The first release from Blue Note Africa, the African branch of the legendary New York jazz label Blue Note. In The Spirit Of Ntu is the follow-up to
Modes Of Communication with which South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini debuted on Blue Note in 2020. Makhathini's music and thought process is deeply rooted in the Zulu culture of his ancestors. Ntu is their primal religion and stood
… at the foot of the peace-loving Ubuntu ideology that anti-apartheid activists like Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela professed. Makhathiniis' music draws heavily on African rhythms and spirituality. In The Spirit Of Ntu, for example, opens with the wild and almost 10 minutes of thundering spiritual trance music of Unonkanyamba. Too bad that this is simultaneously the highlight of the album. Beautiful are the soulful ballads with changing guest singers and Makhathini shows he is at home in free jazz and Coltrane-like avant-garde jazz. All equally tasteful, animated and virtuosic delivery, but it doesn't make one forget that great opening piece. (MR)more
