JAZZ IN SERVICE OF THE STRUGGLE: THE NEW BRIGHTON STORY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v10i4.2234Keywords:
South African jazz, 1940s–70s, New Brighton, swing bands, the Soul Jazzmen, protest songsAbstract
This article contributes to the substantial body of publications on South African jazz with information on jazz performance and performers in New Brighton, a township adjacent to Port Elizabeth noted for its vibrant jazz scene and outstanding jazz musicians. The article covers several decades from the heyday of swing bands in the 1940s—50s through the 1960s—70s when New Brighton's premier jazz combo, the Soul Jazzmen, were at the height of their artistry. The role of swing bands in New Brighton and surrounding communities as the training ground for members of the Soul Jazzmen and other local musicians of note is discussed, as well as how the Soul Jazzmen in turn were tutors for musicians of the next generation who became widely recognized artists, composers and arrangers. This is followed by a focus on the Soul Jazzmen and compositions by its members that protested against the apartheid regime in the 1960s—70s. The article is informed by historic photographs, newspaper clippings and information from oral history interviews that richly document how jazz was performed in service of the anti-apartheid struggle in New Brighton.
References
Albertyne, Chris, ed. 2013. Keeping Time. Pietermaritzburg: Chris Albertyne and Associates CC.
Albertyne, Chris, ed. 2013. Nick Moyake and Soul Jazzmen — 1965. http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2013/07/nick-moyake-and-soul-jazzmen-1965.html5 accessed 15 October 2018.
Albertyne, Chris, ed. 2014. Tin whistle jive and roots of kwela. http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2014/11/tin-whistle-jive-and-roots-of-kwela.html accessed 15 October 2018.
Allen, Lara. 1993. "Pennywhistle Kwela: A Musical, Historical, and Socio-Political Analysis.” MMus Thesis. University of Natal, Durban.
Allen, Lara. 2000. "Representation, Gender and Women in Black South African Popular Music, 1948—1960.” PhD Dissertation. Cambridge University, Cambridge.
Allingham, Rob. 2009 "From 'Kunyama' to 'Pata Pata' — A History.” African Music 8 (3): 117—31.
Ansell, Gwen. 2004 Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music and Politics in South Africa. New York: Continuum.
Ballantine, Christopher. 1991a "Concert and Dance: the Foundations of Black Jazz in South Africa between the Twenties and the Early Forties.” Popular Music 10 (2): 121—45. doi:10.1017/S0261143000004475.
Ballantine, Christopher. 1991b "Music and Emancipation: the Social Role of Black Jazz and Vaudeville in South Africa between the 1920s and the Early 1940s.” Journal of Southern African Studies 17 (1): 129—52.
Ballantine, Christopher. 2012 Marabi Nights: Jazz, Race and Society in Early Apartheid South Africa, 2nd edn. Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZuluNatal Press.
Butete, Netsayi. 2012 "The Jazz Divas: An Analysis of the Musical Careers of Six New Brighton Vocalists.” MMus Thesis. Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
Coplan, David B. and O. Gutierrez 2017 Last Night at the Bassline. Johannesburg: Jacana Media.
Dalamba, Lindelwa 2006 "Writing against exile: A chronotopic reading of the autobiographies of Miriam Makeba, Joe Mogotsi, and Hugh Masekela.” MMus Thesis. University of KwaZuluNatal, Durban.
Dalamba, Lindelwa 2008 "Storing and storying lives: The biographical illusion in three musicians' autobiographies.” SAMUS 28 (1): 55—72.
Dalamba, Lindelwa 2014 "Passports to jazz: the social and musical dynamics of South African jazz in Britain, 1961—1973” PhD Dissertation. University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
Devroop, Chataduri and Chris Walton, eds. 2007 Unsung South African Jazz Artists Under Apartheid. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.
Douglas, Struan 2013 The Story of South African Jazz Volume One. Durban: Quote the Source.
Eato, Jonathan 2013 "The Ian Bruce Huntley Archive.” In Keeping Time: 1964—74 the Photographs and Cape Town Jazz Recordings of Ian Bruce Huntley. Chris Albertyn, ed. 23—37. Durban: Chris Albertyn and Associates CC.
Eato, Jonathan 2017 "A Climbing Vine Through Concrete Jazz in 1960s Apartheid South Africa.” In Jazz and Totalitarianism. Bruce Johnson, ed. 241—267. New York and London: Routledge.
Erlmann, Veit 1991 African Stars: Studies in Black South African Performance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Goosen, Ulagh 1999 "The Music of Erroll Cuddumbey: A Socio-Historical Profile of a Port Elizabeth Jazz Artist.” MMus Thesis. University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth.
Hudleston, Sarah 1996 George Pemba Against All Odds. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball.
Hughes, Lestie 1999 "The Social and Cultural Significance of Dudley Tito's Music: A Postmodern Investigation.” MMus Thesis. University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth.
Husskisson, Yvonne 1969 The Bantu Composers of South Africa. Johannesburg: SABC.
Kubik, Gerhard 2013 "South African Contributions to Jazz History.” In Generations of Jazz. Diane Thram, ed. 10—17. Grahamstown: International Library of African Music.
Kubik, Gerhard 2017 Jazz Transatlantic, Volume 1. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
McGregor, Maxine 1995 Chris McGregor and the Brotherhood of Breath. Flint, MI: Bamberger Books.
Msila, Vuyasile 2014 A Place to Live: Red Location and Its History from 1903—2013. Stellenbosch: Sun Media.
Muller, Carol and Sathima Bee Benjamin 2011 Musical Echoes: South African Women Thinking in Jazz. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
Nkosi, Lewis 1966 "Jazz in Exile.” Transition 24, Kampala. 34—36.
Pyper, Brett 2013 "A photo essay for Lulu Gontsana (1960—2005): South Africa's house drummer.” In Generations of Jazz. Diane Thram, ed. 41—48. Grahamstown: International Library of African Music.
2014 "'You can't listen alone': Jazz, listening and sociality in a transitioning South Africa.” PhD Dissertation. New York University, New York.
Rasmussen, Lars, ed. 2003a Jazz People of Cape Town. Copenhagen: The Booktrader.
Rasmussen, Lars, ed. 2003b MBIZO — A Book about Johnny Dyani. Copenhagen: The Booktrader.
Schadeberg, Jurgen, photographer 2007 Jazz, Blues and Swing Six Decades of Music in South Africa. Cape Town: David Philip.
Interviews by author
Count Attwell 20 September 2012 New Brighton.
Athol Fugard 13 January 2015 Nieu Bethesda.
Richard Hatana 13 November 2009 New Brighton (with Netsayi Butete).
Shirely Lineo Lebakeng 22 May 2009 New Brighton.
Vuyelwa Qwesha Luzipo 22 May 2009 New Brighton.
Howard Mabendeza 11 September 2012 New Brighton.
Philip Mbambaza 11 September 2012 New Brighton.
Nomzamo Mkuzo 22 May 2009 New Brighton (with Netsayi Butete).
Victor Miza 19 June 2009 New Brighton.
Thami Ngcwangu 4 September 2012 New Brighton.
Big T Ntsele 29 May 2009 New Brighton.
Patrick Pasha 27 August 2009 New Brighton.
K.T. Pemba 28 June 2010 New Brighton.
Dudley Tito 29 May 2009 New Brighton.
Derrek Xujwa 28 August 2012, 31 October 2012 New Brighton.
Lami Zokufa 29 May 2009 New Brighton.
Personal communication
Jonathan Eato 16 September 2018 email.
Patrick Pasha 9 October 2018 phone conversation. 12 October 2018 email.
Discography
Soul Jazzmen
1968 Mankunku Jazz Show: recorded live at the 'Y', Orlando. Compilation with Jazz Faces Quintet and Lionel Pillay Trio. Jazz Appreciation Society JLP 01, LP.
1969 Inhlupeko. City Special CYL1000. LP.
n.d. The Soul Jazzmen: New Brighton. SABC Transcriptions. CDT 2908 LT 21 898/9. LP.
n.d. Soul Jazzmen Black Slave: New Brighton. SABC Transcriptions. CDT6 LT 18 752/3. LP.
1976 The Michelangelo and Woolmark National Jazz Festival. Compilation with Jazz Ministers, Jazz Clan, The Soul Jazzmen, Drive, Jazz Resurrection, The Shange Brothers. Atlantic. Third Ear Music Production WEA Records. LP.
Albertyne, Chris, ed. 2013. Nick Moyake and Soul Jazzmen — 1965. http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2013/07/nick-moyake-and-soul-jazzmen-1965.html5 accessed 15 October 2018.
Albertyne, Chris, ed. 2014. Tin whistle jive and roots of kwela. http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2014/11/tin-whistle-jive-and-roots-of-kwela.html accessed 15 October 2018.
Allen, Lara. 1993. "Pennywhistle Kwela: A Musical, Historical, and Socio-Political Analysis.” MMus Thesis. University of Natal, Durban.
Allen, Lara. 2000. "Representation, Gender and Women in Black South African Popular Music, 1948—1960.” PhD Dissertation. Cambridge University, Cambridge.
Allingham, Rob. 2009 "From 'Kunyama' to 'Pata Pata' — A History.” African Music 8 (3): 117—31.
Ansell, Gwen. 2004 Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music and Politics in South Africa. New York: Continuum.
Ballantine, Christopher. 1991a "Concert and Dance: the Foundations of Black Jazz in South Africa between the Twenties and the Early Forties.” Popular Music 10 (2): 121—45. doi:10.1017/S0261143000004475.
Ballantine, Christopher. 1991b "Music and Emancipation: the Social Role of Black Jazz and Vaudeville in South Africa between the 1920s and the Early 1940s.” Journal of Southern African Studies 17 (1): 129—52.
Ballantine, Christopher. 2012 Marabi Nights: Jazz, Race and Society in Early Apartheid South Africa, 2nd edn. Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZuluNatal Press.
Butete, Netsayi. 2012 "The Jazz Divas: An Analysis of the Musical Careers of Six New Brighton Vocalists.” MMus Thesis. Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
Coplan, David B. and O. Gutierrez 2017 Last Night at the Bassline. Johannesburg: Jacana Media.
Dalamba, Lindelwa 2006 "Writing against exile: A chronotopic reading of the autobiographies of Miriam Makeba, Joe Mogotsi, and Hugh Masekela.” MMus Thesis. University of KwaZuluNatal, Durban.
Dalamba, Lindelwa 2008 "Storing and storying lives: The biographical illusion in three musicians' autobiographies.” SAMUS 28 (1): 55—72.
Dalamba, Lindelwa 2014 "Passports to jazz: the social and musical dynamics of South African jazz in Britain, 1961—1973” PhD Dissertation. University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
Devroop, Chataduri and Chris Walton, eds. 2007 Unsung South African Jazz Artists Under Apartheid. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.
Douglas, Struan 2013 The Story of South African Jazz Volume One. Durban: Quote the Source.
Eato, Jonathan 2013 "The Ian Bruce Huntley Archive.” In Keeping Time: 1964—74 the Photographs and Cape Town Jazz Recordings of Ian Bruce Huntley. Chris Albertyn, ed. 23—37. Durban: Chris Albertyn and Associates CC.
Eato, Jonathan 2017 "A Climbing Vine Through Concrete Jazz in 1960s Apartheid South Africa.” In Jazz and Totalitarianism. Bruce Johnson, ed. 241—267. New York and London: Routledge.
Erlmann, Veit 1991 African Stars: Studies in Black South African Performance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Goosen, Ulagh 1999 "The Music of Erroll Cuddumbey: A Socio-Historical Profile of a Port Elizabeth Jazz Artist.” MMus Thesis. University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth.
Hudleston, Sarah 1996 George Pemba Against All Odds. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball.
Hughes, Lestie 1999 "The Social and Cultural Significance of Dudley Tito's Music: A Postmodern Investigation.” MMus Thesis. University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth.
Husskisson, Yvonne 1969 The Bantu Composers of South Africa. Johannesburg: SABC.
Kubik, Gerhard 2013 "South African Contributions to Jazz History.” In Generations of Jazz. Diane Thram, ed. 10—17. Grahamstown: International Library of African Music.
Kubik, Gerhard 2017 Jazz Transatlantic, Volume 1. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
McGregor, Maxine 1995 Chris McGregor and the Brotherhood of Breath. Flint, MI: Bamberger Books.
Msila, Vuyasile 2014 A Place to Live: Red Location and Its History from 1903—2013. Stellenbosch: Sun Media.
Muller, Carol and Sathima Bee Benjamin 2011 Musical Echoes: South African Women Thinking in Jazz. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
Nkosi, Lewis 1966 "Jazz in Exile.” Transition 24, Kampala. 34—36.
Pyper, Brett 2013 "A photo essay for Lulu Gontsana (1960—2005): South Africa's house drummer.” In Generations of Jazz. Diane Thram, ed. 41—48. Grahamstown: International Library of African Music.
2014 "'You can't listen alone': Jazz, listening and sociality in a transitioning South Africa.” PhD Dissertation. New York University, New York.
Rasmussen, Lars, ed. 2003a Jazz People of Cape Town. Copenhagen: The Booktrader.
Rasmussen, Lars, ed. 2003b MBIZO — A Book about Johnny Dyani. Copenhagen: The Booktrader.
Schadeberg, Jurgen, photographer 2007 Jazz, Blues and Swing Six Decades of Music in South Africa. Cape Town: David Philip.
Interviews by author
Count Attwell 20 September 2012 New Brighton.
Athol Fugard 13 January 2015 Nieu Bethesda.
Richard Hatana 13 November 2009 New Brighton (with Netsayi Butete).
Shirely Lineo Lebakeng 22 May 2009 New Brighton.
Vuyelwa Qwesha Luzipo 22 May 2009 New Brighton.
Howard Mabendeza 11 September 2012 New Brighton.
Philip Mbambaza 11 September 2012 New Brighton.
Nomzamo Mkuzo 22 May 2009 New Brighton (with Netsayi Butete).
Victor Miza 19 June 2009 New Brighton.
Thami Ngcwangu 4 September 2012 New Brighton.
Big T Ntsele 29 May 2009 New Brighton.
Patrick Pasha 27 August 2009 New Brighton.
K.T. Pemba 28 June 2010 New Brighton.
Dudley Tito 29 May 2009 New Brighton.
Derrek Xujwa 28 August 2012, 31 October 2012 New Brighton.
Lami Zokufa 29 May 2009 New Brighton.
Personal communication
Jonathan Eato 16 September 2018 email.
Patrick Pasha 9 October 2018 phone conversation. 12 October 2018 email.
Discography
Soul Jazzmen
1968 Mankunku Jazz Show: recorded live at the 'Y', Orlando. Compilation with Jazz Faces Quintet and Lionel Pillay Trio. Jazz Appreciation Society JLP 01, LP.
1969 Inhlupeko. City Special CYL1000. LP.
n.d. The Soul Jazzmen: New Brighton. SABC Transcriptions. CDT 2908 LT 21 898/9. LP.
n.d. Soul Jazzmen Black Slave: New Brighton. SABC Transcriptions. CDT6 LT 18 752/3. LP.
1976 The Michelangelo and Woolmark National Jazz Festival. Compilation with Jazz Ministers, Jazz Clan, The Soul Jazzmen, Drive, Jazz Resurrection, The Shange Brothers. Atlantic. Third Ear Music Production WEA Records. LP.
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Published
2018-11-22
How to Cite
Thram, Diane. 2018. “JAZZ IN SERVICE OF THE STRUGGLE: THE NEW BRIGHTON STORY”. African Music : Journal of the International Library of African Music 10 (4):67-102. https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v10i4.2234.
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