At the age of 21, she joined Arthur Klugman's traveling show, Coloured Jazz and Variety, on a tour of South Africa. When the production failed, she found herself stranded on the road where she was fortunate enough to meet legendary South African saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi. In 1959, she returned to Capetown where she took her place on the city’s by-then flourishing jazz scene. There she would meet pianist Dollar Brand (aka Abdullah Ibrahim), whom she would later marry. They began working together and in that same year she recorded what would have been the first jazz LP in South Africa's history. Titled My Songs for You, with accompaniment by Ibrahim’s trio, the recording of mostly standards was sadly never released.
In the aftermath of South Africa’s Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, Benjamin and Ibrahim decided to join the growing South African exile community in Europe. The couple, along with bassist Johnny Gertze and drummer Makhaya Ntshoko, settled in Zurich, Switzerland and worked throughout Germany and Scandinavia, meeting some of the greatest American jazz players, including Don Byas, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew, Ben Webster, Bud Powell, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk. The artist who would have the greatest impact on Benjamin’s life, however, was the inimitable Duke Ellington.
Benjamin met Duke while he was in Zurich in 1963. Standing in the wings during most of his band’s performance, once the concert ended she insisted that Duke hear her husband’s trio at the Club Africana, a local jazz spot where the couple worked fairly regularly. Duke obliged, but insisted that Benjamin sing for him. He adored her voice and promptly arranged for the couple to fly to Paris and record separate albums for Frank Sinatra’s Reprise label. Ibrahim’s record, Duke Ellington Presents The Dollar Brand Trio, was released the following year and subsequently helped him build a following in Europe and the United States. Unfortunately, Benjamin’s recording, despite its excellence and guest appearances by both Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, inexplicably remained unreleased. (The lost date was finally put out in 1996 by Enja Records, under the title A Morning in Paris.)
Benjamin maintained a friendly relationship with Ellington, who remained an enthusiastic supporter of her singing. In 1965, Duke arranged to have her perform with his band in the U.S. at the Newport Jazz Festival. At one point, he asked her to join his band permanently, but she declined because it would have taken her away from Ibrahim, whom she had married in February of 1965. Throughout the 1960’s Benjamin and Ibrahim moved back and forth between Europe and New York City, where they struggled to make it in the jazz world. For Benjamin, who had yet to release a recording of her own, gigs were few and far between. She spent much of the period as a staunch supporter of her husband and raising their son, Tsakwe.
The year 1976 marked a turning point for Benjamin. She and Ibrahim returned to South Africa to live; she gave birth to her daughter, Tsidi; and went into the studio and recorded African Songbird, the first album under her own name to be released. The LP, made up entirely of original compositions, not only unveiled her considerable talent as a composer, but revealed her interest in South Africa’s freedom struggle. In 1979, she launched her own record label, Ekapa, to produce and distribute her and Ibrahim’s music. Between 1979 and 2002, she released eight of her own albums: Sathima Sings Ellington, Dedications, Memories and Dreams, Windsong, Lovelight, Southern Touch, Cape Town Love, and Musical Echoes.
Each of these recordings received critical acclaim hailing Benjamin’s individuality and vocal talents. Dedications was nominated for a Grammy in 1982. A mix of original compositions and standards, the records reveal the full range of her talents as a singer, songwriter and bandleader. Indeed, she had brought together some of the most talented musicians in America to accompany her, including saxophonist Carlos Ward, pianists Kenny Barron, Larry Willis and Onaje Allan Gumbs, bassist Buster Williams and drummers Billy Higgins and Ben Riley.
Bringing together her two worlds - Cape Town and New York City - has been an essential element of Benjamin’s music. She’s recorded in both places. For the most part, she has used American musicians for her U.S. recordings and South African musicians when in her native land. However, for her most recent CD, Musical Echoes, she decided to bring the American pianist and collaborator, Stephen Scott, to Cape Town to record with two South Africans, bassist Basil Moses and drummer Lulu Gontsana. The result is a true synthesis of both worlds, incorporating American jazz styles with trademark Cape Town rhythms.
Recently, Sathima has begun to receive the kinds of accolades befitting an artist of her stature. In October of 2004, South African president Thabo Mbeki bestowed upon her the Order of Ikhamanga Silver Award in recognition for her “excellent contribution as a jazz artist” in South Africa and internationally, as well as for her contribution “to the struggle against apartheid.” And in March of 2005, the prestigious art group, Pen and Brush, Inc., presented her with a Certificate of Achievement for her work as a performer, musician, composer, and “activist in the struggle for human rights in South Africa.” Sathima is featured in the March 2006 issue of Jazztimes.
Sathima’s next album, SongSpirit, is due to be released on October 17th. A compilation record, it includes tracks from her earlier albums, starting with A Morning In Paris and going through Musical Echoes, plus a previously unreleased duet with Abdullah Ibrahim from 1973.
Music
Sathima Bea Benjamin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the spirit
Within you
Deep within you
Find your sound
Then let it flow
Free
And out
The lyrics of Sathima Bea Benjamin's song "Music" convey a profound message about the power of music and its connection to our inner selves. The opening line, "Music is the spirit within you," suggests that music is not just an external form of expression, but rather a deeply ingrained part of our being. It implies that music has the ability to touch our souls and bring forth emotions and experiences that are unique to each individual.
The subsequent line, "Deep within you," further emphasizes the idea that music originates from within us. It suggests that music is not only a means of external communication, but also a channel through which we can explore our own inner world. This notion highlights the capacity of music to provide catharsis, self-discovery, and self-expression.
The following lines, "Find your sound, then let it flow, free and easy, and out," encourage individuals to embrace their own unique musical voice and allow it to flow freely. It suggests that musical expression should be both effortless and authentic, devoid of restrictions and limitations. It encourages listeners to explore their own creative potential, unhindered by expectations or norms.
In summary, Sathima Bea Benjamin's song "Music" celebrates the transformative and liberating power of music. It encourages individuals to recognize the profound impact of music on their inner selves and urges them to embrace their own musical voice, allowing it to flow freely and authentically.
Line by Line Meaning
Music
The expression of one's inner self
Is the spirit
It is the essence of one's being
Within you
Resides deep inside you
Deep within you
At the core of your being
Find your sound
Discover your unique voice
Then let it flow
Allow it to effortlessly manifest
Free
Unrestrained and unrestricted
And easy
Effortless and natural
And out
To express outwardly and share with the world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: B. Benjamin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
theseeker61
This was a very pronounced tune in my musical soundtrack in the 80's. Having a Sathima Bea Benjamin morning... Thanks Sathima!
Sindiswa Tshomela
This music makes me feel good❤
Julian Wenn Creativity
pure. Find your sound and let it flow free and easy .
Sizwe Msila
Proudly South African Jazz
Truth & Right's
South African Jazz is very very pretty music... Abdullah Ibrahim....wheeeh, is music is astounding
Beatnerd
This is beauty at it's best!!
Ruben Perez
This is a Gem
Danny Barrett
..Love, Buster's sound..and sweet Billy Higgins..as tasteful as they come...Larry Willis, has played forever and always..creative..lovely lovely sound....Danny Barrett, thanks Cristina..
Robert Appleton
discogs:
Alto Saxophone – Carlos Ward
Drums – Lulu Gontsana
Guest – Abdullah Ibrahim, Duke Ellington
Piano – Kenny Barron, Onaje Allan Gumbs
underground house
goosebumps..