The Malombo / 3rd Ear Music connection began, synchronistical, at the 1964 Castle Larger Jazz Festival Orlando, Soweto. 3rd Ear Music founder, Audrey Smith (Friend-Smith) was appointed a judge at the Festival – the only pale-female on the bench. Hers was apparently the casting vote that got The Malombo Jazz Men (Philip, Abe & Julian) first prize – against all odds & stiff American style big brass band Township competition.

Ben Segal, the other 3rd Ear Music founder had not as yet met his 3rd Ear partner Audrey Smith in 1964 - TEAL records’ assistant music publisher. But Ben was so moved by Malombo from another space, as Chairman of SAFMA (The South African Folk Music Association) in 1965 he recorded Philip, Julian & Abe at the Wits Great Hall concert, on his domestic tape deck. A quarter-track demo tape that accompanied me on my US & European trip in 1969. Ben’s objective was to ‘broaden’ the SAFMA committees SAfrican Folk music horizons – given that they were mainly grooved into the lyrical acoustic guitar & English poems & protest thing.