While listening to Who’s Got The Map?, the second album by pianist/composer Andile Yenana I have to admit that I know virtually nothing about the jazz scene in his homecountry South Africa. Sure, I know something about South Africa’s history under Botha, about the apartheid system and I’ve heard of some of South African’s musicians who were successful in Europe and the USA at that time like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba or Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Of course, there’s a vibrant jazz music scene in South Africa but hardly we get to hear one of these musicians due to an overall under-exposure in the music media which often focused on the USA. Another problem in the USA and Europe with South African music is mentioned by Damon Forbes, president of the South African label Sheer Sounds. “Europe and the US are still in the Makeba/ Masekela/ Mahlatini/ Johnny Clegg and Abdullah Ibrahim frame of mind.” he says. “There is very little interest in the new breed of musicians, something the exiles were able to overcome.”
Mel Puljic, head of Rerooted Media (the US arm of Sheer Sounds) adds “The change in political climate is at once a challenge and a huge weight removed from the artists’ shoulder. Obviously moving beyond apartheid is a wish come true for South Africa. Expression in SA, in music, in writing, and all the arts is much better off now. Unfortunately the booking business in the US is generally conservative - so we’re finding that artists who have emerged in the post-apartheid age are not finding many opportunities for performance in the US.” [cited from an article on allaboutjazz.com about jazz in South Africa, they have also published an interesting special]
On Who’s Got The Map Andile is supported by Sydney Mavudla (trumpet), Sydney Mnisi (alto, tenor saxophones), who also wrote two songs, Jimmy Mngwandi (double bass), Basi Mahlasela (percussion), Clemment Benny (drums) and Marobo Morojele (drums). And if this album and the tight sound Andile and his fellow musicians offer is an indicator of the quality and talent of the South African jazz community then we should expect great things in the future.
“My interest in jazz was triggered at a very early age,” Andile explains. “and I guess my soul was nurtured in my formative years by all forms of urban black music - Motown, Philadelphia, South African jazz, the blues, funk and gospel.”
Something that can be heard in his work recorded on Who’s Got The Map?, an album that’s nearer to late 60s/early 70s jazz than to afore-mentioned icons of South African music. Especially the hypnotic Sydney’s Etude 2 with percussion by Basi Mahlasela reminds me of songs from McCoy Tyner’s Asante and Cosmos albums.
The slow introspective Dream Walker would represent the blues here while the gospel element with its call and response is present throughout the album. Listen to the swinging Pedal Point, Sydney’s Etude or the funky Mr. Harris. Except for Andile’s solo on South Central and Pillar To Post (on which the other musicians only kick in the last 20 seconds) it’s all about communication here without putting oneself into the spotlight. “Jazz is an act of collaboration,” Andile asserts, “and improvisation and that’s why I love it so much I am creating with people.”
All in all Who’s Got The Map is a highly recommendable album for fans of traditional jazz and an inspiring start to discover South African jazz.

Tracklisting of Who’s Got The Map: 1. Pedal Point/ 2. Sydney’s Etude/ 3. Dream Walker/ 4. Rwanda/ 5. Umunyu/ 6. South Central/ 7. Mr. Harris/ 8. Flat No.22/ 9. Pillar To Post/ 10. Sydney’s Etude 2 | released 2005 Sheer Sound

For more infos visit sheer.co.za, 360entertainmentsa.com, cdbaby.com and All About Jazz’ Aouth African Jazz Special.

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