By j. poet | Published December 2021
Paul Simon introduced South Africa’s Bakithi Kumalo to American audiences when he hired him to play bass on his seminal Graceland album. Already a well-known session player in his home country, Kumalo joined Simon on the Graceland tour and soon became a sought-after sideman in the United States. He went on to add his distinctive sound to records by Cyndi Lauper, Grover Washington Jr., Mickey Hart and The Lion King soundtrack.
On What You Hear Is What You See, his sixth album as a leader, Kumalo collaborates with 31 musicians from across the jazz and world music spectrum. The arrangements present a fusion of the many sounds he’s explored in his career.
“Zululand Nation” opens with four percussionists playing crisp, intertwining rhythms to support Kumalo and Nonhlanhla Kheswa, as they sing a traditional African tune. As the vocals fade, pianist Oscar Williams and vibraphone player Christos Rafalides exchange high, sparkling arpeggios that complement Kumalo’s subtle bass line and Alex Silver’s saxophone solo.
What You Hear Is What You See: What You Hear Is What You See, Zululand Nation, Desert Walk, Nomvula, Let’s Be One, Happy Village, Electric Flow, Nice Day, Long Story Short, Peaceful Water. (46:53)
Personnel: Bakithi Kumalo, bass, vocals, piccolo bass, U-bass, keyboards, Aerophone, organ, kalimba, marimba programming, percussion; Tshila, voice; Maxfield Gast, flute, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, EWI, keyboards, chimes Aaron Rimbui, electric and acoustic piano; Omar Haddad, guitar; Nonhlanhla Kheswa, vocals; Alex Blade Silver, tenor saxophone, EWI; Oscar Williams II, piano; Joel Guzman, accordion; Christos Rafalides, vibraphone; Pablo Batista, Ilubache drum; Jason Kronick, drums; Antonio Sánchez: drums; Steven Kirsty, soprano and tenor Saxophones; Tim Motzer, guitar; Mike Pietrusko, drums, congas, percussion; Alyson Faith, vocals; William Smith, electric piano; Oz Noy, guitar; Poogie Bell, drums; Biodun Kuti, vocals, guitar, bass; Alex Blade Silver, tenor saxophone, EWI; Shawn Hennessey, Hadjira drum, Surdo drum, shakers; Dacia Gypsy, vocals; Jeremy Grenhart, Fender Rhodes, keyboards; Rodney Harris, drums; Steven Kirsty, tenor saxophone; Gregory McMullen, guitar; Patrick Graney, cajon, hand claps, tap dancing; Jamey Haddad, Hadjira drum; Diego Urcola, trumpet; William Smith II, electric piano; James Rouse, drums.
Ordering Info: ropeadope.com
