Don Laka - Passion (2019)

Enthusiasm filters through Don Laka’s new 11 track album, Passion. Thanks to his open mindedness to song writing, the legendary musician comfortably straddles across a number of music styles in his latest body work, therefore, Passion serves a sound offering of extraordinarily attractive music.

Agile composing abilities see the Mamelodi-born artist move with ease between afro-fusion and smooth jazz tones that are reminiscent of the late 80s and early 90s offerings from across the world. As a multi-instrumentalist, Don Laka has the two music styles flawlessly interchangeable with each other on Passion.

“My jazz playing is really about five percent. All the music I do is based on kwela and marabi which I then mix with various music elements suited to each and every particular song I compose. Passion is my first kwaai jazz album in eight years and I am super excited about it. I have grown even more comfortable with what I have to offer musically. Recently at the Cape Town Jazz festival, we did something we have never done before with my band. We performed, back to back, at least five songs from Passion and the crowd went wild,” Don Laka said.

Soul-felt and soothing is the opening tune My Endless Love which instantly hints at good music to follow further down the release. Echoing in the song is Laka’s much earlier and well-known composition titled Neptune from his album Supernova. Kassie Street has the lively kwaainess of sound that Laka has become known and greatly loved for.

Projecting high levels of artistic finesse is the tuneful title track, Passion. It is an offering subtly blending tinges of gospel music elements with jazz to bring about a sound that cuddles the spirit.

Breezily laid back is Take My Hand, I will walk with you, a kind of song that certainly makes for great company, whether chilling at home or taking a long drive particularly with open fields displaying breath-taking views on both sides of the road. Coal Street is a catchy track with a persistent groovy percussive rhythm. Playing to the song’s cadence, Laka takes some elaborate and detailed piano solos to exhibit his nimbleness on the keys.

The pianist’s nifty finger work is once again put on display on Doman’s Dance. It is a track whose persuasive rhythm is sure to have many groovy types of song lovers taking to the dance floor to gently bob to the song’s repeated pattern of sound characterized by a distinct home brewed tone. Ko S&S picks up the pace a bit, from Doman’s Dance, to also lend itself perfectly on the dance floor where it is certain to be joined by hordes of dancers doing a type of popular group dance move called codesa.

Passion is an album complete with spiritedness, it charmingly rubs off on the soul. Initially self-taught as a musician; Laka kicked off his recording career in 1972 with the release of a record titled In the West. He went on to play with several bands and groups such as Sakhile and Umoja.