good background music, to work or walk to, or sitting in a coffee shop. "Where's my frappuccino damnit?!"

Perky jazz. Very NYC.

This is a kick ass jazz album. His connection to Fela Kuti is fascinating as well. Weirdly it reminds me of SimCity 3000 music a bit!

This is a classic album by Hugh Mase...ZZZzzzzzzz. Sorry, not a jazz fan. I'm sure it's great.

first track is very solid. Yea this is great in the pocket horn playing jazz. oh man this is great atmosphere. yea this thing is great not just good I feel like i am listening to something really special on track nine Maesha