The living legend may have celebrated his 74th birthday a few weeks ago, but anyone who was at Pace University's Michael Schimmel Center knows that Hugh Masekela is still full of life! He is so alive on stage that I have often wondered what he must have been like in his younger days, or whether his fantastic stage presence is the result of decades of experience. It is probably a combination of both these things, along with the unmistakable and powerful sound that make him the phenomenal act that he is. On stage with Africa’s most influential Jazz musician was his equally dynamic band which included, Francis Fuster on the Conga, Fans Zulu on the bass, Randall Skippers on the piano, Lee-Roy Sauls on the drums, and Cameron Ward on guitar. For the duration of the show the outstanding Masekela was fully engaged with his instrument, his band, and a full audience, such that his energy filled the entire theater.
With a liveliness that had not yet been matched by the shy room, the elegantly dressed musician repeatedly yelled out “hello New York!” until he was satisfied with the audience's response. Once the crowd had loosened up a playful Masekela then proceeded to challenge the enthusiastic audience to sing along to his range of high and low notes. The successful audience was even able to sing in along in Zulu, leading an impressed Masekela to say “God you’re funky, are you sure you are not from Soweto?” I must say however that I suspect that the crowds perfect pronunciation and melodic skills can be attributed to the heavy fan base whose beautiful voices could be clearly heard singing along for most of the performance.
If you are lucky enough to have been to a Masekela concert, you know that you are really getting a two for one deal to say the least. It is not just about the music, it is an engaging experience that involves frequent exchange between the audience and the Jazz trumpeter who tends to introduce his music with childhood stories, life experiences, and plenty of jokes. Along with the moving sound of his trumpet and his voice, Masekela is one of the funniest, lighthearted, musicians I have ever had the pleasure of watching. When he mentioned Malawi during one of the crowd favorites “Stimela” (coal train) a woman in the audience excitedly yelled out “Malawi, Malawi!”, to which the hilarious musician teased her by saying, “this is not an immigration roll call”. The room was filled with laughter and it was during this particular song that, upon acknowledging my permanently smiling state, I realized that the dark room was shining with smiles and interchanging moments of either absolute silence, or singing. Blue tones dimly lit the stage where a stupendously talented Masekela used his voice to transform into a coal train. The truly powerful performance received a standing ovation that was only ended by the beginning the next song, Fela Kuti’s “Lady”.
As a tribute to Fela Kuti who inspired Hugh to explore afro-beat back in 1973, “Lady” was another crowd-pleaser. Every time that someone stopped dancing to sit down, it seemed as though they were quickly replaced by others in the audience. As can only be expected, the comical musician gave 100% going as far as to tippy-toe, sassily sway his hips from side to side, and soften his voice, taking on the essence of the lady he was singing about. It is such uninhibited playfulness that makes Masekela the vibrant and joyful spirit that can continuously entertain any demographic. After allowing the crowd to get up and really dance, he slowed down the pace down with “Bring him home” ; a song that became somewhat of a national anthem for South Africans during apartheid. The socially active musician shared some words of hope and prayer for those facing political hardship around the world, and also acknowledged South Africa’s 19th Freedom day anniversary this month. Although the perfornance called for a more pensive spirit, the audience was still alive and many could be heard singing along to the chorus. With a standing ovation from the obviously satisfied crowd Masekela and his band left the stage, marking the end of a spectacular performance. He did not given in to the calls for what would have been a second encore, however a smiling Masekela showed up in the lobby to sign autographs and meet with eager fans. Watching Hugh Masekela live is a joyous journey filled with remarkable music, dance, and laughter; a true blessing that all music lovers should experience in this lifetime.