Hugh Masekela's Latest - Hugh Masekela (1967) (1LP Vinyl)

Hugh Masekela's Latest by Hugh Masekela.

Few records capture the restless, genre-blurring spirit of Hugh Masekela quite like "Hugh Masekela's Latest." Here the South African trumpeter steps confidently between soul, pop, samba, and the folk influences swirling through late-sixties American music, folding it all into a sound that is unmistakably his own. It is a record that refuses to sit still, and that is precisely its charm.

Masekela's presence anchors every corner of the set. His trumpet threads through the arrangements, warm and vocal in its phrasing, while his singing surfaces on a generous handful of tracks, including "Baby, Baby, Baby," the pointed "Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)," "Groove Me," "Thula," "I Just Wasn't Meant For These Times," and a tender reading of "Here, There And Everywhere." Hearing him move between horn and voice gives the album an intimate, conversational quality.

The side-one run is a lesson in range. "Lily The Fox" and "Mago" sit alongside the soul-leaning "Groove Me" and the gentle pull of "Thula," so that no two tracks arrive from quite the same direction. Flip to side two and the palette opens further, with the Brazilian-flavored "Arrastao" and "Reza (Laia Ladaia)" giving way to the closing "Mazeze," a fitting send-off that circles back to Masekela's African roots.

Behind the leader stands a deep and largely uncredited cast of players who bring these arrangements to life. The rhythm section leans on the bass work of Harold Dotson and Red Mitchell, with drums from Chuck Carter and Mike McGriff and the unmistakable congas of Big Black. Guitar duties fall to Barney Kessel and Roy Gaines, while Charlie Smalls and Hotep Cecil Barnard handle piano, Emil Richards colors the sessions on vibraphone, Al Abreu adds saxophone, and Wayne Henderson lends his trombone to the horn lines.

Production comes courtesy of Stewart Levine, Masekela's longtime collaborator, whose hand keeps this eclectic material cohesive and vivid. The recording itself passed through the ears of Alan Todd, Doc Siegel, and Stan Ross, and the results have a clarity and punch that let each of these voices register. The cover design is credited to George Whiteman, with photography by Jonathan Hayes and liner photography by Peter Whorf, rounding out a package that feels every bit a product of its moment.

For collectors chasing Masekela's most adventurous years, this U.S. pressing is a rewarding addition to the shelf. It documents an artist at his most curious, a trumpeter and singer willing to reach across continents and idioms in a single sitting, and it rewards repeat listening with new detail each time the needle drops.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Baby, Baby, Baby
A2. Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)
A3. Lily The Fox
A4. Groove Me
A5. Thula
A6. Mago
B1. Arrastao
B2. Reza (Laia Ladaia)
B3. I Just Wasn't Meant For These Times
B4. Here, There And Everywhere
B5. Mazeze

Credits:
Harold Dotson - Bass [Uncredited]
Red Mitchell - Bass [Uncredited]
Big Black (2) - Congas [Uncredited]
George Whiteman - Design [Cover Design]
Chuck Carter - Drums [Uncredited]
Mike McGriff - Drums [Uncredited]
Barney Kessel - Guitar [Uncredited]
Roy Gaines - Guitar [Uncredited]
Jonathan Hayes (2) - Photography By
Peter Whorf - Photography By [Liner]
Charlie Smalls - Piano [Uncredited]
Hotep Cecil Barnard - Piano [Uncredited]
Stewart Levine - Producer
Alan Todd (2) - Recorded By
Doc Siegel - Recorded By
Stan Ross - Recorded By
Al Abreu - Saxophone [Uncredited]
Wayne Henderson - Trombone [Uncredited]
Hugh Masekela - Trumpet [Uncredited]
Emil Richards - Vibraphone [Uncredited]
Hugh Masekela - Vocals [Uncredited] (A1, A2, A4, A5, B3, B4)

Notes:
Printed in U.S.A.

Artist: Hugh Masekela

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: UNI Records

Catalog Number: 73010

Release Year: 1967

Country: United States

Condition: Near Mint

sleeve: very good +