Atté - Sondela (feat. Dudu Pukwana)

One thing can lead to another. The last Dudu Pukwana post was based on a request and as a token of appreciation for our response Robert from the UK offered this blog yet another Pukwana-related recording. This one is a genuine obscurity and not even featured in Wallofsound's extensive discography. Well, actually it is, but you have to plow down to the comments section to spot it, to comments 7 - 9.

This was out on an Irish folk label, Calagh Records. The core is a South African vocal quartet which does a mix of traditional songs and newer tunes composed by Pukwana and fellow Blue Notes member Mongezi Feza. For accompaniment, Dudu has brought along his regular crew and solos alongside Atté on several of the tunes. Others are finely rendered accapella versions. Listeners well-known with African songs and the Blue Notes may easily recognise "Malaika" and the title tune, composed by Mongezi Feza. Altogether, a delightful album.

For details on each tune, please consult the scans of the back sleeve in the files attached to this post in the comments section.

The tunes:

01 Suganga
02 Malaika
03 Suliram
04 Nomeva
05 Sithi Gwaza
06 Sondela
07 Ngomso
08 Soon One Morning
09 Siphamandla
10 Saduva

Atté are:

Sonia Bonolo Lekhela,
Lindiwe Thonko Conco,
Tiny Neliswa Conco,
Mphiwa Yengwa

plus

Dudu Pukwana (keyboards, alto sax),
Churchill Jolobe (drums, percussion),
Ernest Mothle (bass),
Sello Josh Makhene (congos),
Frank Roberts (keyboards).

Produced by John Wood, Rec in March 1977 for Claddagh Records.

Robert has reportedly more aces up his sleeve, so we're only too anxious to find out what may come next.