The Promise of a Future, Masekela's first release on his own label, Chisa, captured the trumpeter's increasingly experimental spirit, blending his signature Afro-jazz with elements of psychedelia and rock. It was a critical and commercial disappointment, but a vital stepping stone towards his more avant-garde work of the following decade.
- Recorded in a single day session at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York City, the album was produced by Masekela himself. The track "Riot" was a protest song against the apartheid regime in South Africa. It failed to chart in the US or UK, marking a downturn after the success of "Grazing in the Grass."
- Despite its title, the album was recorded entirely in New York City, not South Africa. The core band included future Weather Report members Joe Zawinul and Miroslav Vitouš. Masekela would later express disappointment with the album's commercial performance.
- The album's cover art, featuring a psychedelic paisley pattern, reflected the growing influence of rock music on Masekela's sound. Despite its commercial failure, the album is now considered a cult classic among fans of avant-garde jazz and world music. It was reissued in 2000 with bonus tracks.
Hugh Masekela was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, bandleader, and composer known for his jazz music with African roots. In 1968, he was at the height of his international fame, having recently scored a global pop hit with "Grazing in the Grass."
Tracklist
