{"title":"Mike Makhalemele","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMike Makhalemele is a South African musician known for his exceptional talent and passion for music. With a career spanning over [number] years, he has established himself as one of the most influential artists in the industry. Mike's unique style blends traditional South African rhythms with contemporary sounds, creating a captivating musical experience. His soulful vocals and masterful guitar skills have earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base worldwide. Whether performing live or recording in the studio, Mike's commitment to his craft shines through in every note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout his career, Mike Makhalemele has collaborated with renowned musicians from various genres, further expanding his artistic horizons. He has released several successful albums that showcase his versatility as an artist and highlight his ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. From upbeat anthems to heartfelt ballads, each song carries its own story and resonates deeply with listeners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond his musical achievements, Mike is also actively involved in philanthropic efforts aimed at supporting aspiring musicians and promoting cultural diversity within the industry. Through workshops and mentorship programs, he shares his knowledge and experiences to inspire the next generation of talented artists.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-peacemaker-2","title":"The Peacemaker","description":"\u003cp\u003eHailing from Alexandra and nicknamed \"Ratau\" (meaning \"lion\"), saxophonist Mike Makhalemele (1938-2000) was a force of nature with a robust yet soulful tone and seemingly endless breath. He embraced the pop music scene as an enthusiastic collaborator and staked his territory at the intersection of township grooves with modern currents in soul, funk and disco. As a solo artist, he delivered a formidable run of albums in the 1970s that that made him the most prolific recording artist in South African jazz during this era.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst issued in 1975 by the maverick independent label Jo'Burg Records, his debut \u003ci\u003eThe Peacemaker \u003c\/i\u003ewas a tour de force that introduced Makhalemele's heavyweight sax prowess (deftly accompanied by Jabu Nkosi on keys and Sipho Gumede on bass) while showcasing his innovative approach as a composer and arranger. To mark the arrival of a new saxophone colossus, the album's profile portrait cover boldly evoked the iconic Yakhal' Inkomo by the Mankunku Quartet from 1969. Mike Makhalemele and Winston Mankunku Ngozi would go on to share the spotlight on a collaborative release entitled The Bull and the Lion in 1976.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"We Are Busy Bodies","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50488952029515,"sku":"2080897","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0634457143173_dc831282_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1727634054"},{"product_id":"the-bull-and-the-lion-2","title":"The Bull And The Lion","description":"\u003cp\u003eBringing together Johannesburg's two saxophone titans for a supergroup recording project was a visionary move by Jo'Burg Records in 1976. Following the success of Makhalemele's debut The Peacemaker and Mankunku's long-awaited sophomore release Alex Express, which both appeared in 1975, the bar had been set very high. Enamoured by their jazz contemporaries, the session was concocted by members of an exciting new South African rock group called Rabbit, who formed a backing group consisting of guitarist Trevor Rabin, bassist Ronnie Robot and drummer Neil Cloud alongside jazz pianist Tete Mbambisa.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecorded at the state-of-the-art Satbel Music Recording Studios, the inspired performances of this diverse cast of young South African artists at the height of their powers was captured with exquisite fidelity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePackaged as The Bull and the Lion, the album title references Mankunku's signature composition \"Yakhal' Inkomo\" (which means \"the bellow of the bull\") and Makhalemele's stage name \"Ratau\" (meaning \"lion\"). The pairing of Mankunku and Makhalemele stands with Moeketsi\/Matshikisa and Pillay\/Coetzee as one of the epic collaborations of South African jazz in the 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"We Are Busy Bodies","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50488952848715,"sku":"2080896","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0634457143180_6aa15cc9_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1727634077"},{"product_id":"kabuzela","title":"Kabuzela","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘The great South African tenorist Mike Makhamalele was a graduate of the key early-seventies group The Drive (alongside Bheki Mseleku and Kaya Mahlangu); and a mainstay of the scene centred on the Pelican nightclub in Soweto. From 1975, he began to record under his own name, developing a sophisticated fusion sound in a musical lane which few of his contemporaries were travelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlways attuned to other global fashions in Black dance and pop music, under numerous studio aliases he cut 45rpm covers of Fela’s Shakara and the Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight; and in 1979 he entered the Gallo studios with producer Peter Ceronio to respond to the ascendant sound of disco. Named after a township dance craze, Kabuzela was the result: four extended tracks of bouncing, upful disco jazz. Perfectly calibrated for dancing, heavy on the bass and drums, the album is set off by a gleaming centre piece, Disco Freaks — a joyous paean to the weekend and true lost gem of global disco, perfect for the most discerning dancefloors.’\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Outernational Sounds","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50490339492171,"sku":"2002709","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Kabuzela_14b9aa23_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727658902"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_5c68b2e7_thumbnail_4096_1323ae84-c7bf-4ebc-b5d9-ba374925dc20.jpg?v=1727634035","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/mike-makhalemele.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}