Jimmy Dludlu: "Afrocentric"

John and I recently returned from a trip to Cape Town, South Africa. I was running a week's worth of training classes there, and John went with me on his first-ever trip to that part of Africa. (If you'd like to see his collection of Cape Town photos, take a look at his Smugmug gallery.)

I didn't have much shopping time, and the staff at the big CD shop at the V&A Waterfront were too busy to be especially helpful. But when we got to the Cape Town airport for our return flight to Heathrow, I stopped in the little CD shop there in the international departure terminal.

I've been to Cape Town every year since 2003, each time during the winter south of the equator. And every time I'm there, I've shopped in that very same airport CD shop on the way home. The young Australian man working there has recommended some very interesting music to me each time I've gone in.

This year, one of his recommendations was Jimmy Dludlu. I knew nothing at all about him before this trip. I've brought home his 2002 CD "Afrocentric". It's absolutely terrific!

Dludlu is known as an Afro-Jazz artist. His guitar sound and musical style reminds me of George Benson and Wes Montgomery. His influences are clearly African, but the label "smooth jazz" would fit -- but it's smooth with a definite edge. I can already tell you that this is going to become a favorite CD of mine.

Here's a review of "Afrocentric".

If you like the above-mentioned guitarists -- or Earl Klugh, Peter White, etc. -- I think you'd appreciate "Afrocentric". If you can get hold of a copy! In the UK, it's available via Amazon. But I'm not sure that my American readers will be so lucky.

Janet