Bakithi Kumalo - What You Hear Is What You See (2021) [Hi-Res]

Bakithi Kumalo’s bass playing can be found in the heart and soul of the modern day anthems that have shaped our sense of music and culture as we know it. Ranked among the top 50 bass players in the world by Bass Player Magazine, Bakithi Kumalo is a five-time Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist. Born in the Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa and surrounded by relatives who loved music and actively performed, Kumalo landed his first job at the age of seven filling in for his uncle's bass player. Kumalo worked as a session musician in South Africa during the 1970s and early 1980s, eventually becoming a top session bassist and accompanying international performers during their South African tours.
In 1985, Kumalo was introduced to Paul Simon by producer Hendrick Lebone during the recording sessions for Simon's Graceland album. Kumalo then traveled with Simon to New York to finish the album and after the accompanying premier tour, spent several years commuting between Soweto and New York City before permanently settling in the United States. Kumalo has toured regularly with Simon throughout his career and has recorded with and performed alongside many other artists such as Joan Baez, Cyndi Lauper, Hugh Masekela, Herbie Hancock, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington Jr., Mickey Hart and Disney’s The Lion King.
Bakithi has released several albums as a solo artist and most recently has been working alongside producer Maxfeld Gast and Militia Hill in creating his upcoming album What You Hear Is What You See, featured on Ropeadope, due to premiere in the fall of 2021.



1.01 - Bakithi Kumalo - What You Hear Is What You See (4:05)
1.02 - Bakithi Kumalo - Zululand Nation (4:07)
1.03 - Bakithi Kumalo - Desert Walk (6:01)
1.04 - Bakithi Kumalo - Nomvula (4:25)
1.05 - Bakithi Kumalo - Let's Be One (3:23)
1.06 - Bakithi Kumalo - Happy Village (3:44)
1.07 - Bakithi Kumalo, Maxfield Gast, Dacia Gypsy - Electric Flow (3:57)
1.08 - Bakithi Kumalo - Nice Day (4:38)
1.09 - Bakithi Kumalo - Long Story Short (8:23)
1.10 - Bakithi Kumalo - Peaceful Water (4:10)