IN MEMORY OF DOLLY RATHEBE & PETER MAKONATELA  - THE ELITE SWINGSTERS

Since 1958, the Elite Swingsters have been the most consistently popular exponents of that uniquely South African musical brew known as African Jazz, but don't dismiss the band as a bunch of mouldy old revivalists. The Elite's' music may have been fashioned from the continuation of a great tradition but they're not content to merely recreate past glories. And when you see that word "Jazz" in this context don't start thinking about the cool, obscure, atonal variety that requires a musicology degree to "understand".

The Swingsters' African Jazz is quite simply some of the world's greatest party music. Its strong on good, classic melodies - the kind that keep repeating themselves on your own mental jukebox long after the gig is over or the record is finished - served up with hot, instantly contagious rhythms that lift burns out of seats and onto a dancefloor. Stylistically speaking, its really a blend of African melodies and harmonies with American swing, together with an added dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues and even some good ol' rock 'n roll thrown in for good measure.

Of course, it is useful to have a well-established reputation and the Elite Swingsters have long been a household name in the townships. Thanks to this the band has featured at a number of gigs that would be right at the top of anybody's social calendar. First there was a small party for the previous State President (where he ended up dancing with the Elite's vocalist, Dolly Rathebe), then they played at the prestigious launch of Dr Mandela's autobiography, "Long Walk To Freedom" (where trumpeter Hugh Masekela sat in on a few numbers). The Elite's were also chosen to play at Westminster Abbey for the occasion marking South Africa's re-admittance to the British Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles headed the guest list and the Prince went out of his way to chat to the individual band members, then asked for some more of the music.

But what in a way is even more gratifying is the fact that the Elites are now being discovered by an entirely new audience, the result of a hectic schedule which has encompassed dozens of private parties and functions as wall as some sensational public appearances at various nightspots.

After playing for a recent gathering of local and American businessmen (at a resort in the Natal Drakensberg) some of the South Africans confided to the band that they had initially assumed the Elites were an American import! Several also added how much they regretted that the divisions of the apartheid years had kept them so completely ignorant of the band and their music.

Peter Makonatela is the bandleader and joined the band in 1961 when he was still in his teens. He's on alto sax (not to mention an occasional outing on pennywhistle) and besides providing many of the extended solos, he forms part of an extremely well oiled saxophone section that provides the always distinctive essence of the Elite's sound.
Peter is arguably one of the best alto sax players in the business and writes most of the band's material. His songs have received recognition overseas where they have been used for commercial advertising and by other artists.

The other members are more recent additions who have played a critical role in modifying the band's style to keep it ever fresh and up-to-date. Providing a melodic counterpoint to the saxes (as well as a considerable punch to the rhythm) are the almost boogie-woogie keyboards of Dan Ngema (who started his musical career as a Sotho Traditional accordion player) and the sizzling bluesy guitar of George 'Magu Mangxola. 'Magy is a mbaquanga veteran of hundreds of recording sessions and one of South Africa's all-time great guitarists (His sister Mildred is one of the Mahotella Queens) The two youngsters who provide the rock solid, but swinging rhythmic underpinning for the band, are drummer Jackie Mogale and Paul Ntleru on bass guitar. They both earned their chops playing together for Nature, a local disco outfit, and got involved with the Swingsters almost by accident. Paul, in particular, hesitated at first to join a band whose style was so different from the one he'd grown up with. He says, "It was difficult for me at first but I now know that this is the music I always wanted to play".

Last but far from least, there's vocalist Dolly Rathebe, "The Queen of The Blues". She was already a veteran star when she sang regularly with the Elite's in the 1960's, having earlier made her name as the country's first African female jazz vocalist and film actress (not to mention magazine cover girl!). Dolly rejoined the band a few years back and today, her legendary prowess remains totally intact.

She can handle a rocker or a ballad with perfect aplomb, thanks to a voice incorporating what is undoubtedly the silkiest and most sultry low range in the business.

The concept behind the latest Elite Swingsters recording, "Siya Gida - We Dance", was to recreate in the studio a typical program of the band's current performances. There are several brand new tunes penned by various members of the band ("Get Me Right", "Shebeen Dance", "Dipholo" and "Ke Filwe") mixed with a number of older standards. Glen Miller's classic "In The Mood" is given an African touch "Skokiaan" is a Zimbabwean evergreen from the early 1950's, which become internationally popular when recorded by Louis Armstrong, among many others.