27/07/2022, 14:57 Freeway – Abahambi | Umlazi (2022, Vinyl) - Discogs

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Freeway (9) – Abahambi | Umlazi

Label: Matasuna Rec. – MSR033
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Country: Germany
Released: 24 Jun 2022
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style:
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Release [r23703215]

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Have: 21 Last Sold: 20 Jul 2022

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Avg Rating: 5/5 Median: £10.74
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Tracklist Hide Credits

A Abahambi 5:04
Written By – Sipho Gumede

B Umlazi 4:50
Written By – Enoch Mthalane

Notes

Song 1: Abahambi
Composed by Sipho Gumede.
Sigude Music (Sheer Publishing)

Song 2: Umlazi
Composed by Enoch Mthalane
Copyright Control

© 1975 Gallo Record Company

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27/07/2022, 14:57 Freeway – Abahambi | Umlazi (2022, Vinyl) - Discogs

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Videos (2) Edit

Freeway Abahambi

5:09
Abahambi - Umlazi

4:50

Reviews

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SoulBrigada 26 Jun 2022

"Matasuna Records" journey goes to "South Africa" for the first time to reissue two superb
Afro-/Jazzfunk songs by the band "Freeway". Released in 1975 on the South African label "Flame",
the album "Abahambi – Balomhlaba" was rediscovered and re-released by the good folks of "Black
Pearl Records" from Berlin in 2013. The LP immediately landed on Matasuna Records' album best list
and was at the top of the reissue wish list. Now that goal has come true to officially release two songs
on 45, making them available as 7inch vinyl singles for the first time. Transferred from the original
master tapes and remastered to sound as good as never before. An essential release!
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27/07/2022, 14:57 Freeway – Abahambi | Umlazi (2022, Vinyl) - Discogs

The title track of the album "Abahambi" composed by "Sipho Gumede" and also the album opener is
also the A-side of the Matasuna release. The song immediately builds up an incredible groove with the
first bar and offers an atmospherically dense, 5-minute funk firework. The musicians master their
instruments to perfection: be it in the collective playing as well as in the polished solo passages,

where they can fully demonstrate their skills. One of the tunes that could run endlessly without ever
getting boring.

On the flip side, the song "Umlazi" composed by "Enoch Mthalane" is another testament to the
sophistication of their arrangements & musicality. Although this song is much slower in tempo, it is in
no way inferior to the A-side in intensity. Especially the piano generates a hypnotic groove, which is
skillfully continued by the guitar. Another musical treat!

The fact that the composers of the songs and musicians of the band are (or were) well-known greats
of South African jazz music, but the album respectively the band name „Freeway“ does not appear in
any bio/discography is more than curious. Apparently it is considered proven that the band was
founded by bass player "Sipho Gumede".

Born in "Durban" (South Africa), "Sipho Gumede" learned to play the guitar autodidactically until he
received his first introduction to jazz from jazz guitarist "Cyril Magubane" at the age of 16. He switched
to bass and then got his first professional music job as a member of the "Jazz Revellers" band. In
1970 he went to "Johannesburg" where he met, worked with and toured with some great musicians of
that time. He formed several bands with some of them such as "Roots", "Spirits Rejoice" or "Sakhile".
Gumede also recorded collaborative pieces with other jazz legends before recording his first solo
album in 1985. In the following years he was involved in tours of North America, Europe, as well as
many African countries. In 2000, Sipho moved back to "KwaZulu-Natal", where he taught music and
performed for township youth. His artistic productivity did not stop there, however, and he produced a
number of other albums. In total, he produced, recorded and contributed to more than 20 albums. He
died in July 2004 after a short illness.
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