James Brown said, "Get up offa that thing. Dance and you'll feel better." Duke Ellington put it this way -- "It don't mean an thing, if it ain't got that swing." These giants were reminding us, of course, that music is food for the soul.
My soul feasted, tonight, on the banquet created by two great South African musicians, Vusi Mahlasela and Mongezi Ntaka. Thank you, gents. Because of you, a rough day ended very, very well.
Vusi Mahlasela and Mongezi Ntaka, Charlottesville, Virginia, 20 February 2011.
It would be wrong of me to keep Vusi and Mongezi to myself. Here's a terrific video of Vusi performing "Woza," one of his best known songs, as a solo act.
Vusi Mahlasela, "Woza."
I've seen Vusi in concert six or seven times, once or twice by himself. I've been there when he and his guitar -- without a back-up band -- got a audience of 250 people out of their seats and dancing. Maybe he'll do it for you. Tonight, he and Mongezi sure enough rocked the house, in my hometown.
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