Echoes Of Marabi

‘Echoes of Marabi’ is an exciting new collaborative album between South Africa and Switzerland - two countries that continue to make beautiful music together. It features one of South Africa’s finest pianists and powerful voices, Yonela Mnana and the deeply insightful improvisations from Swiss saxophonist Benedikt Reising - celebrating their friendship and musical connection which stretches back many years. Their unique sound as a duo is layered with the dynamic voices of the Soultee Sisters from Katlehong, originally opera singers but on the album reshaped as a three part harmony group, adding layers of mood and atmosphere to the compositions.The album speaks to the present struggles in South Africa, but celebrates the past and strives for hope and resilience; hence the echoing of Marabi- referring to an early form of jazz and dance from the 1930s that emerged in the backyards of Johannesburg, characterised by elements of American jazz, ragtime and traditional African music. Musically, a feeling of blues and jazz from another time permeates this record, but played with an urgency and sound of now and today.