Zim’s passing was a massive blow. He was arguably the most important contemporary figure in South African Jazz. The loss of a great artist like Mr. Ngqawana is twofold – first one laments simply the absence, the fact that a magnificent presence is no longer among us; secondly one mourns the fact that no new work will be produced in his signature. Anthology of Zimology Vol.1 offers brief but bright relief from the latter loss. The first of a series envisaged by Ngqawana, the music spanning ‘Anthology’s two disks is arranged to emulate the arc of a concert performance – from hushed opening to rapturous finale’. What makes the release priceless is that it reveals how key compositions like Qula, Biological Warfare and Migrant Workers – familiar from the lush, polished biomes of his studio albums – have evolved into new creatures through years of live performance. Zim is in full flight here, crackling with energy and invention. A must-have for anyone who likes their Jazz potent and bristling.
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