ArtistInfo

Gideon "Mgibe" Nxumalo
Early-Mart

Album ZA 1970 on Soultown label
Jazz (Cape Jazz)

Two days after Mrs. Johanna Mabuza died, Wednesday February 11th, 1970, I get a call from Rashid Vally, APR man for soultown to attend a recording session at the Ster Studios, east of Johannesburg that night. I get to the studio about 7.50 p.m. and find Rashid and old friend Ray Nkwe playing the waiting game. Two of the 14-piece band for the date were missing! Conductor and composer, Gideon Nxumalo, had gone out to find a drummer to complete the ensemble. Says Ray to me: "Gideon had simply to go to Soweto to find a drummer as the percussion part in his numbers - a tribute to Early Mabuza, the drummer - is mighty important." I stepped into the studio to find the boys foolin' around. Several were going over the music to get the feel. Flautist Dennis Nene spoofed around the drums. We waited! 9.05 p.m. a tired Gideon walks in towing a big-name drummer who carried a couple of cymbals. There were sighs of relief all round. Engineer Trevor Evans sprang around setting up his gadgets and we were ready for the session. And what an experience! "Mgibe" jerked himself up, piled through a couple of manuscripts and deliberately took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one and placed it on the upturned lid of a polish container. He spoke softly to the musicians, drawing their attention to the salient points of his music. He signalled for silence, did a silent count, hands outstretched, then he plunked on his seat brushing the keys softly as he played at all at once. Spirals of smoke from his cigarette on the baby grand formed soft patterns against the black background of the studio curtains. And we were underway. Muffled, rolling drums working up to a crescendo and then mellowing once more as the strains of a flute filter through depicting a South African dawn with lances of the sun's rays trying to break through the horizon. Tempos change, two-four, three-four, six-eight... and the horns bark! The reeds answer, an exciting alto, a thrilling trombone... and it is suddenly day! Up-tempo rhythms and it's all groovy as the band swings. Exciting solos emanate but those thrilling drums envelope everything, demanding attention, pleading for a hearing. The sound is African, modern, avant garde. All of a sudden the tempo is brought back-to reality... slow, moanful and sad. And then it's all over... a fine tribute to the great drummer who played his last bar in January, 1970. The line-up doesn't matter. Let's just say these were buddies who wanted to contribute something to Early and Martin - IN STYLE! Leslie B. Sehume He Came Early He Died Early... The Birds whose wings Beat a steady rhythm. His skies were the streets Of Sopiatown, Soweto, anywhere... Muddy, Noisy, dirty, dark! Yet, he flew on and on. They heard him in Soweto, They dug him in the Cape. They saw him in Vrystaat, They loved him in Natal. The satge was his launching pad, The radio, his ears. The long-play, his pleasure, The people, his treasure. No more his song, No more his throbbing. Yes! The Early Bird is no more, But his rhythm lives on.

Musicians

	Gideon "Mgibe" Nxumalo p, arranged by, composed by, album by
	Valley Ngwenya baritone saxophone
	Morris Mnana bass
	Gordon Mfandu dr, drums
	Dennis Nene ts, flute
	Allen Kwela g, guitar
	Mackay Davashe ts, 1920-1972 ZA tenor saxophone
	Malindi Blyth Mbityana tb, trombone
	Dennis Mpale tr, trumpet
	Johnny Selilo trumpet
	Kleintjie Rubushe trumpet

Producers

Composers

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