Jazz Notes: Don Laka’s ‘Afro Chopin’ is a fantastic music expedition

 Don Laka [Photo: Courtesy]

Dona Laka’s Afro Chopin is a broad and daring musical expedition that’s also a first by an African artiste.

In this outing, he has applied his imaginations to fuse African rhythmic sensibilities with European classical music and takes the listener on a musical voyage.

In a very daring move – musically speaking, that is – Afro Chopin, which was released on May 17, 2015, features Laka’s own compositions merged with the works of the great Polish classical pianist, composer and arranger, Frederic Francois Chopin.

The CD features tracks such as Etude No.3 - Big Mountain, Prelude No.20 – Izulu, Waltz in A Flat Major - I Sing for You, Prelude No 1 – Hope, Nocturne In F Minor Oh - Such a Beautiful Place, and Mazurka in F# Minor – Dusty Streets, among others.

In this recording, the remarkable Laka, just like Chopin, who more than 200 years ago was inspired by female voices in his compositions, also brings in the spirit of celebrated South African singers like Dorothy Masuka and the late Miriam Makeba, whose singing styles were soulfully distinct and has always inspired Laka.

This recording features South African jazz musicians: Julius Nkuna on percussions; Rob Watson and Selo Montoedi on drums; Percy Mbonani and Aiyo Solanke on tenor and soprano saxophones; Pat Mokoka on bass; and Oupa Makhubela on guitar.

Afro Chopin follows in the footsteps of some of the greatest jazz musicians who have incorporated classical music in their jazz recordings.

The self-taught pianist, who studied classical guitar during his school days, is regarded as a visionary in music.

In his almost endless endeavours to promote jazz music, Laka has teamed-up with both contemporaries and younger artistes to create a unique style known in South Africa as the Kwaai-jazz: a fusion of traditional kwela and marabi, soul, jazz and classical music.

This new style, he believes, would make jazz music more accessible to a wider audience.

Donald Mahwetsa Laka was born on December 15, 1958 in Mamelodi, near Pretoria. The first born in a family of five, he formed his first band in 1969 and made his first recording in 1972, featuring, among others, Ray Phiri on guitar.

 Phiri is a founder member of one of South Africa’s most popular bands, Stimela. He was also featured on American Paul Simon’s hit-album, Graceland.

He enrolled at the Royal School of Music, England, and earned a Grade 8 Diploma in Classical Guitar and started teaching music in high school in 1979.

He would have pursued further music studies but because of the then apartheid laws in South Africa, he was prevented from enrolling in the Pretoria Conservatoire.

In 1980, he joined the Afro-fusion band, Sakhile, formed by the late bassist Sipho Gumede and saxophonist Khaya Mahlangu, and quit in 1981 to work as a session musician.

He later performed with popular stars such as the late Brenda Fassie and Joy, and bands such as Sankomota, Bayete, and Umoja, with whom he recorded.

In 1990, Laka ventured into writing orchestral arrangements for jazz singer Sibongile Khumalo, who performed his songs with the National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa.

In 1991, he performed and produced for South Africa’s top recording artistes like Yvonne Chaka Chaka, gospel singer Rebecca Malope, Johnny Clegg, and Mango Groove.

With more than eight albums as a leader, Laka’s CDs include five highly acclaimed recordings: Pyramid, Supernova, Paradise, Destiny, and Poison. Each one has sold more than 100,000 copies.

The pianist’s artistic imprints can also be traced on fellow South African and world-renowned jazz musician Hugh Masekela’s albums: Sixty, Black to The Future, and Jabulani, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2013 for the Best World Music CD.

In addition to producing the trumpeter’s masterpieces, he was also featured on the piano. The trumpeter must have recognized long time ago the Don Laka’s talents.

Afro Chopin is undoubtedly Don Laka’s most challenging project so far. This album attests to the fact inspirations and influences, like any other art forms, know no boundaries.

And after mulling over this project for a long time, Laka finally came out to intelligently fuse his African musical roots with Frederic Chopin’s to create a wonderfully delicious medley of music.