Customer Reviews

Mango Groove

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I was very lucky to see this group perform in 1991 and let me tell you, they lifted the roof off and had the audience jumping! I bought this CD from the band and have kept it close to my heart ever since.

Mango Groove is an 11 piece Afropop group and they formed in 1983 in Johannesburg, South Africa and fronted by lead singer Claire Johnston. They have sold more than 700,000 albums in South Africa alone, mostly with the popular songs, "Dance Some More" and "Special Star". Their unique blend of marabi, kwela and pop music, together with the voice and presence of Claire Johnston and the penny whistle of Mduduzi Magwaza, made them very popular.

The songs on this CD are infectious, they are BIG and even though they border on 'pop' they deliver a huge sound that makes you want to jump for joy! The track 'Penny Whistle' does just that and it has a soaring trumpet solo that makes your hair stand on end. The tracks are very atmospheric and Claire's voice is beautifully complemented by the band, who are: Claire Johnston - lead vocals,Sipho Bhengu - tenor sax, vocals

Beulah Hashe - vocals, Banza Kgasoane - trumpet, Alan Lazar - keyboards, piano, George Lewis - guitar, John Leyden - bass guitar, Marilyn Nokwe - vocals, Mduduzi Magwaza - alto sax, pennywhistle, Phumzile Ntuli - vocals

Gavin Stevens - drums, percussion.

This was their first album and I highly recommend it for people who like happy, swinging music (with influences from African artists like Spokes Mashiyane and even (yes, even) the feel of Bert Kaempfert's African big band approach!