Transcending barriers
The Joy of Being Alive (Live)
By Trude Aspeling
JOBA
Order from PO Box 568, Leichhardt NSW 2040
Review by John Gauci
Trude Aspeling was the first Australian vocalist to perform at London's premier Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, which has been graced by legends such as Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. She was also invited to perform at Africa's largest international festival, the 1997 Arts Alive festival in South Africa, where she supported Baba Maal.
Aspeling has been compared to the legendary Betty "Be-Bop" Carter and is soon to perform at the 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly Jazz Against Racism concert on February 6 (see advertisement this page).
Aspeling's latest CD, The Joy of Being Alive, is a testimony to cultural diversity. It blends the Klopse rhythm born out of the carnival culture with Malayan rhythms and European instrumentation. It is a mix of jazz, reggae, gospel, soul and African influences.
Black South Africans seldom lament or sing the blues. This CD captures their ability to withstand oppression by their joyfulness, warmth and delight in living.
The CD was recorded live in Sydney at an Azeviche promotional concert last year. (Azeviche means "power of black culture".) The recording was made for Paul Petron's Music Deli Show on ABC Radio National. All seven tracks are first takes, capturing the "live moment".
The album features the imaginative flair of guitarist David Kane; Nigel Wagner on Jember congas, percussion and back-up vocals; David Weir, saxophone; Rex Carter, drums; and Michael Galleazi on bass.
The title track is an original piece featuring the talking drum of fellow South African Nigel Wager. This instrument adds a special flavour.
Track four, "Ntyhilo Ntyhilo", is a traditional song that draws on South Africa's folklore heritage and celebrates the Capetown Klopse rhythms born out of the contribution of the mixed raced peoples to the montage of rhythmic styles in South African music today. The song, about a colourful bird, highlights the joys of observing nature.
The opening track is a rhythmically infectious reggae version of "Summertime", originally from the musical Porgy and Bess. Aspeling has reinvented this song and made it her own. It was the first song she ever sang.
91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly spoke to Aspeling about her CD and recent trip to South Africa after a 21-year absence. She said that she noticed fewer tensions, but "While respect between the races is guaranteed by law, there is still a long way to go. There are strong feelings of hope and faith in the future in spite of [the country's] violent history.
"I performed in front of old teachers and fellow students, and visited workers in factories. I was struck by my fellow South Africans' sense of pride in me, and valued the opportunity to return as a role model", she said.
Aspeling believes that art has played an important role in raising people's cultural and political awareness. "It functions as a voice to resist that which oppresses or creates injustice."
Art, in its various forms, played an important role in the dismantling of apartheid, Aspeling said. "Music raises the spirits of the people. While touring with the opera Kalahari, the statement 'The spirit of the people cannot be broken' was made very clear. Music unifies people. Art highlights awareness and encourages communication."
Aspeling went on to explain: "I coordinate the music department at the Koori high school in Sydney. Music is one of the most wonderful, unifying, healing forces you can use when working with children from highly dysfunctional families. These children are dying to express themselves and music provides a voice, and it builds self-confidence. Music redirects what otherwise could be destructive energies."
In the male-dominated jazz industry, says Aspeling, "You need to know what you want, learn to be assertive and to deal with the retorts that come with being an assertive woman. As a singer, you need musicians who can accompany you sensitively."
Asked about how she deals with racism, Aspeling replied that since it exists everywhere — including in the music industry — she has had to learn to deal with it. "South Africa has taught me to go beyond this and get on with it."
Aspeling's CD will be launched in Sydney at Soup Plus on February 13 at 8pm.