Wouter Kellerman - Mzansi

One of the best world-fusion musicians to burst out of Africa in the past few years is Wouter Kellerman (first name pronounced like: voter). How unlikely is it that a metal-flute player would put together a multi-racial band to play both original and traditional African songs (mostly with vocals by a variety of male and female singers and choruses) that are sung as wordless vocals or in several different African languages? Unlikely, but true.

His latest album, MZANSI, is now out in North America and it is a perfect example of his jubiliant, boundary-crossing style that has universal appeal to all types of listeners. This is spirited, heartfelt music. The music ranges from one tune that is mostly solo flute to a couple of tunes that use vocal sounds like rhythm instruments to songs that sound like the African equivalent of folk music. Various pieces include piano, electronic-keyboards, acoustic guitars, drums and other instruments, plus Kellerman’s flute which is never cloying or over-powering or too much center stage. He fits in his solos nicely among the singing and other instrumentation so that even though he is leading the band, he also is a member of the group. And what is nice about any artistic endeavor coming out of South Africa, there are no overt politics. One tune even has a spoken-word intro that pushes for “peace, love and harmony for all nations.” Amen, brother.