MOUNTAIN RECORDS
NEW RELEASES 2003:

The Hilton Schilder Group – No Turning Back

A collection of personal works dedicated mostly to his family and linked to the Cape Jazz theme. Features Hilton on a number of instruments but highlighting his substantial talents as a pianist and composer. Members of the Sons of Table Mountain group, notably Robbie Jansen, join Hilton. The songs range from Jazz/Rock to Ethno Ambient. The album received a SAMA nomination as best Contemporary Jazz album of the year.. Released April 2003.
CDMOU 4376.

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Dizu Plaatjies – Ibuyambo

This album comes after almost 20 years of performing African music. The solo debut from former leader and founder of Amampondo, is a musical journey through Sub-Saharan countries, blending the instruments and melodies of these lands with new lyrics and arrangements. A fine collection of recordings of rare or lesser-known instruments. There are no electronic instruments or computer sampled sounds on the recordings. Dizu introduces each piece giving the listener an insight into each song. Released September 2003. CDAM 4379.

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MOUNTAIN RECORDS
THE CATALOGUE 2003:

Jonathan Butler – 7th Avenue


Perhaps Jonathan’s most important early recordings made in South Africa before embarking on his international career. Re-mastered, this 15 track retrospective includes most of the tracks produced by Hendrik Lebona for the original 7th Ave. Also there is, Crossroads, a sequel to the title track. Mostly instrumental material featuring Jonathan on acoustic and electric guitars. Shows Butler at his best in afro-jazz mode. Released October 2002
MOU4355

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Coenie de Villiers – Skoppensboer


Coenies debut album for Mountain Records, recorded in 1983. Re-mastered with great care and with bonus material. Considered by many at the time of release to be too socially critical and musically too adventurous. It has stood the test of time. Recorded by master engineer Kevin Shirley in Cape Town, then also starting out his career. The album contains the track “Karoonag” now this artist’s signature tune. Released September 2002
MOU4359

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Robbie Jansen - The Cape Doctor

This is the second solo album by saxman and bandleader Robbie Jansen who is one of the masters of Cape Jazz. As with the debut album this is produced by Patrick Lee Thorp. The tracks recorded are an extension of the journey begun by Jansen on his Vastrap Island album, inspired by his cultural roots but still contemporary in musical approach. Jansen uses members of his regular band, The Sons of Table Mountain, Hilton Schilder, Jack Momple, and Steven Erasmus in these recordings. Released in South Africa in June and in Europe in August. MOU7516 - 2000

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Pacific Express - Anthology Part 2.

The second part of the 2 CD set tracing the music of these Jazz/Rock stars of the Cape Flats. The band recorded 3 LPs, On Time, Expressions and Black Fire. Almost everything recorded by this group was self penned. Some of the masters did not survive but those that did are documented in these two re-issues. Not originally on the Mountain label the tapes were salvaged by the label's owner, Patrick Lee Thorp who acted as manager and co-producer of the band. As with Part 1. the tracks were the subject of a major sound rebuild. MOU7514

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Various South African Artists - Radio/Club 2000

This CD has been put together to provide radio programmers and DJs with material from a number of albums released in 2000 on the Mountain label. This was officially issued to media in South Africa to co-incide with SA Music Week in Aug/Sept. It also has 3 re-worked tracks from artists associated with the label by distribution or publishing ties. The artists on the CD are Audrey Motaung, Pacific Express, Makwerhu, Robbie Jansen, Lesley Rae Dowling, Zayn Adam and Monwabisi Sabani. None of the versions of the songs on this CD are available on other releases. MOU7517 - 2000

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AUDREY MOTAUNG - THE BEST OF...
This is the 4th album from this artist on the Mountain label and it traces a decade of work in three main musical directions ( afrorock, jazz and gospel). There are 15 cuts on the CD. Fully re-mastered, this gem also includes 2 new songs done in a modern dance style. Audrey is a talented and versatile singer and composer as well as a dynamic live performer. Though resident in Hamburg Germany, a constant theme in her work is her country of birth, South Africa. MOU 4260 - 2000

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Pacific Express, Anthology Part 1.

 This highly individual group made substantial waves in the 70s and 80s doing funk, jazz and rock. Based in Cape Town but with a reputation and tour schedule that spanned the whole of southern Africa. They performed mostly original compositions and recorded virtually only works by group members. This first of a two part re-issue features such names and Jonathan Butler and Chris Schilder amongst others. The tracks were the subject of a major sound rebuild and sound as good as when first issued.

MOU7513 1999/2000

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Cape Jazz 2 - Various jazz artists:
A second collection of musicians from Cape Town playing jazz influenced by the traditional music of the Cape, South Africa. This features, Basil Coetzee, Winston Mankunku, Merton Barrow, and others. Most of the tracks were recorded specifically for this album and represent the contributor's view of this unique jazz genre. MOU75022. - 1998

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Cape Jazz 1 - Various Cape artists:

A definitive compilation reflecting on 10 years of the label's involvement in jazz from the Cape. All of the tracks were taken from albums recorded for the Mountain label and represent for the first time the jazz sub-genre, Cape Jazz. Musicians featured are Robbie Jansen, Basil Coetzee, Tony Schilder, Jonathan Butler, Morris Goldberg, and more. This album garnered a great deal of international media interest and established Cape Jazz and Mountain in the World Music scene. MOU742 - 1994

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Amampondo - Inyama:
The 5th album by one of Africa's premier traditional music groups. These marimba players, drummers and dancers take their inspiration from their African tribal roots in Natal/Eastern Cape of S Africa. This is the group's second studio album. It features works played mostly on handmade wooden marimbas though a number of other rare African instruments are also featured. All sung in the Xhosa language with humerous and social themes. The booklet contains interesting commentry by a close associate. AM302 - 1997

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Basil Coetzee - B:
The third solo album from tenor saxophone giant of Cape Jazz. Basil was an important cultural figure in the Cape until his death in March 1998. This album contains some of his best work and includes contributions from players who worked with him for many years. Coetzee rose to prominence in the jazz scene as part of the Dollar Brand group in the late 70s. He recorded extensively with Brand (Abdullah Ebrahim) and toured with him on many occasions. Coetzee took his lead from Ebrahim who is perhaps the best known 'master of jazz' from the Cape. MOU7522 - 1998/9

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Jean Bosco Mwenda - Mwenda Wa Bayeke:
Legendary singer and exponent of African guitar, from Lubambashi, Zaire, recorded this his last album in Cape Town. Bosco is credited as one of the originators of the Shaba sound that kept the central African copper mining belt dancing and drinking through the 60s and 70s. Mostly sung in Swahili though also his native tongue. The album features solo performances of his classic songs including Masanga. Bosco was killed in a car crash shortly after the recording of this record. MOU762 - 1996.

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Audrey Motaung - Light:

Exiled South African female vocalist from the Pietersburg area in the Northern part of S Africa, who settled in Hamburg, Germany in the mid-70s , recorded this collection of Gospel and spiritual songs. Motaung is a community leader who often performs and teaches young singers in the gospel scene in Germany. This album shows one side of this modest artist who has a wide ranging interest in black music from rock to the blues. MOU41792 - 1996

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Amampondo & The Solid Brass - Intsholo:

A meeting of orchestral brass and marimbas from Amampondo and the Cape Town City Brass Quintet. Africa meets Europe. Includes a fine version of the South African national anthem 'Nkosi sikelele iAfrika' plus arrangements for brass and African percussion of both original and African popular songs. AM282 - 1996

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Tony Schilder - Trio:

One of the Cape's foremost band leaders and pianists features some of his early songs produced by Jonathan Butler as well as a handful of newer recordings. Tony comes from the famous Schilder family which produced three generations of jazz musicians. Widely recognised for his 'Cape cocktail' jazz, this is Tony's solo only album, though he features on many recordings by other South African performers. SEA41802 - 1996

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Zayn Adam - Soul Spirit:

A tribute by former Pacific Express front-man and singer to soul music through some lesser known American Soul gems. Zayn won his place in the pop scene in the early 70s and left South Africa to perform with the group 'The Flames' in London. As a singer with Pacific Express he hit the SA charts against all odds for a jazz/rock outfit. Zayn toured southern Africa from Zambia, Namibia to Cape Town as a child star doing Soul music. MOU42252 - 1996

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Amampondo - An image of Africa:
The first proper studio album and real success by one of Africa's best known marimba outfits. Following their surprise appearance on the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday show in Wembley, this group were identified as 'the' sound of traditional African music. They toured Canada, Europe and the East presenting sounds and dance never seen before in these countries. This album includes many of the works that mesmerised audiences on their tours. It features exotic traditional instruments and singing and became the sound track to their show routine for some time. AM242 - 1995

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Basil Coetzee - Monwabisi:

Basil's second solo project recorded in difficult times for the artist as he sought to establish his name away from previous successful associations. In the period between leaving his former Pacific Express associates and playing only sporadically for Abdullah Ebrahim, Coetzee and bass player, Paul Abrahams worked together as a duo. Many of the works on this album were arranged and written by these two. MOU592 - 1993

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Jonathan Butler - Gospel Days:

A collection of Gospel / Jazz recorded shortly before embarking on an international career. Contains interesting African influenced works. While performing in night clubs in the late 70s Jonathan also began a long involvement in Gospel music. As a former child star and then member of a foremost razz rock outfit his name was a draw at small town gospel shows. The tracks on this release are taken from two albums only released on vinyl, 7th Avenue and Crossroads. MOU42042 - 1993

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Basil Coetzee - Sabenza:

This was actually a project of former Pacific Express members lead by Basil. Sabenza - derived from 'SABand' and the Zulu word for work 'sebenza' - was the work of Basil, Robbie Jansen, Paul Abrahams and Jack Momple who had all left American influenced jazz in search of their Cape roots. Recorded by Kevin Shirley in the space of a week, this album shook up perceptions about local jazz as it provided the beat for many parties. Includes some Cape Jazz gems. MOU522 - 1988

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Robbie Jansen - Vastrap Island:

The bad boy of Cape Jazz and fine alto saxophonist performs real Cape Music. After the success of Sabenza, Robbie who is a talented all round entertainer, decided to take the Cape music theme a step further. At times using programmed beats mixed with live percussion and including electric guitars and vocals, he created a landmark album. The title avers to Robin Island, the infamous political jail. Robbie explored Khoi San myths and his own interpretations of his roots on this great album. SEK101 - 1991

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Coenie de Villiers - Amper Alleen:


Coenie was a black sheep on the Afrikaans music scene. He did not follow the tried route of songs about sport and 'braaivleis' (barbecue) to attract attention. He wrote serious songs about the war on the Namibian borders or about political and moral double standards. Though quietly applauded by Afrikaans intellectuals his important work was banned by state radio in South Africa. He left SA in 1986 to live in Cyprus for 2 years. This album was prepared in Cyprus and recorded in Athens, Greece, using local musicians.
MOU 68. 1988

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Coenie de Villiers - Hartland:
On this album Coenie shows strong emotions and politics. This is an interesting document of the time when the apartheid regime had all bit lost its grip. Coenie collaborate with various local artists to record Afrikaans songs of a wholly South African nature rather than being the domain of one cultural group. Though melancholic many of the tracks end with a welcome optimism. MOU75. 1993

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Coenie de Villiers - Karoonagte:

This is a 'best of' early works. De Villiers had from the outset decided to address social and political issues though in a subtle way. While gaining industry support his recordings were largely ignored by the Afrikaans music buyers. He had also written fondly about the land itself and this compilation was his first real recognition by the media and the public at a time when Afrikaans music was being edged out along with the rulers of the country. MOU 69. 1990

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