Philip Tabane and Malombo - Discography

Essentially the broad history of Malombo can be broken up into two separate groups that often used the same name for different recordings by each group. Though starting as a single group, the two threads soon split apart, one wing with Philip Tabane, the other with Abbey Cindi and Julian Bahula. To unpack this history I have put together two discographies, one for Philip Tabane, the other for Julian Bahula. Though many others were involved, Tabane and Bahula are the two members of the original group that seemed to continue separately each thread of Malombo music. (Cindi and Lucky Ranku, of course, played major roles in what I am loosely calling the "Bahula" thread.) Today's post focuses on "Philip Tabane and Malombo". The "Julian Bahula and Malombo" discography can be viewed here.

Some of these albums as well as their re-issues have fetched amazing prices on auction at eBay and so I have put together a discography that attempts, at least in part, to identify the many different issues. If you have an album or an issue not featured in this list please let us know and we can add it to the discography.

Yvonne Huskisson in her Bantu Composers of Southern Africa has Abbey Cindi and Philip Tabane forming a group called the Lullaby-Landers in 1961 or 1963, depending on which entry you read. In 1963 the group changed their name to the Malombo Jazz Men which included Julian Bahula on a set of "African drums". He had originally come from the Vlakfontein City Council Band. As Huskisson puts it, Malombo's aim was "to produce a new sound in Jazz by introducing African drums and African drum beats and an African traditional sound into a Progressive-Jazz trio." The group was hugely successful, winning a number of competitions most notably the 1964 Castle Lager Jazz Festival at Orlando Stadium. The trio made their first recordings with "Radio Bantu" that same year and soon a debut, studio LP—Castle Lager Jazz Festival 1964—was issued by EMI. The B-side of the album also included the Early Mabuza Quartet.

This classic record featured the original line-up of the Malombo Jazz Men (sometimes Jazzmen) with Philip Tabane on guitar, Abbey Cindi on flute and Julian Bahula on the "Malombo drums". The group would soon split somewhere around 1966.

After the break-up, Tabane began working with Gabriel 'Mabi' Thobejane and continued recording under the name Malombo Jazzmen and then later simplified it to just Malombo. In 1978 Oupa Monareng took over the Malombo drums with Fish Phale on percussion. And then around the mid to late 1980s, Raymond Motau assumed percussion.

For more information on Malombo visit 3rd Ear Music.


DISCOGRAPHY

78 RPM (c1960)
Philip Tabane and the Pretoria Mellow Crooners
Drum (Teal), B61D 0013/4, RSA
1) Hayiya-Hayiya
2) Nolizwe
* info sourced from SAMAP


























CASTLE LAGER JAZZ FESTIVAL 1964 (1964)
Malombo Jazz Men / Early Mabuza Quartet
Philip Tabane (guitar); Abbey Cindi (flute); Julian Bahula (drums)
• HMV, JCLP 62, RSA
• HMV (black label) JCLP 62, 2XAS 305/6, RSA (reissue)*
• HMV (blue label) JPL (M) 4019, RSA (reissue)
• Number One Records, N 9033, RSA (reissue)
• CCP Record Company, CDJPL (WB) 4041, RSA (1997, reissue)
1) Foolish Fly (Tabane)
2) Your Neighbour (Tabane)
3) Chief’s Kraal (Emkobola) (Tabane)
4) Blues for you (Tabane)
5) Zandile (Tabane)
6) Malombo Men’s Prayer (Tabane)
* Thanks to Olivier Ledure for images of the black label issue.

• HMV (red + color label) JCLP 62, 2XAS 305/6, RSA

• HMV (black label) JCLP 62, 2XAS 305/6, RSA (reissue)*

• HMV (blue label) JPL (M) 4019, RSA (reissue)

• Number One Records, N 9033, RSA (reissue)

• CCP Record Company, CDJPL (WB) 4041, RSA (1997, reissue)

SABC WHITE LABEL PROMO DISC (c1964)
Malombo Jazz Men
Philip Tabane (guitar); Abbey Cindi (flute); Julian Bahula (drums)
(Tracks identical to original 1964 LP issue)
• SABC 10" acetate, RSA
1) Foolish Fly (Tabane)
2) Malombo Prayer (Tabane)

WITS GREAT HALL – LIVE (1965)
Malombo Jazz Men
Philip Tabane (guitar); Abbey Cindi (flute); Julian Bahula (drums)
• Third Ear Music, 1/4–track demo tape recording, RSA
* Logo and info sourced from 3rd Ear Music

CASTLE LAGER SPECIAL EDITION (1967)
Malombo Jazzmen
Philip Tabane (guitar); Abbey Cindi (flute); Julian Bahula (drums)
(Tracks identical to original 1964 LP issue.)
• Rave 10” acetate, 235, RSA (March 1967)
1) Zandile (Tabane)
2) Emkobola (Tabane)
3) Malombo Prayer (Tabane)
4) Blues (Tabane)

MALOMBO JAZZMEN (c1967)
Malombo Jazzmen
Philip Tabane (guitar); Abbey Cindi (flute); Julian Bahula (drums)
(Tracks unknown)
• Phillips 10” acetate, C 2143, RSA

THE INDIGENOUS AFRO-JAZZ SOUNDS OF... (1969)
Philip Tabane and his Malombo Jazzman
Philip Tabane (guitar); Gabriel "Sonnyboy" Thobejane (drums, percussion)
(Recorded April 18th, 1969 in Johannesburg. The Atlas City issue has the Atlantic City logo on the cover.)
• Atlas City, AYC 1004, RSA (1969)
• Up Up Up, UPL 5009, RSA (1974, reissue)
• Plum, GSL 267, RSA (1985, reissue)
1) Kathlogano (Tabane)
2) Inhliziyo (Tabane)
3) Man Feeling (Tabane)
4) Ke Utilwile (Tabane)
5) Tsela (Tabane)
6) Babedi (Tabane)
7) Dithabeng (Tabane)
8) Mahlomola (Tabane)
* Thanks to Olivier Ledure for the images of the Plum issue.

• Atlas City, AYC 1004, RSA (1969)

• Up Up Up, UPL 5009, RSA (1974, reissue)

• Plum, GSL 267, RSA (1985, reissue)

PELE PELE (1976)
Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, bass, flute, vocal); Gabriel Thobejane (african percussion)
• Atlantic, ATC 8003, RSA (1976)
• WEA, 9791, RSA (8-track, 1976)
• Atlantic, USA
• Tusk, WOND 8003, RSA (CD reissue)
1) Mbaqanga Blues (Tabane)
2) Father and Mother (Tabane)
3) Marabi (Tabane)
4) Sitando Sam (Tabane)
5) Shebokeshana (Tabane)
6) Perefere (Tabane)
7) Malombo Blues (Tabane)
8) Kow-Kow (Tabane)

• Atlantic, ATC 8003, RSA (1976)

• Atlantic, USA

45 RPM (1976)
Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, bass, flute, vocal); Gabriel Thobejane (african percussion)
• Atlantic, ATS 807, RSA
1) Marabi - Part 1 (Tabane)
2) Marabi - Part 2 (Tabane)
* sourced from Soul Safari

LIVE WITS 1976 (1976)
Malombo
(Recorded July 19th or 20th, 1976 at the WITS Great Hall, Johannesburg.)
• HYMAP, HY 528A, RSA (CDR)
* sourced from 3rd Ear Music

SWAZILAND LIKWINDLA FESTIVAL (1977)
Malombo / Various Artists
(Recorded live in Swaziland)
• Atlantic, ATH 4011, RSA
1) Father and Son (Tabane)
2) Shebokeshana (Tabane)
* Thanks to Matt Temple at Matsuli for this image.

SANGOMA (1978)
Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, vocals); Franz Monareng (drums); Raphudu Phale (drums); Alpheus Koloti (flute); Amos Lebombo (bass)
• Atlantic, ATH 4024, RSA
1) Sangoma (Tabane)
2) Maskanta (Tabane)
3) Hi Congo (Tabane)
4) Keya Bereka (Tabane)
5) Happy Song (Tabane)
6) Setlekehleke (Tabane)
7) Venie (Tabane)
8) Mae Kutlo (Tabane)
9) Ngezi Inyawo (Tabane)
10) Dumela (Tabane)

• Atlantic, ATH 4024, RSA

MALOMBO (1984)
Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, vocals); Oupa Monareng (drums); Fish Phale (drums); Thuli Tabane (vocals); Motshile Wa Nthodi (kudu horn)
• Kaya, KAYA(E) 300, RSA
• Kaya, KAYA(T) 300, RSA (cassette)
1) Motshile (Tabane)
2) Mashaba (Tabane)
3) Ke Gale (Tabane)
4) Mgwana Oyalela (Tabane)
5) Thabang (Tabane)
6) Phampha Madiba (Tabane)
7) Riverside (Tabane)
8) Abantwana (Tabane)

• Kaya, KAYA(E) 300, RSA

MAN PHILY (c1986)
Philip Tabane and his Malombo Jazzmen
Philip Tabane (guitar); Gabriel Thobejane (Malombo drums); Oupa Monareng (Malombo drums); Fish Phale (percussion); Alpheus Koloti (flute); Amos Lebombo (bass); Raymond Motau (percussion)
(A compilation that includes tracks from four of Tabane's albums, but also a unique live track recorded on cassette in Dortmund, Germany, May 28th, 1986.)
• African Music, PAM 04, GER
1) Hi Congo
2) Sethlekeleke (Tabane)
3) Venie (Tabane)
4) Marabi (Tabane)
5) Malombo Blues (Tabane)
6) Dithabeng (Tabane)
7) Ngwawa Oyalela (Tabane)
8) Phamba Madiba (Tabane)
9) Riverside (Tabane)
10) Man Feeling (Tabane)
11) Ke Kgale (live)

• African Music, PAM 04, GER

THUNDER BEFORE DAWN
THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO VOL. 2 (1987)
Various Artists / Malombo
• Virgin, 90866-1, USA
12) Motshile

RHYTHM OF RESISTANCE (1988)
Various Artists / Malombo
(This is the soundtrack recording from the 1979 film Beats of the Heart: Rhythm of Resistance by Jeremy Marre. The tracks appear to be from the film, Malombo recorded live in the studio.)
• Virgin, 7 90921-1, USA
3) Perefere
4) Phamba Madiba

MALOMBO (1988)
Philip Tabane and Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, vocals); Oupa Monareng (drums); Fish Phale (drums); Alpheus Koloti (flute); Amos Lebombo (bass) Thuli Tabane (vocals)
(In theory this album is a reissue of the 1984 Kaya LP, though two of the tracks have been exchanged for two from the Sangoma LP, thus making it a compilation.)
• Kijima, BIG 002, UK
• Kijima, CDBIG 002, UK (CD)
1) Motshile (Tabane)
2) Mashaba (Tabane)
3) Ke Gale (Tabane)
4) Ngwanya Oyalela (Tabane)
5) Hi Congo (Tabane)
6) Sangoma (Tabane)
7) Phampha Madiba (Tabane)
8) Thabang (Tabane)

• Kijima, BIG 002, UK

• Kijima, CDBIG 002, UK (CD)

UNH! (1989)
Philip Tabane and Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, flute, vocals); Oupa Mahape Monareng (Malombo drums); (Raymond Mphunye Motau (percussion); Melvin Gibbs bass); Morris Goldberg (alto sax); Steve Dyer (alto sax); Chris Batchelor (trumpet); Frank London (trumpet); Mike Carr (organ)
(Recorded in New York, 1987)
• Icon / Nonesuch, 79225, USA
• Icon / Nonesuch, 9 79225-2, USA (CD)
1) Mpedi (Tabane)
2) Sompiro (Tabane)
3) Unh! (Tabane)
4) Ihn Liziyo (Tabane)
5) Kgale (Tabane)
6) Lenyora (Tabane)
7) Dibenjo (Tabane)
8) Khutsana (Tabane)
9) Draakies (Tabane)
10) Modumokgole (Tabane)
11) Leftashe (Tabane)

SILENT BEAUTY (1989)
unattributed (Philip Tabane and Malombo)
Philip Nchipi Tabane (guitar, dipela, pennywhistle, mouth organ, Malombo drums, vocals); Oupa Mahape Monareng (Malombo drums, dipela, Jews harp, vocal); (Raymond Mphunye Motau (percussion, Jews harp, vocal)
(Recorded 1989, Hamburg, Germany.)
• Cross Culture, CC 89330, W. GER (CD)
1) Tlabalala (Home Brewed Beer) (Tabane)
2) Mgwedi (Moon) (Tabane)
3) Meropa (Drums) (Tabane)
4) Melodi (Sweetness) (Tabane)
5) Bokgarebe (Lady) (Tabane)
6) Amarotho (Bread) (Tabane)
7) Ditolontolo (Jews Harp) (Tabane)
8) Kgeswa (Orphan) (Tabane)
9) Tsaro (Activity) (Tabane)
10) Lalavuka (All NIght Long) (Tabane)
11) Mashakane (Shangaan People) (Tabane)

KE A BEREKA (1996)
Philip Tabane and Malombo
Philip Tabane (guitar, pennywhistle, vocals); Oupa Mahapi Monareng (Malombo drums, dipila); Raymond Mphunye Motau (percussion); Fana Zulu (bass); Themba Mkhize (keyboards); Khaya Mahlangu (flute, sax); Patricia Majalisa, Sister Phumi, Zandile Zungu (backing vocals)
• Kariba / Tusk, TUCD 44, RSA (CD)
1) Ke A Bereka (Tabane)
2) Bokgarebe (Tabane)
3) Dithaka (Tabane)
4) Lenyora (Tabane)
5) Kika (Tabane)
6) Thabang (Tabane)
7) Ba Nyaka Ke Wele (Tabane)
8) Dithabeng (Tabane)
9) Badimo (Tabane)

MUVHANGO (1998)
Philip Tabane and Malombo
• Gallo, TUCD 108, RSA (CD)
1) Muvhango (Twala)
2) Ngwana Wa Kgaetsedi (Tabane)
3) Katlogano (Tabane)
4) Hlakahlaka Nje (Tabane)
5) Vha-Vhenda (Tabane)
6) Ngwana Ya Lela (Tabane)
7) Bakubeletsi (Tabane)
8) Mirengo (Tabane)
9) Nkupi (Tabane)
10) The Conflict (Twala)

JAZZ SOUTH AFRICA Vol. 2 (2008)
Various Artists / Philip Tabane and Malombo
(Recorded at “Afrikanischer Sommer” festival, Hamburg, Germany, 1983 or 1984. Unreleased radio broadcast, Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Germany)
Philip Tabane (guitar), Mahapi Oupa Monareng (Malombo drums), Rahoudi Fish Phale (percussion)
• UBU ROI (2008, DL)
5) Draakies
* sourced from Ubu Roi

SOUTH AFRICAN FUNK EXPERIENCE (2009)
Various Artists / Malombo
• Nascente, NSFUNK 005, UK
3) Sangoma

LIVE AT THE MARKET THEATRE - JOHANNESBURG (2010)
Philip Tabane and Malombo
• Gallo, CDGURB 149, RSA (CD)
• Gallo, GMDVD 087, RSA (DVD)
disc 1:
1) Man Phil
2) Mantloro
3) Lefatse
4) Ke a Bereka
5) Lefhu Le Bophelo
6) Tlabala
7) Modumo Kgole
8) Mpedi
disc 2:
9) Shadikana
10) Setlekele
11) Phampa Madiba
12) Mashaba
13) Kika
14) Sekati
15) Pele Pele
16) Draaikies