Philip Tabane and Malombo

In this special edition of Folkwave, Ed Haber is joined in the studio by Philip Tabane and Malombo for a live performance and a conversation about the new album Unh!, released on Nonesuch subsidiary label Icon Records. The group is based in Mamelodi, Pretoria and led by the multi-instrumentalist Philip Tabane.

Tabane was born in Riverside, Pretoria in 1934, and is one of South Africa's most respected and innovative jazz guitarists and band leaders. Active since the early sixties, when he and two friends formed a jazz trio at a young age, he has toured internationally but remains based in his home country. Mr. Tabane is also the recipient of the South Africa Music Awards (SAMA) Lifetime Achievement Prize and in 1998 was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Philosophy of Music from the University of Venda.

Initially operating as The Malombo Jazz Men with Abbey Cindi (flute) and Julian Bahula (percussion) in the 1960's, the group evolved into Malombo, with Tabane enlisting (and training) a succession of musicians, including Mabi Thobejane.

Malombo is one of South Africa's longest standing groups, and has helped shape and inspire the musical careers of many. Made up of Oupa Monareng, Raymond Motau (both of whom joined Philip in 1976), and Tabane, Malombo has a synergy and communication rarely found and experienced by few outfits. Listen for yourself, as the trio treated us to a mesmerizing live performance in the WNYC studio.

WNYC archives id: 213123