Nduduzo Makhathini

★★★★ In The Spirit Of Ntu BLUE NOTE AFRICA. CD/DL/LP

As with 2020’s Modes Of Communication, South Africa’s past and present weighs heavily on Makhathini’s free-ranging, spiritually deep compositions. Upcoming local musicians help the pianist conjure a rich stylistic mix for slow-building solos with discreet echoes of Bheki Mseleku, Abdullah Ibrahim and John Coltrane. Elsewhere expressive vocal turns from wife Omagugu (Mama) and Anna Widauer (Re-Amathambo) possess healing powers unique unto themselves.