Music
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow
Stuart Morrison
five stars
AFTER Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s gig at the bandstand, featured multiple vocal harmonies at their very best, the nine members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo are right up there in the same league.
Formed in South Africa in 1960, they have been spreading the gospel of their culture across the globe ever since.World-wide acclaim came in 1986, when Paul Simon featured them on his multi-platinum album, Graceland and from that album, Homeless and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes were performed here. Most songs began with the bass before harmonies were layered and lead vocal duties shared by the three Shabalala brothers.
There were no instruments, other than voices, interspersed with the tongue clicks which are part of their native language. Language was no barrier here, because the subject matter of every song was explained first and accompanied by theatrical gestures which left no doubt as to what was happening. Another vital part of the performance was dance, with the group missing no opportunity to come forward and dance with an enthusiasm and sheer joy that prove infectious.
Some tracks were sung in English, including the Paul Simon's Tough Times, from their latest CD, and their closer, Amazing Grace. The impact of these voices, rich, soulful and uplifting, was hypnotic, but what will live long in the memory was the sight of the West End audience being tutored by Thulani Shabalala, to sing along in his language. "I told the guys you can sing better than us. They have Grammys and don’t think you can," he joked. Well, we tried, we really did.
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