Spirit Of Africa

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Serengeti Plain of East Africa is regarded as one of the worlds most spectacular natural settings. Listen to the roar of the lions and marvel at the migration of wildebeests and zebras across this great expanse. Spirit of Africa is a safari guided by rhythmic music and the vibrant, authentic sounds of this celebrated wildlife refuge.

Spirit Of Africa,Dan Gibson,Ron Allen
The High & The Mighty
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The High & The Mighty
  • A Perfect Recording
The High & The Mighty
Richard Kaufman , London Symphony Orchestra , and (Soundtrack)
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Goodwin, RonGoodwin, Ron | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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  5. The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection

ASIN: B000BRD720
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Tracks:

  1. The High And The Mighty - Dimitri Tiomkin
  2. Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines - Ron Goodwin
  3. The Boy Who Could Fly - Bruce Broughton
  4. Spitfire - Sir William Walton
  5. Spitfire - Sir William Walton
  6. E.T. The Extraterrestrial - John Williams
  7. The Spirit Of St. Louis - Franz Waxman
  8. The Great Waldo Pepper - Henry Mancini
  9. Out Of Africa - John Barry
  10. 633 Squadron - Ron Goodwin
  11. Airplane! - Elmer Bernstein
  12. The Last Starfighter - Craig Safan
  13. The Tuskegee Airmen - Lee Holdridge
  14. Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Jerry Goldsmith
  15. A Century Of Flight - Brian Shyer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The High & The Mighty.......2007-07-20

Excellent music by London symphony. We used it during an airshow and it worked great! Very happy

5 out of 5 stars A Perfect Recording.......2005-12-03

At its best, film music aurally heightens the drama, pathos, passion, joy and emotional intensity of the visual experience. And when film music is artfully written and skillfully performed, it can create a magnificent aesthetic experience.

Richard Kaufman and the London Symphony Orchestra have created an album featuring some of film music's greatest moments, all of them related to flight. The title track, "The High and the Mighty" features a theme that literally soars, capturing the sweeping energy and pensive drama of the film. Bruce Broughton's "The Boy Who Could Fly" is a beautifully lyrical and tender work.

There are many great films about military flight and fliers, and this recording features some of the best music of the genre. One of the highlights of this album is the great Prelude and Fugue from "Spitfire" by Sir William Walton. One feels the tension and courage exhibited by the great pilots of the RAF. Ron Goodwin's "633 Squadron" and Craig Safan's "The Last Starfighter" are two significant contributions to the genre.

Some of the best loved music about flying is from comedies, and there is no funnier and more clever score than the one Elmer Bernstein created for "Airplane!" Featuring a choir that literally screams, this music is laugh-out-loud funny. With it's homage to John William, "Airplane!" is joined on this disc by one of the greatest pieces of "flying" music ever written - John Williams' brilliant Flying Theme from "E.T. The Extraterrestrial."

While the music itself is brilliant, the performance by Richard Kaufman and the London Symphony is breathtaking. This orchestra has a long history of performing the soundtracks for motion pictures, but this recording features performances that are, for the most part, even better than the originals. The brass plays with more richness and the strings with more finesse than can be heard in a movie theater.

Richard Kaufman has created a perfect album - a compilation of film music built around the theme of flight that covers every emotion, every nuance and every sensation of the genre - performed with more skill and passion than has ever been captured on a recording before. You have to hear this one!
No Boundaries
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Simply Amazing!
  • One world
  • Beautiful
  • Breathtaking!
  • Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
No Boundaries

Manufacturer: Heads Up
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Voices from Heaven
  2. Long Walk to Freedom
  3. Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela
  4. The Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
  5. Blessed

ASIN: B00070EBDK
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

  1. Jabulani-Rejoice
  2. Homeless
  3. Awu Wemadoda
  4. Amazing Grace
  5. Dona Nobis Pacem
  6. Ngingenwe Emoyeni (Wind Of The Spirit Of God)
  7. Umzuzu Nayi Ujesu
  8. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
  9. Sanctus (Heilig, Heilig, Heilig)
  10. Ave Verum Corpus
  11. Lifikile Ivangeli
  12. Walil' Umtwana (The Child Is Crying)

Amazon.com

Ladysmith Black Mambazo proved itself pliable enough when the a capella group was heavily featured on Paul Simon's Graceland. Other crossover collaborations have followed, but few work as seamlessly as this collection, which features old LBM songs, Zulu traditionals and European classical material done in collaboration with the English Chamber Orchestra. The rich vocal sound literally fuses with the classical musicians in much the same way as a classical choral group does. To its credit, the orchestra (and arranger Isak Roux) loosens up to fit the more oral/aural traditions of the singers--the music is less precise and reliant on virtuosity. The orchestra provides a particularly sympathetic counterpoint on the traditional "Awu Wemadoda" and is downright playful sounding on "Dona Nobis Pacem." Sounding as elegant and reverent, Ladysmith more than meets the orchestra halfway on the famous Bach choral piece "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring." Making borders and boundaries irrelevant, this is a work of startling beauty that couldn't be improved upon. --Tad Hendrickson

More Ladysmith Black Mambazo


Graceland

Gift of the Tortoise

Raise Your Spirit Higher

Journey of Dreams

Gospel Songs

Umthombo Wamanzi

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Simply Amazing!.......2007-02-12

I have been a fan of Ladysmith for many years and have a few of their albums but this is simply amazing! Music truly has no boundaries and they have used their God given talent to touch the lives of many people. It doesn't sound like it's possible, but they have really crossed many boundaries and this album is just another example of how far one can go if only they believe!

5 out of 5 stars One world.......2007-01-12

This CD has multipal messages, but the one that strikes me most is the juxtaposition of European "classical" and African "classical". The human soul is one and at the same time unique. That message comes through clearly, and as a bonus, the powerful messages that each track provides in both content and style must not be missed.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful.......2005-04-26

I had never heard of this group before and since I like to investigate different types of music, I decided to give it a try. I have truly enjoyed this CD. The more I listen, the more I like. I would highly recommend.

5 out of 5 stars Breathtaking! .......2005-02-11

When I first saw the album, I thought---what???? Traditionally, Ladysmith Black Mambazo sings acapella with the notable exceptions of the times they accompany Paul Simon. The group sings a beautiful, close harmony and uses vocalese techniques to provide the occasional percussive click or ululation. Still, the lineup was hard to resist.

"No Boundaries" is pretty amazing stuff, let me tell you. With the help of the English Chamber Orchestra directed by Ralph Gothoni, the two groups meet together on each other's common ground. Ladysmith sings traditional "Amazing Grace", Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" Schubert's "Sanctus." Then the orchestra gets into the African groove for music from South Africa.

Altogether a beautifully arranged, sung, and orchestrated work. If you are new to Ladysmith, this is a good CD to start. If you're an old fan, you'll definitely want "No Boundaries" to complete your collection.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful. Simply beautiful........2005-02-05

The collaboration between Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the English Chamber Orchestra cannot be improved. The sound that both ensembles make together truly is beautiful indeed, as the original Mambazo songs (of which includes "Jabulani (Rejoice)", "Lifikile Ivangeli (The Gospel Arrives)"), the Zulu traditional selections ("Awu Wemadoda (Hey, Man)", "Walil'Umntwana (The Child is Crying)") to the classicals "Dona Nobis Pacem", a joyous song in its own right, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Ave Verum Corpus". This album definately and distinctly proves that music has no boundaries. Mambazo founder and lead singer Joseph Shabalala and Orchestra conductor Ralf Gothoni (along with arranger Isak Roux) have brought to their many fans a selection of compelling and captivating tunes.
Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Highly recommended
  • Rising above all adversity, this album shines.
  • Raise Your Spirit Higher
  • Great CD
  • Ladysmith Black Mambazo is B A C K !!!!
Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Manufacturer: Heads Up
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
South AfricaSouth Africa | Africa | International | Styles | Music
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  1. The Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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ASIN: B00014X8AY
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Tracks:

  1. Wenyukela (Raise Your Spirit Higher)
  2. Uqinisil' Ubada (Lord Is The Light And Truth)
  3. Selingelethu Sonke
  4. Wangibambezela (Message From His Heart)
  5. Wenza Ngani? (How Did You Do That?)
  6. Udidekil' Umhlaba (Lord's Work)
  7. Iyahlonipha Lengane
  8. Wamlul' Umshado (Beautiful Wedding)
  9. Because I Love
  10. Black Is Beautiful
  11. Music Knows No Boundaries
  12. Fak' Ibhande (Don' Drink And Drive)
  13. Tribute

Amazon.com

It's been 17 years since Ladysmith Black Mambazo's gorgeous vocal harmonies poured the foundation for Paul Simon's landmark 1986 album Graceland, an album that catapulted the South African a cappella gospel group into the international consciousness and led to worldwide stardom, a Grammy, film soundtracks, and candy commercials. Fans of the group's intricately arranged vocal landscapes will be pleased to know that all that ensuing attention hasn't diluted the group's appeal. Their latest CD, Raise Your Spirit Higher, is as strong as anything the group has recorded in its now 30-year career. Ladysmith has always defined itself by merging Christian gospel music with a native South African musical tradition called isicathamiya, which was developed by mine workers who sang to entertain themselves after their grueling work. That tradition continues here, with several tracks like "Uqinisul' Ubada (Lord is the Light and Truth)" and "Udidekil' Umhlaba (Lord's Work)", devoted to Christian themes. Since the group sings in their native Zulu, however, Ladysmith's international appeal has always been in the stunning variety of sounds they are able to produce with their voices alone, and Raise Your Spirit Higher is no exception. The percussive clicking sounds on "Selingelethu Sonke" and Wangibambezela" are otherworldly, and the gorgeous call-and-response between leader Joseph Shabalala and the group on "Wenza Ngani?" shows that the group's polish hasn't lost anything since "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes." The most moving track on the album though, is the closing "Tribute", sung by Shabalala's grandsons in tribute to their grandmother, tragically murdered in 2002 during the recording of this album. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.......2005-05-30

This is a real 5 star disc - both sonically and musically.
A great fun to listen to.
There is a SACD version available.

5 out of 5 stars Rising above all adversity, this album shines........2004-12-11

The seed of creativity is often planted with the influences of adversity and oppression. As the individual is stricken by tragedy the fertilized seed sprouts; tapping internal strengths and consolidating them into an increasingly focused goal. From their South-African inception nearly four decades ago, Joseph Shabalala has grown Ladysmith Black Mambazo from a dream to a bicentennial Redwood, cathartically expressing his hardship and joys with each subsequent masterpiece. Shabalala's soul faced the ultimate test during the making of "Raise Your Spirit Higher (Wenkyukela)" released January 24, 2004. In the Spring of 2002, his wife Nellie of 30 years was murdered in a Church parking lot by a masked gunman. To date, no conviction has been made. Despite the overwhelming grief and angst that accompanies such a profound loss, Joseph has chosen to stay faithful to his beliefs and reiterates their universal messages of peace and love with this record. "At the time that this happened, I tried to take my mind deep into the spirit, because I know the truth is there," says Shabalala, "In my flesh, I might be angry, I might cry, I might suspect somebody. But when I took my mind into the spirit, the spirit told me to be calm and not to worry. Bad things happen, and the only thing to do is raise your spirit higher." He keeps his wife's spirit and memory alive to those who will listen, his being steadfast and faith unshaken. - All content copyright www.maximumink.com

5 out of 5 stars Raise Your Spirit Higher.......2004-10-07

Ladysmith Black Mambazo's latest CD does just that -- it raises your spirit higher. This CD was released during the tenth anniversary of the end of apartheid and is, in part, a celebration of a new era. The songs Selingelethu Sonke, Wenza Ngani and Black Is Beautiful, in particular, fit this celebratory theme. All of the thirteen songs are spiritually and socially conscious as well as uplifting. Many of the songs are sung in the Zulu language. Five songs are sung either in English or mostly in English. This group has an incredible ability to convey much needed sentiments and messages through their complex, beautiful a capella harmonies and gentle palillogy. They prove that music truly knows no boundaries. Don't miss the final track where Joseph Shabalala's grandsons sing a tribute to their late grandmother which they wrote in order to encourage him after her death. NGIYABATHANDA LABAFANA! I love these guys.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2004-02-14

This CD is one of the best that I have ever heard. The way that they sing really speaks to me. Hearing those harmonies run together to from a wall of sound that is like nothing that I have ever heard before, and it moves my soul to places that I thought were long ago killed. This CD is an uplifting event that everyone should take the time to purchase and enjoy for the rest of their lives.

5 out of 5 stars Ladysmith Black Mambazo is B A C K !!!!.......2004-02-07

Yes, LBM is back in full form. Somehow they "un-Simonized" themselves and have returned to what they do best -- Purely African, Zulu, impeccable acapella singing that cannot be more "purrrrfect." When I decided to collect this group's albums, I found myself disappointed as they seemed to stray more and more away from their roots. But now they have returned in full glory. The excellent engineering on the album augments the beauty of their soothing harmonies and gently pressing presentation. LBM, if you read this, I have a request: Please, do an album like this at least once every year!
Spirit Of Africa
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • African memories
  • Excellent backround music
  • Watch the Sunrise...
  • Spirit Of Africa
Spirit Of Africa

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
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  1. Explorer: Animals of Africa - Sounds of the Jungle, Plain & Bush
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  5. African Tapestries - Kusasa

ASIN: B00001X5B7
Release Date: 1996-07-01

Tracks:

  1. Pride Of Lions ( 6:07)
  2. Flamingo Feast (7:01)
  3. Fresh Water Marsh (7:21)
  4. Exodus (7:22)
  5. Wooded Retreat (6:12)
  6. The Elephants Arrive (6:24)
  7. Hippo Wallow (7:02)
  8. Night On The Serengeti (5:57)

Album Description

The Serengeti Plain of East Africa is regarded as one of the worlds most spectacular natural settings. Listen to the roar of the lions and marvel at the migration of wildebeests and zebras across this great expanse. Spirit of Africa is a safari guided by rhythmic music and the vibrant, authentic sounds of this celebrated wildlife refuge.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars African memories.......2007-01-13

I really love this CD. I had heard it at a friend's house and promptly went on the web to find it. The music is very soothing and evoccative of the animals that it represent. I had the good fortune to go Africa last year and this CD brings back wonderful memmories of the sights and sounds that I experienced. I'm not usually into animal sounds or sounds of nature music, but I must say that this one is really well done and makes you feel that you are there. Very spiritual.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent backround music.......2007-01-06

Great backround music for my Africa Safari DVD, and also for my Africa dinner party.

5 out of 5 stars Watch the Sunrise..........2001-06-10

There's a very special track on this album, called "Flamingo Feast"--or track number 2.

When I listen to this excellent piece of music and nature sounds I feel as if I'm in Eastern Africa, early in the morning, and observing a large flock of flamingos. There's mist in the air, and a special coolness, but warmth in the sky. Suddenly the sun begins to rise with the increasing rhythm of the music, and you are watching a visual feast!

This one track always makes me feel SO alive and yet, relaxed. I reccommend this album to anyone who dreams of going to Africa, but can't live up to it yet! You truly will get a sense of this land...and for a great price.

4 out of 5 stars Spirit Of Africa.......2000-08-30

Nice relaxing CD that leaves a person feeling happy and vibrant. The mix of animal sounds and rhythmic music gives the CD a really soothing yet inspiring quality. My two year old loves bopping to it.
Riverdance on Broadway
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Good for easy listening, not the thrilling stuff
  • A perfect supplement
  • Inspired, heartfelt and stunning!
  • A wonderful facelift for an enduring Celtic classic....
  • Extraordinary Album!
Riverdance on Broadway
Original Cast Recording
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Celtic New AgeCeltic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Riverdance: Music From The Show
  2. Michael Flatley's Lord Of The Dance
  3. The Best of Riverdance
  4. Roots of Riverdance
  5. Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames

ASIN: B00004SZVU
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Tracks:

  1. Reel Around The Sun
  2. The Heart's Cry
  3. The Countess Cathleen
  4. Caoineadh Cu Chulainn (Lament)
  5. Shivna
  6. Firedance
  7. At The Edge Of The World
  8. Slip Into Spring
  9. Riverdance
  10. American Wake (The Nova Scotia Set)
  11. Lift The Wings
  12. Amanzi
  13. I Will Set You Free
  14. Let Freedom Ring
  15. Macedonian Morning
  16. Marta's Dance/The Russian Dervish
  17. Ri Ra
  18. Endless Journey

Amazon.com

There have been moments when it seemed every shopping mall in the Western world had succumbed to Riverdance, when every speaker and video monitor in every store and public square was pulsing with the rhythmic Celtic beat of a score of vibrant young hoofers tapping fervently to fiddle and tin-whistle. The phenomenon has now gone Broadway, and composer Bill Whelan--who's done for his native Irish folk music what Freddie Mercury and Queen did for Italian opera--has raised the musical stakes considerably. Whelan's familiar, amped-up take on the Chieftains is supplemented here by harmonically brave a cappella refrains and even the fusion-minded use of Spanish guitar and flamenco rhythms. Whelan has written six new songs for this production, which features vocals by Brian Kennedy and Tsidii Le Loka (who has appeared in Broadway's The Lion King as Rafiki). The album thus presents the most comprehensive and up-to-date version of the evolving Riverdance phenomenon. Whelan is what many critics hate most--a consistent crowd pleaser. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Good for easy listening, not the thrilling stuff.......2005-02-11

What made me listen to riverdance in one word is, Thrilling.
And the rest of the good stuff attributed to something as famous as this one.
This CD lacks the thrill and excitment which Riverdance: Music From The Show [SOUNDTRACK] ASIN: B000005B2O this CD has, however this is a excellent CD for those audiance who love riverdance and usually go very easy on their ears, and not looking for riverdance to increase their heart rate 1 and a half the normal. I am very passionate about music, I said precisely "passionate". so this is not a good buy for me.

5 out of 5 stars A perfect supplement.......2004-11-28

Riverdance on Broadway shouldn't be considered a standalone album. It has wonderful music, and I liked all of the tracks, even those that had more of an African flavor. If you're a Riverdance fan, you need to pick this up- though don't forgo Music from the Show, as some tracks from MftS just wouldn't fit on RoB. Taken together, they are a wonderful aural experience.

5 out of 5 stars Inspired, heartfelt and stunning!.......2003-12-31

Alternately driving and lilting, energizing and haunting, this is music from the Broadway version of "Riverdance", which incorporates highlights of both the "Riverdance" touring show and its sequel, "American Wake". The taps and other percussive foot-pounding of the step dancers and flamenco dancers, an integral part of the livelier tunes, can be clearly heard along with the fiery instrumentals. Bill Whelan's Celtic-, African- and Spanish-inspired compositions are performed here by a variety of artists, including the choral group Anuna, the Riverdance Singers, the Amanzi Singers, fiddlers Maire Breatnach and Eileen Ivers, piper Davy Spillane, vocalists Brian Kennedy and Tsidii Le Loka, Bill Whelan on piano, percussionists Tommy Hayes, Desi Reynolds and Noel Eccles, and the Riverdance Orchestra, conducted by Proinnsias O'Duinn. Though the title "Riverdance" is conveniently memorable, I've never been particularly convinced by the attempt to connect these world-inspired performances to "rivers". However, the integration of music and "dance" in this theatrical masterpiece is obvious, exhiliarating and ingenious. Bravo!

5 out of 5 stars A wonderful facelift for an enduring Celtic classic...........2002-07-02

I bought into the Riverdance craze when it first came out, and I am the proud owner of the video, a T-shirt, a coffee table book, and the original soundtrack. When I'd heard that Bill Whelan had composed several new songs for the Riverdance on Broadway spectacle, I rushed out to buy it even though I already owned the Riverdance:Music from the Show soundtrack.

One of the most pleasing aspects for me was the addition of vocals by Brian Kennedy, a singer from Belfast with a voice of spun gold whose voice adds a remarkable dose of Irish pathos. I was familiar with some of Brian's other works: he was a backup singer with Van Morrison for several years, has appeared as a guest artist on at least a dozen albums, and recently recorded a beautiful track on the new Secret Garden release "Once In A Red Moon" titled "You Lift Me Up." His smooth, soulful voice is a much-needed lift to Riverdance favourites such as "Lift the Wings" and "Reel Around the Sun," and a driving force for the new songs (including "At the Edge of the World" and "Endless Journey"). Unfortunately, Brian is relatively unknown in North America and the majority of his albums are only available in the UK.

Also, Tsidii Le Loka (Rafiki in the Lion King on Broadway) is a spectacular regal presence that truly imparts a new African feel (most evident on the new song "Amanzi") to a tried-and-true show.

Other than the six new songs and the additions of two new singers, the album closely follows the Riverdance: Music from the Show formula. It is a foot-tapping blend of Celtic, flamenco, Eastern, and African, blending low whistles, accordion, Uillean pipes, fiddle and percussion, with performances by such notable musicians as Davy Spillane, Eileen Ivers, Tommy Hayes and Maire Breatnach. Riverdance on Broadway is perfect for Riverdance fans, stepdancers, and fans of Irish/ world music.

5 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Album!.......2001-07-28

I saw the show on Broadway and bought the album from Amazon. They sell the same album at the theater, but at a higher price. Hearing the album brings many of the scenes from the show back to memory. It was a great show for the family, and the recording reflects that. I suppose you would put it in the category of acoustic folk music, or some such.

The show I saw featured Athena Tergis on fiddle, although I don't believe she performed on this album. If you like this genre, you might consider her excellent album, Journey Begun, as well.
Spirit of Love
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Incredible rhythm section
  • Under-rated Album
  • An Essential Reggae Album
  • Majek is magic
Spirit of Love
Majek Fashek
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000008FIK
Release Date: 1991-08-20

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Incredible rhythm section.......2007-03-09

On this album Majek uses a rhythm section consisting of bass, lead talking drum, rhythm talking drum, drum set and hand percussion. That's 5 people, 4 drummers. They lay down a groove like I've never heard before or since. This is a benchmark recording for me as far as drumming goes, I can't say enough about it. I'll probably always have it around as a reference.

4 out of 5 stars Under-rated Album.......2005-12-13

I purchased this album in cassette format in 1996. I have to admit the Spirit of Love album has to be Majek Fashek's best work. A few of my favorite tracks from this album are "I'm not Tired", "I come from the Ghetto" and "Send down the rain". Also, Majek Beware" stands out on this album. If you are a Reggae music fan or a World Music fan get this one in any format available.

5 out of 5 stars An Essential Reggae Album.......2005-07-22

Shame to think this is out of print! One of the best reggae albums I have, and I have a lot. Not really reggae per se, but a great blend of reggae, rock and African Beats. There is indeed great spirit of love and feeling in this CD. Particularly wonderful are the title track, that can be listened to over and over again--moving. As well, Jah People and So Long are classics. I'm lucky to have an original CD. Get it if you can. Unfortunately Majek seems to have mainly disappeared, though he may be making a comeback.

5 out of 5 stars Majek is magic.......2005-03-24

This album is on its way to becoming a rare find. The first time I heard Majek was on the cable reggae channel. I heard the track "I'm Not Tired" and had to find this album. The music is great and his voice reminds me of Marley in the early seventies. Just beautiful music
Gnawa Music of Marrakesh: Night Spirit Masters
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Probably one of the finest CD's I own
  • Mystical, Timeless, and Heavy Duty!
  • Must Have
  • okay but fake
Gnawa Music of Marrakesh: Night Spirit Masters
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Axiom
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
MoroccoMorocco | Africa | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
AfricaAfrica | Compilations | International | Styles | Music
Middle East & North AfricaMiddle East & North Africa | Compilations | International | Styles | Music
1990s1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music
1990-19991990-1999 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000GAI
Release Date: 1991-09-24

Tracks:

  1. Baba L'Rouami - Mustapha Baqbou, Abdelhak Bou Naam, Said Oughassal, Mahjoub El Khalmouss, Ahmed Hamzaoui
  2. Mimoun Mamrba - Said Oughassal, Abdelqader Oughassal, Abelmar Bou Naam, Abderrahim Oughassal, Abdel Kbir Msolom, ...
  3. Tramin - Brahim El Belkani, Abbes Larfaoui, Mahjoub Jaffer
  4. Chabako - Abdelqader Oughassal, Said Oughassal, Abdelhak Bou Naam, Abderrahim Oughassal, Abdellatif Oughassal
  5. Moulay Abdellah Ben Hassaine/Moulay Brahim - Mustapha Baqbou, Ahmed Mamzaoi
  6. Toura Toura Tour Kelilah - Mustapha Baqbou, Abdel Kbir Mershan, Mahjoub El Khalmouss, Mbarrek Ben Othane
  7. Baniya - Abdelqader Oughassal, Said Oughassal Abdelhak Bou Naam, Aberrahim Oughassal, Samir Zougari, Abdel...
  8. Jillala - Mustapha Baqbou, Abdel Kbir Mershan, Mahjoub El Khalmouss, Mohammed Qrifli
  9. Said Fafy Drum Solo - Said Fafy, Said Oughassal
  10. Toura Toura Tour Kelilah #2 - Brahim El Belkani, Mahjoub Methoum, Rachid El Belkani
  11. Hamouda - Abdelqader Oughassal, Said Oughassal, Abdelhak Bou Naam, Aberrahim Oughassal, Samir Zougari, Abdel..

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Probably one of the finest CD's I own.......2006-03-22

If you like Gnawa music, I highly recommend this CD. It's a shame that it's out of print, but finding & purchasing a good used copy is well worth the trouble. I'm surprised that one reviwer said the music was tainted with "western"-ization; that's often one of my own complaints, but in this case I really don't see it as appropriate. Granted, I've never been to Morocco & heard the music 1st hand, but based on the other Gnawa albums I've heard, this seems quite authentic, not to mention superbly done. The songs are wonderfully performed, and the sound quality is excellent, way above par: the instruments and vocals sound clear and distinct, but not phoney or stiff -- there's no artificial reverb or compressed-sounding stuff going on. It just sounds like master Gnawa musicians performing traditional Gnawa music. This is certainly a gem in my CD collection, I'm really glad to have it.

5 out of 5 stars Mystical, Timeless, and Heavy Duty!.......2003-05-08

... Perhaps he is right. REAL Gnawa is played by peasants in huts in Morrocco with goats in the background. So if you can't go to Morrocco, I guess you're going to have to settle for an actual RECORDING of some Gnawa music.

If you are some kind of Touareg/"Berber" snob then this might disappoint you, unless you enjoy something called "dancing" or perhaps even "immersive musical experiences."

With tribal topics (such as ritualized circumcision) and masterful polyrhythms, you can feel the embers leaping around you as this album progresses. ...I've been crawling the net for months looking for this album. Up till now it was out of stock ... GET IT WHILE IT LASTS.

5 out of 5 stars Must Have.......2002-10-07

Don't listen to what the other reviewer said, this CD is amazing, it received 4 stars in Rolling Stone when it came out in '91. I've purchased multiple copies of this disc, it is the most likely CD I have along with Abbey Road and Tango Zero Hour to get stolen at parties. The recording is very clean by Hollywood audiofile Biily Yodelman . Just buy it, you'll love it.

2 out of 5 stars okay but fake.......1999-02-27

This CD represents a westerners wet dream look at Gnawa music. It has little to do with hardcore Gnawa
Spirit of Africa
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • rejuvenating
Spirit of Africa
Terry Oldfield
Manufacturer: New World Company
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
New AgeNew Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music | Ambient | Celtic | Environmental | General | International | Jazz | Meditation Music | Piano | World Dance
ASIN: B00004Y82P
Release Date: 1993-01-01

Tracks:

  1. March of a Thousand Days
  2. Ancestral Futures
  3. Long Way Home

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars rejuvenating.......2006-01-31

I enjoy this CD for the slow buildup of energy, which never really explodes but is very sustaining. It's great for lifting spirits but even better than that it is very grounding. It's like seeing the sunrise and feeling that everything is going to be alright.
Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Reference album for SACD systems
  • Terrific sound
Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Manufacturer: Heads Up
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
South AfricaSouth Africa | Africa | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00014X8BI
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Tracks:

  1. Wenyukela (Raise Your Spirit Higher)
  2. Uqinisil' Ubada (Lord Is the Light and Truth)
  3. Selingelethu Sonke
  4. Wangibambezela (Message from His Heart)
  5. Wenza Ngani? (How Did You Do That?)
  6. Udidekil' Umhlaba (Lord's Work)
  7. Iyahlonipha Lengane
  8. Wamlul' Umshado (Beautiful Wedding)
  9. Because I Love
  10. Black Is Beautiful
  11. Music Knows No Boundaries
  12. Fak' Ibhande (Don't Drink and Drive)
  13. Tribute

Amazon.com

It's been 17 years since Ladysmith Black Mambazo's gorgeous vocal harmonies poured the foundation for Paul Simon's landmark 1986 album Graceland, an album that catapulted the South African a cappella gospel group into the international consciousness and led to worldwide stardom, a Grammy, film soundtracks, and candy commercials. Fans of the group's intricately arranged vocal landscapes will be pleased to know that all that ensuing attention hasn't diluted the group's appeal. Their latest CD, Raise Your Spirit Higher, is as strong as anything the group has recorded in its now 30-year career. Ladysmith has always defined itself by merging Christian gospel music with a native South African musical tradition called isicathamiya, which was developed by mine workers who sang to entertain themselves after their grueling work. That tradition continues here, with several tracks like "Uqinisul' Ubada (Lord is the Light and Truth)" and "Udidekil' Umhlaba (Lord's Work)", devoted to Christian themes. Since the group sings in their native Zulu, however, Ladysmith's international appeal has always been in the stunning variety of sounds they are able to produce with their voices alone, and Raise Your Spirit Higher is no exception. The percussive clicking sounds on "Selingelethu Sonke" and Wangibambezela" are otherworldly, and the gorgeous call-and-response between leader Joseph Shabalala and the group on "Wenza Ngani?" shows that the group's polish hasn't lost anything since "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes." The most moving track on the album though, is the closing "Tribute", sung by Shabalala's grandsons in tribute to their grandmother, tragically murdered in 2002 during the recording of this album. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Reference album for SACD systems.......2004-12-31

Listeners whose home systems are fully equipped for SACD won't be disappointed in this album. "Raise Your Spirit Higher" and the final Ray Charles album, "Genius Loves Company," represent two recent album productions designed to be engineered in Direct Stream Digital with multichannel SACD in mind.

LBM's tight harmonies will soon have you totally immersed, then surprised as their unique solo vocalizations pop up from unexpected places in the room. If you've ever seen one of their concerts, this album will make you feel that they've come to your home to give you an encore!

5 out of 5 stars Terrific sound.......2004-05-08

Very pleasant, soothing vocals great sound quality, the multi-channel recording is wonderful if not kind of distracting because of the sounds and voices coming from various places around the room.
Zimbabwe Frontline, Vol. 2: Spirit of the Eagle
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Zimbabwe Frontline, Vol. 2: Spirit of the Eagle
    Patrick Mkwamba & The Four Brothers
    Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Africa | International | Styles | Music
    ZimbabweZimbabwe | Africa | International | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00008EQ78
    Release Date: 1990-10-25

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    1. Masvingo Netara - Robson Banda
    2. Ngoma Yekwedu - Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
    3. Vambozha Vauya
    4. Dzinomwa Muna Save - Robson Banda
    5. Mombe Yeumai
    6. Nyamutamba Ne Mombe - Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
    7. Tsiga Mureza - The Four Brothers
    8. Ndiani Apisa Moto - Nyami Nyami Sounds
    9. Wenhamo Ndewe Nhamo - Devera Ngwena, Jonah Moyo and the Devara Ngwena Jazz Band

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