Paxton Spangler Septet

For over 30 years, Tbone Paxton and RJ Spangler have been exploring the beauty of South African jazz, inspired by such artists as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath. They began this journey with the Sun Messengers Band in 1980, followed by the Sun Sounds Orchestra, which was awarded Best Jazz Recording at the Detroit Music Awards in 1991 for the CD “Open the Doors (Eastlawn Records). They then recorded a two-CD collection with their PD9 Township Jazz Project; “The Duderstadt Session/Live at the Scarab Club” (Eastlawn Records), which won a Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording in 2015.

The Septet has released two critically acclaimed recordings: Anthem for The New Nation and Uqqozi (“Inspiration”), both on the Eastlawn imprint. These CDs have received airplay throughout the US, Europe and in Africa where their interpretations of the music were praised! The band has performed in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

“Abdullah Ibrahim is a great pianist, but he also has a superb original songbook, and this celebration of some of the sprightly octogenarian’s most well-known themes is a resounding reminder of the quality of his writing. Detroit sextet Paxton Spangler have been dutifully playing South African music for many years and there is a confidence and accuracy in the way they approach its rhythmic content, with all the requisite skip and bounce, that raises the spirits from the downbeat. Indeed, songs such as African Marketplace’ are really joyous dance anthems as well as vehicles for strong solos. While the likes of saxophonists Dan Benett and Kasan Belgrave deliver some appealingly fiery improvisations this work is as much about the ensemble as it is the repertoire. At times they have the punch of classic South African small groups led by legends such as Kippie Moeketsi, and it’s easy to imagine this working well at a festival. Enjoyable showcase for a good group, which duly hails Abdullah Ibrahim.” – Jazzwise Magazine