Pat Matshikiza & Kippie Moketsi - Tshona! May 2026

: The session featured a formidable lineup, including tenor saxophonist Basil "Mannenberg" Coetzee and the rhythm section of Sipho Mabuse (drums) and Alec Khaoli (bass) from the band Harari. Key Tracks :

: Noted for its main piano theme’s "detachment" over which the horns play in unison, creating the illusion of a larger ensemble. Legacy and Reissue

In , nearly half a century after its release, Tshona! was reissued by the Canadian label We Are Busy Bodies . This revival has allowed a new generation to appreciate the album as a "time capsule of genius" and a vital part of the canonical history of global jazz. Pat Matshikiza & Kippie Moketsi - Tshona!

: The title track "Tshona" was inspired by the vibrant, pulsating scene at Dorkay House in Johannesburg—a legendary music and drama hub.

: Features forceful alto solos by Moeketsi and a full-toned tenor contribution from Coetzee, all grounded by Matshikiza’s rhythmic piano embellishments. : The session featured a formidable lineup, including

Despite its importance, the album's creators faced significant personal and political struggles. Moeketsi died in poverty in 1983, a victim of the systemic inequities that robbed many Black South African artists of their royalties and dignity. Matshikiza even lived under an assumed identity, "Patrick Matthews," for a time to evade apartheid-era deportation.

The album brought together two titans of the South African scene. , frequently called the "father of South African jazz" or the "Charlie Parker of S.A.," was a key figure in modernizing the genre through his work with the Jazz Epistles. Pat Matshikiza , a versatile pianist from a prestigious musical lineage, provided the foundational compositions and a "stylish" playing style that bridged Eastern Cape jazz roots with contemporary urban tastes. was reissued by the Canadian label We Are Busy Bodies

Tshona! is celebrated for its "irresistible strolling quality"—a slightly behind-the-beat saunter characteristic of township jazz.