'FOREVER HOPEFUL' There are many epithets to describe the latest album release by internationally acclaimed pianist, composer, producer and recording artist, Rashid Lanie. A musical ode to hope, is one of them. A soulful tribute to roots and routes, is another. But words are ill-equipped to encapsulate the elegant exuberance of 'Forever Hopeful' A star for decades across the South African jazz scene, since 1994 Lanie has made his international musical mark. A year after being awarded scholarships to the University of Southern California and the Musicians’ Institute in Hollywood, he was invited to be the Musical Director for the launch of the Lion King album “Rhythm of the Pridelands”, featuring musicians from the bands of Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Adam of the Ants and Yanni. He received the award for Best Arrangement from the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers for “Infant Eyes” by Wayne Shorter, and was nominated Best World Music Artist as part of the Prince Ayengo Band, by the Los Angeles Music Awards. Forever Hopeful is Lanie's 5th album release of original music. But while his musical vision has broadened, his soul remains rooted in his homeland of South Africa. A passionate activist in the struggle against apartheid, Lanie has always regarded music, not only as a means of creative expression but as a vessel for transformation. It is on these levels that Forever Hopeful resonates. It begins as a simple thematic exposition on piano, drums and sax, in a style reminiscent of 'Mannenberg' - Abdullah Ibrahim's 1974 anthem of hope and resistance. Strains of marabi - a genre of urban township music that evolved in South Africa in the 20th century - are woven into a recurring jazz motif that gains momentum as the piece progresses. Spanning the South Africa's Western Cape to LA's West Coast, from Johannesburg to the world's jazz centers, Forever Hopeful flows with a serene, yet indefatigable energy.
And what begins with a specifically South African signature evolves into a smooth hybrid of global musical styles, from progressive jazz, to funk and folk. Lanie's remarkable keyboard tones power a formidable lineup of musicians, with the vibrant textures of the Prince Eyango Band from the Cameroons, the mellifluous saxophone sounds of Eric Marienthal of Chick Corea's Electrik Band, the folk-rock riffs of David Neal on rhythm guitar and progressive jazz/rock guitarist, Tony lovino, on lead. All the other instruments are performed and programmed by Lanie. "The vision behind Forever Hopeful is to showcase the influence of South African indigenous folk themes on a universal stage," explains Lanie. "And ultimately the message behind the music is to always have faith and never give up on your dreams."