Lorraine Klaasen
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Lorraine Klaasen

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"Lorraine Klaasen’s tribute to Miriam Makeba"

Lorraine Klaasen wanted to pay tribute to Miriam Makeba for many years. Makeba, famed civil rights activist and popularizer of South African music around the world (notably through songs like "Pata Pata"), wasn't just a musical influence on Klaasen; she was also Klaasen's "Auntie Miriam," a good friend of Klaasen's mother, jazz singer Thandi Klaasen.

To the world, Makeba was "Mama Africa." She famously campaigned against apartheid, and in 1960 had her citizenship revoked by the South African government as a result. She spent 30 years in exile. ?

It wasn't until 2012 that Klaasen finally released Tribute to Miriam Makeba, an album now nominated for world music album of the year at the Juno Awards, announced earlier this week. Klaasen is also set to perform music from her recording at a concert in Toronto on Feb. 23, and CBC Music briefly chatted with the Soweto-born Montrealer the day after she returned from two months in South Africa. Find out more about Klaasen's Miriam Makeba tribute through the interview excerpts below, and have a listen to four songs from the album. - CBC (Li Robbins)


"Lorraine Klaasen: A Tribute To Miriam Makeba"

"A Tribute To Miriam Makeba" is a lifetime in the making, but the seeds for the project were really sown a quarter century ago, when Klaasen shared a bill with Makeba. At that time, Klaasen expressed a desire to cover her work, and Makeba gave the singer her blessing, encouraging her to put her own spin on it. Twenty five years later, Klaasen finally found herself recording Makeba's music and songs made in her image. - All About Jazz (Dan Billawsky)


"Lorraine Klaasen Africa Calling"

The popularity of South African sounds has diminished somewhat on the world music scene since its Graceland-fuelled heyday but this disc reminds us of the pleasures of the township style. The daughter of Thandie Klaasen, a famed South African jazz singer, Lorraine has called Montreal home since 1979 and has won acclaim for earlier independent recordings and reportedly dynamic performances. Her Justin Time debut, Africa Calling, balances eight original songs and four covers of South African standards from the '50s and '60s. The multilingual Klaasen sings in Zulu, Sotho, English and French here, and it's in the first two languages she shines (the generic-sounding and lyrically banal "Spring In Every Season" is the weakest track). She has a lovely, lilting voice and versatile style, and the musicianship is top-notch. Bassist Bakitki Kumalo played on Graceland, with Lucky Dube, while another long-time Dube sideman, Mongezi Ntaka, plays a pivotal role here as producer, guitarist and writer or co-writer of much of the material. His fluent playing is indeed a sweet treat. There's a definite Miriam Makeba feel to "Ngiyabonga," an album highlight. Let's hope Klaasen continues to listen to Africa, rather than being swayed by any North American commercial pressures. - exclaim (Kerry Doole)


"A tribute to Miriam Makeba"

"... the songs are majestic and Klaasen transcends every lick, line and phrase with a voice brimming with soul. Listening to her here it is easy to connect the dots that took Paul Simon to his African Graceland." - New Canadian Music (David Farrel)


"New Music review: A Tribute to Myriam Makeba"

"... Lorraine Klaasen makes the music all her own... Klaasen’s voice is as strong as it is nimble. Her energy is infectious, and it comes through in everything she touches." - The Montreal Gazette (T'Cha Dunlevy)


Discography

Title: A Tribute To Miriam Makeba
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Label: Justin Time Records Inc.
Type: LP

Title: Africa Calling
Release Date: September 1, 2012
Label: Justin Time Records Inc.
Type: LP

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Bio

Lorraine Klaasen, daughter of legendary South African Jazz singer Thandie Klaasen, is one of the few South African artists who have preserved the classic sound of ‘Township Music', which continues to be the most distinctive sound to come out of South Africa. Born and raised in Soweto, Lorraine has electrified audiences worldwide with her dynamic stage presence and showmanship. Lorraine was influenced by South Africa’s musical giants of the 1950’s and 1960’s, such as Miriam Makeba (who was a close friend of Lorraine and Thandi) as well as Dolly Rathebe, Dorothy Masuka, and Busi Mhlongo who regularly frequented her mother’s home.

In 2008, Lorraine released the highly charged album "Africa Calling" on Justin Time Records. Through working with South African record producer Mongezi Chris Ntaka, and featuring bassist Bakhiti Khumalo (who also memorably performed on Paul Simon’s landmark album, "Graceland"), Lorraine accomplished her childhood dreams of taking Township music to the rest of the globe and making a truly African record that touches every heart & soul that beats the world over.

Her latest CD, "A Tribute To Miriam Makeba" is a fitting acknowledgement to the legendary songstress, who remains the most important female vocalist to emerge out of South Africa. Hailed as the 'Empress of African Song' and 'Mama Africa', she helped bring African music to a global audience in the '60s. In a fitting homage, Lorraine and her band do 'Auntie' Miriam justice with energetic and heartfelt renditions of South African classic and traditional folk songs, including those that Miriam Makeba brought to the masses like "Pata Pata", The "Click Song" and "Jolinkomo", as well as Lorraine's own compositions inspired by the lady herself.