Joyful Spiritual Jazz

I've used the term "life affirming" before and hope that it isn't turning into a personal cliche but it's difficult to always come up with a unique phrase amongst so many postings. What can't be doubted is that this music, the aptly titled Celebration by Bheki Mseleku, is joyful and life affirming. It was a surprise to realise that this disk is now almost 16 years old and the early nineties now seem something of a golden age for English jazz ( Bheki is South African but was London based at the time of this recording and the other musicians are from the London scene )It is mainly straight ahead modern jazz but with memorable themes. Apart from the sublime Closer To The Source ( with soprano sax contribution from Courtney Pine back in the days when he was still a serious musician ) the material doesn't have a particularly African feel. If anything, there are more latin influences similar to early Return To Forever, a feel enhanced by the flute of Eddie Parker. Mseleku plays both piano and tenor sax with equal facility. This album produced a deserved stir during one of those periodic spells when the music biz thought it could market jazz profitably. A South Bank Show was broadcast devoted to Bheki around this time. I'm not sure how his career now stands since his return to South Africa, he hasn't made the big international splash once anticipated but this is maybe my favourite jazz album, sacrilege though it may be to say that when set alongside all the American legends.