Hugh Masekela - Homecoming Concert

Amazon.com

Jazz trumpet virtuoso Hugh Masekela was born in South Africa and first played in bands there before being exiled from his native land for more than 30 years. After achieving musical success and a following in the U.S., Masekela celebrated the downfall of apartheid by returning to South Africa and embarking on a triumphant concert tour. This DVD captures a joyous night on that tour, as Masekela performs before a joyous, dancing audience in Johannesburg. Backed by saxophone, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboards, and a multitude of drums and percussion instruments, Masekela unleashes inspiring trumpet solos. At one point, a troupe of South African vocalists takes the stage, and the heartfelt songs of freedom make it obvious that Masekela's shows were about much more than music. Masekela cheerfully sings along and seems to be making a profound connection with his homeland. Throughout the concert, a number of South African guest artists, both singers and dancers, share the stage with Masekela's brilliant band, making what begins as a jazz concert an ebullient sampler of native rhythms. The music is brilliant, and the lively performers and audience make this a concert that deserves to be seen. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

My very favorite DVD.......2003-10-30

A wonderful experience. Masekela fuses South African music with American Jazz and comes up with a magical transformation. I own this DVD and have watched it at least twice a month since I got it. The video is of the 1991 Sekunjalo("This is it") Masekela homecoming to South Africa. MoGe(aka Morris Goldberg) is excellent on sax and flute. If you are a Hugh Masekela or jazz fan, you will love this. I met Masekela at Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia this past year. He's still very active and touring at age sixty or so. I wish more people would have the chance to hear him live in concert. This DVD is the next best thing. Masekela conveys the richness of his South African musical heritage by fusing it with American jazz... and comes up with a unique musical experience that takes music to a new higher level. Listening to his music is an uplifting experience. Do yourself a favor, rent this one!

Great Music/Great Musicians/ Poor DVD.......2003-06-15

While the music on this DVD is great - Hugh Masekela on trumpet, Morris Goldberg on sax and pennywhistle, and a host of other South African musicians, singers, and dancers, this could have easily been a CD, rather than a DVD. The producers do not take advantage of what DVD has to offer. One of the reasons I buy DVDs are for the extra/bonus/backstory material that is usually included. This DVD has none of it.

Here is a man who is returning to his homeland after being exiled for nearly 30 years. Surely that is a very emotional event for him. That deserves, at the very least, some interviews and more video footage of his homecoming. We know that things have changed in South Africa in the last 30 years, it should be documented through Masekela's eyes and ears for this DVD. They could have included interviews with Masekela, with musicians he's played with, and other (younger) South African musicians who he's influenced all these years, even while in exile.

Five stars for the music and the musicians, but this is a waste of a DVD. Should have been a CD instead.

Avoid this horrendous digital transfer! Get the VHS..........2002-03-05

While this is a great VHS- (amazing sound) - the DVD version has increadibly awful audio (tinny, tons of hiss, echo, difficult to hear)! It sounds like someone dubbed it with a cheap portable stereo in front of a TV playing the VHS! Avoid the DVD edition- stick with the video. I do not know WHAT Shanachie was thinking with this one.

Masekela shines in his return home.......2000-08-21

South African musician Hugh Masekela returned home after a self imposed exile of thirty years but South Africans never forgot Masekela or his music. In this performance Hugh Masekela features some of the great musicians of South Africa, including the sax and penny whistle player Morris Goldberg, and moves the audience to tears with an emotional and inspiring performance closing with the new national anthem. A must for lovers of South African music, a must see for trumpet players, and a must see for anyone who has followed the struggle for freedom in South Africa.

DVD can do better.......2000-08-12

The first thing I will say is the sound is of very good quality. The music is enjoyable, the picture fine. I am really dissapointed in the lack of support for the extra abilities DVD has when it comes to music concert titles, and this DVD does little to change this. I want to be able to see it from multiple angles, get backstage footage, interviews, after party with the groupies etc etc. This DVD is fine, but come on, DVD deserves more.

DVD:

DVD

DVD