Pata Pata

Dorothy Masuka | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 21, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mango
• ASIN: B000008I7J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,191 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #82 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zimbabwe

Track Listings

1. Pata Pata

2. Hapo Zamani

3. Kutheni Zulu

4. Manyere

5. Magumede

6. Hamba Nonsthokolo

7. Kanyange

8. Nhingirikiri

9. Kutheni Zulu [Earth Mix]

10. Pata Pata [Sesual Touch Mix]

11. Magumede [Dub]

12. Impi

13. Pata Pata (City Sound) [*]

14. Kutheni Zulu [Big Voice Mix][*]

15. Manyere [Club Mix][*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Pata Pata's Refreshing Swing Jazz & Mbira Sounds, May 30, 2010

By 

Peter Walenta "Peter Walenta" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pata Pata (Audio CD)

As the reviewer of "The Definitive Collection: The Grand Dame of African Music" noted, Dorothy Masuka (b. 1935) is a contemporary of international recording star, Miriam Makeba. Dorothy Masuka, who is affectionately referred to as Auntie D by fans, wrote "Pata Pata" in the early 1950's, a song which would later became a hit for Mirima Makeba. Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), her family moved to South Africa when she was 12. After attending a Catholic boarding school, Masuka's budding musical talent blossomed in the early 1950's as lead vocalist for the Golden Rhythm Crooners during the nascent apartheid resistance movement. Years of political unrest forced Masuka to move around Africa and Europe, eventually re-settling in South Africa but she only lately received some long overdue acclaim and recognition for her fine musical talents here in America.

Influenced by the vocal stylings of Ella Fitzgerald, Masuka blended traditional `mbira' music native to Rhodesia's Shona people with American swing jazz sensibilities. Named after the thumb piano, in `mbira' the lead vocalist usually states a familiar traditional folk dance melody and then improvises on it. Accompanying vocalists chime in by repeating the basic melody line either a half beat of a full beat later, so that the effect is one of constant forward fluid movement. When lead vocals, backing chants, hand claps, thumb piano, hosho (gourd rattle), drums and horns (usually trombones) are all heard in unison, mbira makes for a very lively, bright and upbeat yet calming sound suitable for dancing or just for relaxing. "Pata Pata", released in 1991 on Mango (total running time 57:59) is a come back album of sorts for Masuka in which she deftly blends more modern sounds including understated electric guitars and keyboards with mbira instrumentation and swing arrangements. It's an excellent album. It is out unfortunately of print. Highlight songs include "Pata Pata", "Hapo Zamani", "Kuthini Zulu [Earth Mix]" and "Magumede", all of which are fortunately available on the Definitive Collection. Although somewhat old school, Masuka is a fine musician and she made positive contributions to the development of mbira and African popular music. Check out her distinctly delightful world beat music either on "Pata Pata" or on the "Definitive Collection". 5 Stars