Special Star – Mango Groove

Mango Groove – Mango Groove

Lasting nearly 6 minutes, this Mango Groove track is a tribute to Spokes Mashiyane. Mashoyane is widely regarded as one of the greatest pennywhistle artists who infused the kwela sound of the 1950’s with joy and life. And this is a fine tribute indeed.

It starts out with a kind of boxer bout announcer telling us that ‘on the left side I have Spokes Mashiyane’. This then slips into a kind of introspective interlude where a soulful pennywhistle paints the backdrop to Spokes’ life, reflecting the difficulties black people faced in apartheid South Africa. Behind the pennywhistle, thunder-drums roll as a storm brews. But then, instead of a massive thunderstorm, the song tumbles into the sunshine of a bouncy kwela sound. Toe-tapping beats jump around while a pennywhistle flutters from colourful flower to colourful flower and a sax brings a playful frog croak to the scene.

Then just when you are getting into your bopping, the track takes an interlude. Claire Johnston’s beautiful voice comes in over a kind of hymn-like sound as she sings her paean to the ‘special star that shines/every evening in your eyes’. It is a bit like the moment in a party where they turn the music down so that you can give a short speech in praise of the person who you are celebrating. But you never want the speeches to go on for too long and you are soon up and partying again as the kwela comes bouncing back into the room. It is a statement saying that you cannot keep the spirit of this special star down.

Kwela is a uniquely South African sound which livened up the townships back in the day and took many outside of their misery for a few gorgeous hours. It was a special star that shone in the dark of many lives. ‘Special Star’ first appeared on Mango Groove’s 1989 eponymously titled debut album which came at a time when apartheid was unravelling and the track celebrates Spokes Mashiyane, who helped many get through to this pivotal moment in our history.

Where to find it:
Dance Sum More – Mange Groove (1997), EMI, CDEMCJ (WR) 5730

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Midnight Ska – Reggie Msomi’s Hollywood Jazz Band

Reggie Msomi

The word jaunty seems to have invented just to describe this song for it is a simple, saxophone-driven jaunty track. It has images of a besuited man strutting down the street, looking fine in his sharp threads, his shoes trying to outshine his smile. There is a  black and white film feel to this scene too as the music has a beat that makes this man walk slightly faster than one would in normal life.

As the man walks along, he sees friends whom he greets by doffing his trilby hat to them before bouncing off on his way. The word ‘midnight’ seems out of place in the title as there is too much sun shining in the song, but the word ‘ska’ fits perfectly with the track as there is an old-school ska mixed with jazz sound as Reggie’s sax squawks delightfully over a simple ska beat.

Reggie would write a good number of tracks for pennywhistle king, Spokes Mashiyane including ‘Phata Phata’ which Spokes recorded with Miriam Makeba. It is worth checking out other songs by Reggie (there are a good number to choose from on Youtube), but I keep coming back to this one. For me it’s the brightest, the bounciest and the one that puts the biggest smile on my face. It might also be because I love old-style ska.

Where to find it:
From Marabi To Disco – Various (1994), Gallo, CDZAC 61

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Ace Blues – Spokes Mashiyane

Ace Blues – Spokes Mashiyane

Born Johannes Mashiyane in Mamelodi, Spokes became a name synonymous with the pennywhistle kwela sound that emanated from the townships of South Africa in the 50s, 60s and even into the 70s. His life had simple beginnings, but he went on to be a special star in our culture and he did so by taking the simple pennywhistle and doing something special with it.

‘Ace Blues’ is just one example that showcases his prowess with the tool of his trade. A bouncing somewhat tinny guitar underpins the weaving magic of the pennywhistle with its bright and breezy sound. It takes one on a journey, skipping through the rural beauty of the land. And perhaps this was what gave the music its appeal as it took people out of the daily hardships of township lives and, just for a few brief moments, let them run free.

When it came to the pennywhistle, Mr Mashiyane was the ‘spokes’person (sorry) for the instrument and he let the instrument do the talking. It is small wonder the Mango Groove, years after Spokes’ death in 1972 included the song ‘Special Star’, a dedication to Spokes, on their debut album. Spokes and his pennywhistle is an integral part of South African music history and it there was a South African Hall of Fame, he would undoubtedly have been inducted into it.

Where to find it:
King Kwela – Spokes Mashiyane (1991), Gallo records, CDZAC50

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