Hugh Musekela was a true virtuoso. He is often called the father of South African Jazz, with a career spanning from the 50s all the way up to his death.
He was a prolific musician, publishing over 54 albums!
His main instrument was the trumpet, and the variations of the trumpeter. He had moved to the U.S.A. after the Apartheid regime became increasingly repressive in the 60s.
His music became a conduit for his activism, and indeed he composed one of the anti-apartheid anthems, “Bring Him Back Home”, about Mandela.
“Don’t Go Lose It Baby” is more of a synth pop banger than a Jazz classic. It was played extensively by early house DJs like Larry Levine.
The bassline pops, more of an electro sound than disco. The rest of the song fits so beautifully around that, with lush strings, breathy female vocals, and the occasional flurry of slightly dubbed out trumpet notes.
The song was released in 1984 on Techno-Bush, but the longer Stretch mix was released as a single in the same year.