Letta Mbulu - 1970 - Letta

Letta Mbulu

1970

Letta

01. Mahlalela (Lazy Bones) 4:51

02. Use Mncane (Little One) 3:27

03. I Won't Weep No More 2:42

04. You Touched Me 3:41

05. Melodi (Sounds Of Home) 4:29

06. I Need Your Love 2:45

07. Macongo 3:15

08. What Shall I Do? 2:30

09. Jigijela (Don't Throw Stones) 4:19

10. Qonqoza (Knock) 3:39

Directed By – Hugh Masekela

Bass, Saxophone – Wilton Felder

Drums – "Stix" Hooper

Drums, Trombone – Wayne Henderson

Guitar – Arthur Adams, Wayne West

Keyboards – Joe Sample

Percussion – Francisco Aguabella

The regality of Letta Mbulu is never lost on anyone in her presence. The legendary jazz singer has never been one to shy away from her dreams, and her warmth and sophistication have ensured her illustrious career’s longevity. Mbulu was born and raised in the township of Soweto, where she started singing in her early teen years. While still a teenager, she toured the country with the South African musical production of King Kong, later extending to Europe.

As the apartheid regime loomed over people of colour in the 1970s, Mbulu went ito the United States. Where, in exile, she continued to pursue music. She toured with jazz alto saxophonist, Cannonball Adderly, and also went on to join forces with American singer, Harry Belafonte. Together they went on several world tours. Her main musical influences became folk, American Jazz and Brazilian music.

Mbulu met and married South African musician, Caiphus Semenya, with whom she has recorded a number of hit songs. While in exile, she released numerous albums from 1967 to 1983, which all achieved relative success. Songs like “I Need Your Love,” “Buza,” and “Everybody Sing Along” are soulful tributes to her heritage. “There’s Music in the Air” is definitely a fan favourite and an example of how powerful a musical instrument of nature Mbulu is.

Mbulu also ventured into acting while in America, starring in the film Roots, for which she received an Emmy Award. Her other screen credits include A Warm December and The Color Purple. She also collaborated with the late icon, Micheal Jackson on his song “Liberian Girl”, one of many milestones in her career.

She is a founding member of the organisation, South African Artists United (SAAU), which produced thepolitical and historical musical, Buwa, with Mbulu in the leading role. Upon her return to South Africa in 1992, Mbulu and her husband produced the hit album, "Not Yet Uhuru", which received critical acclaim and connected her to South African audiences.

In 2001, Mbulu received a South African Music Award for her lifetime achievement in the music industry. Her home in Orlando East, Soweto is decorated with a Johannesburg Heritage Site Blue Plaque to honour her legacy and contribution to the SA jazz scene. Her joyful, memorable songs are magnificent examples of African-American soul, and she continues to wow audiences as she and her husband perform at various local festivals.

Following two artistically successful but commercially disappointing LPs under the auspices of the legendary producer/arranger David Axelrod, South African transplant Letta Mbulu joined fellow exile Hugh Masekela's new Chisa label. (She'd recently appeared on the Masekela-produced Africa '68 album.) On Letta, Masekela (along with co-producer Stewart Levine) opted for earthier, more direct arrangements than the texture-heavy (and occasionally overly exotic) orchestrations favored by Axelrod. Like her earlier albums, Mbulu sings in English and various South African tongues, but the music -- owing to Masekela's production -- is far earthier. The horns are full and present, unlike Axelrod's Los Angeles soundstages, and the grooves are distinctly African. On the opening "Mahlalela" (Lazy Bones), a chorus of a cappella voices leads into an R&B-influenced Afro-groove, as Mbulu settles into a more "traditional" pop vocal. The rest of the disc -- penned mostly by Mbulu's husband, Caiphus Semenya -- is propelled by an experienced gravitas, and sold by Mbulu's voice, which is classic R&B: capable and convincing, with not a little naïve sweetness. "I Need Your Love" is a catchy unheard classic, getting over -- like Letta as a whole -- with an easygoing perfection.

As soon as you see the striking photo of Letta on the cover you know you're holding a very special piece of wax in your hands, and for me this is definitely her best album (and that's saying something considering the quality of her other lps) The songs cover the full range of emotions from the joyus 'Use Mncane (Little One)' to the sensual opener 'Mahlalela (Lazy Bones)' but it's Jigijela (Don't Throw Stones) that absolutely kills me...it tells the story of township youths retaliating with stones against armed apartheid forces when they know they don't stand a chance... when it hits you this is one of the most emotionally charged songs of all time. One day someone will use this song in a film and there won't be a dry eye in the cinema.

Sublime album from a singer who deserves to be far better known... One of my desert island discs. This needs to be reissued now!

It's music like this that reminds you it's good to be alive!