{"product_id":"hard-top-by-kippie-moketsi-vinyl-2lp","title":"Hard Top by Kippie Moketsi (Vinyl 2LP)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eHard Top assembles the previously unreleased 1975 recordings of revered South African saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi (credited throughout the 1970s using the spelling variation Moketsi). The 2LP vinyl edition is presented in a gatefold sleeve featuring archival artwork by Mafa Ngwenya and comes from As-Shams\/The Sun on the heels of Tete Mbambisa's African Day album in 2024.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy 1975, at the age of 50, saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi had already earned his stripes as a South African jazz figurehead. His tenure with the Jazz Epistles and the cast of the \"South African Jazz Opera\" King Kong in the late-1950s had not only marked his own rise in prominence but also seen him help catalyse the momentum of a younger generation of iconic artists who would go on to become the defining figures of modern South African jazz. While he didn't enjoy the same international attention as his protégés Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim, his noble and dedicated career on the local jazz scene until his death in 1983 saw him forge an enduring legacy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOwing to the efforts of record producer Rashid Vally, Kippie Moeketsi's journey through the 1970s is beautifully documented, most notably on the albums Dollar Brand + 3 (1973)\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e, Tshona! (1975) and Blue Stompin' (1977), in which he shares the spotlight with Abdullah Ibrahim, Pat Matshikiza and Hal Singer respectively. As a featured performer on Soul of the City's Diagonal Street (1975) and Dennis Mpale's Our Boys are Doing It (1977), Moeketsi is seen embracing the popular orientations of South African jazz in 1970s but, having come up in the 1940s and 1950s, he never forgot his roots as an admirer and dedicated scholar of Classic American Jazz.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile Moeketsi did write some memorable compositions, it was in the role of interpreter that he shone most brightly. With its title derived from a good-natured nickname that nodded to Moeketsi's elder status by way of his receding hairline, Hard Top is a covers album that looks back in time to the era of rhythm and blues while also indulging 1970s pop and funk with a decidedly South African vibe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarking the 100th anniversary of Kippie Moeketsi's brith on 27 July 1925 and officially joining his catalogue 50 years after it was recorded, Hard Top celebrates the multiple dimensions of a veritable South African jazz legend. The release also provides an opportunity to reflect on the unwavering support of his producer, fan and friend Rashid Vally, who passed away in December 2024.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased May 2, 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlto Sax – Kippie Moketsi *\u003cbr\u003eTenor Sax – Duke Makasi\u003cbr\u003eBass – Sipho Gumede\u003cbr\u003eDrums – Gilbert Matthews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTracks 1, 2, 3 – Undated\u003cbr\u003eEngineer: Robin Ritchie\u003cbr\u003ePiano – Pat Matshikiza\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrack 4 – Dated 18 August 1975\u003cbr\u003eTracks 5, 6, 7 – Dated 2 October 1975\u003cbr\u003eAlto Sax – Barney Rachabane\u003cbr\u003ePiano – Jabu Nkosi\u003cbr\u003eGuitar – Enoch Mthaleni\u003cbr\u003eTrumpet – Dennis Mpale\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded in 1975 at Gallo Sound Studios,\u003cbr\u003eJohannesburg, South Africa\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Rashid Vally\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCover Artwork by Mafa Ngwenya\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn Vinyl Edition:\u003cbr\u003eGatefold Artwork by Mafa Ngwenya\u003cbr\u003eBack Cover Photo by Evans Makapana Mboweni\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTape Transfers by Rob Allingham\u003cbr\u003eAudio Mastering by Noah Mintz\u003cbr\u003eDesign and Layout by Rouleaux van der Merwe\u003cbr\u003eCompiled and Produced by Calum MacNaughton\u003cbr\u003eExecutive Producer: Rashid Vally\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e* NOTE ON SPELLING\u003cbr\u003eMoeketsi is the standard version of the South African family name and the spelling most commonly used when referring to Kippie. Physical and digital editions of Hard Top apply the spelling variant Moketsi, which was used for Kippie's artist credits throughout the 1970s, appearing on the albums Dollar Brand + 3 (1973), Tshona! (1975), Sikiza Matshikiza (1976), Blue Stompin' (1977) and Our Boys are Doing It (1977). It is not known why this variant was adopted but it remains in use for his As-Shams Archive discography while general commentary about Kippie defers to the standard spelling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCat. No. ASA105\u003cbr\u003e℗ 1975 © 2025 As-Shams Archive\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"ROASTIN' RECORDS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47419905278123,"sku":null,"price":749.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/2465\/1691\/files\/a3761395020_10.jpg?v=1784207730","url":"https:\/\/roastinrecords.com\/products\/hard-top-by-kippie-moketsi-vinyl-2lp","provider":"ROASTIN' RECORDS","version":"1.0","type":"link"}