Ladysmith Black Mambazo - On Tip Toe

Starring:Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon, Patrick Bhutelezi
Director: Eric Simonson
Studio: New Video Group
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
A joyously moving tribute to the World Music super group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Academy Award® Nominee ON TIP TOE is as uplifting and ultimately inspiring as their culture-bridging performances themselves.

Warmly directed by Eric Simonson and spanning three continents, ON TIP TOE follows the captivating story of South African musician Joseph Shabalala and his unique singing group. Best known on these shores for their innovative support on Paul Simon s Grammy®-winning album "Graceland," Mambazo has crafted an extraordinary hybrid of traditional Zulu harmonies and unconventional Western influences, including gospel, rag time, Doo Wop, and even rock 'n roll. Made up of seven bass voices, a tenor, a male alto, and Shabalala as lead vocalist, Mambazo amazingly incorporates the light, syncopated stomping of isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya, meaning on tip toe ), a style born through the strains of apartheid.

Strikingly photographed and smartly edited, ON TIP TOE traces the fascinating origins of Shabalala s tuneful creations, featuring interviews with Paul Simon and extensive live footage of Mambazo s exhibitions, including their sold-out Royal Albert Hall concert.

System Requirements:

Running Time 56 Min

Format: DVD VIDEO
Amazon.com
South African singing ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo wasn't a global sensation until their life-changing appearance on Paul Simon's Graceland album, but as this Academy Award®-nominated documentary reveals, the group's history stretches both farther and wider.

Joseph Shabalala, the onomatopoeically named leader of the group, traces the formation of Mambazo back to 1964, when as he says, this style of singing came to him "like dreaming at night." He combined the musical and dance traditions of the Zulu people with an amazing range of outside influences (courtesy of the spread of American pop music via radio), including ragtime, doo-wop, jazz, blues, and even cowboy yodeling. Perhaps the most fascinating scenes feature a South African singing competition that has occurred every Saturday night for almost a century. This is where Mambazo got their start, competing all night long against other male enembles. While they're no longer allowed to compete, Mambazo still attends and holds the weekly event close to their hearts.

Amazon.com

South African singing ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo wasn't a global sensation until their life-changing appearance on Paul Simon's Graceland album, but as this Academy Award®-nominated documentary reveals, the group's history stretches both farther and wider.

Product Description

A joyously moving tribute to the World Music super group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Academy Award® Nominee ON TIP TOE is as uplifting and ultimately inspiring as their culture-bridging performances themselves.

Warmly directed by Eric Simonson and spanning three continents, ON TIP TOE follows the captivating story of South African musician Joseph Shabalala and his unique singing group. Best known on these shores for their innovative support on Paul Simon s Grammy®-winning album "Graceland," Mambazo has crafted an extraordinary hybrid of traditional Zulu harmonies and unconventional Western influences, including gospel, rag time, Doo Wop, and even rock 'n roll. Made up of seven bass voices, a tenor, a male alto, and Shabalala as lead vocalist, Mambazo amazingly incorporates the light, syncopated stomping of isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya, meaning on tip toe ), a style born through the strains of apartheid.

Strikingly photographed and smartly edited, ON TIP TOE traces the fascinating origins of Shabalala s tuneful creations, featuring interviews with Paul Simon and extensive live footage of Mambazo s exhibitions, including their sold-out Royal Albert Hall concert.

System Requirements:

Running Time 56 Min

Format: DVD VIDEO

Customer Reviews:

Song of Jacob Zulu?.......2007-05-27

On the whole "On tip toe" is a worthwhile watch, especially at a lean 58 minutes.... My favorite parts are the interviews with Paul Simon, he returns the high praise given him on "Classic Albums: Graceland." Still, I'm perplexed, why is it that "Song of Jacob Zulu" is given so little mention. Ordinarily it would seem like a logical omission. It was on Broadway, but it was far from a hit... But the omission becaomes glaring when you consider that the director of this film also directed that play. It would have been a rare instance of the director turning the camera on himself with a valid purpose. Instead, the play isn't even mentioned verbally, the book cover of the script is shown in a very brief montage along with a lifesavers commercial and an appearence with Big Bird... Hit or not, it deserves a more prominent place because Broadway is a milestone.... I'm learning through research about another show, Paul Simon's "Capeman" (also briefly directed by Simonson, number 2 of an eventual 4) that footage of shows exist regardless of its reception, there ought to have been some of "Song of Jacob Zulu" to sustain a segment....

fascinating.......2005-04-23

I usually put my "two cents worth" on books. However, lately, I have has some opinions on videorecordings.

This is exceptional. I have seen Ladysmith Black Mambazo in performances on video....but I had little knowledge of their history, and the history of their music. This video will allow you to share the history of the group.

I borrowed this from a library, and liked it so much that I bought it. Enjoy it...and, as the Amazon editorial says....view the extras!!!!

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