Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Performer: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Joseph Shabalala, Mdeltshe Albert Mazibuko, Sibongiseni Lucas Shabalala, Thamsanqua Shabalala, Thulani Shabalala, Msizi Innocent Shabalala, Mpindela Abednego Mazibuko, Jockey Shabalala, Ndoda Russel Mthembu, Jabulane Dubazana (vocals). Recorded live at Royal Albert Hall, London, England in May 1999. LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. Personnel: Joseph Shabalala, Msizi Innocent Shabalala, Thulani Shabalala, Sibongiseni Lucas Shabalala, Thamsanqua Shabalala, Albert Mazibuko, Abednego Mazibuko, Russel Mthembu, Jabulane Dubazana (vocals). Audio Mixers: Joseph Shabalala; Mike Ross-Trevor. Recording information: Royal Albert Hall (05/1999). For more than 30 years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has carved out an impressive musical legacy, bringing the beauty of Zulu acapella, also known as iscathamiya, to a global stage (latterly with help of singer-songwriter Paul Simon). For its first live album, Ladysmith delivers a mesmerizing performance that's a testament to the power and richness of the human voice. Led by Joseph Shabalala, this 10-man outfit chants and harmonizes through a 12-song program predominantly made up of Shabalala originals. Among the themes touched on are love ("Hello My Baby," "Ngamthola"), spirituality, in "King of Kings" and "Ngothandaza NJalo (I Will Keep on Praying)," the weather, in "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain," and the back-breaking work of South African miners, in "Panshi Emigodini (Deep Down in the Mines)." Capping off this invigorating live experience is "Homeless," a goosebump-inducing number Shabalala co-wrote with Simon that also appears on GRACELAND.

CMJ (11/1/99, p.31) - "...shows the group's distinctive a cappella 'township' music remains as powerful and spiritually charged as ever....the results are sublime." Dirty Linen (4-5/00, p.76) - "...LBM's rich bass harmonies and soaring high end grace LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT, which bulges with a few of their signature songs....It is inspiring that people from a place of so much unhappiness (South Africa) can bring forth so much joy in their voices."

From the South African musical style mbube, Ladysmith Black Mambazo popularized a more modern, sophisticated offshoot known as iscathamiya. They quickly became the genre's leading practitioners, with a vocal harmony blend that incorporated everything from mbube to gospel and doo wop. The group began recording in the mid-1970s, gaining great acclaim in their home country, but it wasn't until their collaboration with Paul Simon on his GRACELAND album in 1986 that Ladysmith broke through to an international audience. World tours, a US major-label deal, and a Grammy award followed.

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