EVERY year the University of York confers honorary degrees on people who have made a significant contribution to society. Jazz fans were thrilled to see the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate to South African musician Hugh Masekela on July 17.

As a trumpeter, flugelhorn player, singer and defiant political commentator for many decades, he did more than any musician to put South Africa and the inhuman policy of Apartheid on the political map.

Father Trevor Huddleston helped Masekela to get his beginnings in music in the 1950s and Louis Armstrong heard of the budding young musician and sent him a trumpet. Later he met trombonist Jonas Gwanga and Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) and formed the Jazz Epistles, playing the music of their African roots and borrowings from imported American records. Because of the political situation life was not easy for black musicians and gatherings of more than ten people were banned, making musical performances virtually impossible.

Shortly after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, John Dankworth and Harry Belafonte wangled him a passport, which allowed him to leave South Africa and he went to the USA. Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong encouraged him to develop his own style based on African rather than American influences and his debut album in 1963 was Trumpet Africaine.

Continued success in the USA led him to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, alongside Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, The Who and more.

Subsequently, his instrumental single, Grazin’ In The Grass, went to number one in the American pop charts and became a world-wide smash, making him an international name. His career has covered five decades, 40 albums, appearances on countless more and his famous anti-Apartheid anthem Bring Home Nelson Mandela. The recording of the University of York ceremony, including his vocal and playing of the flugelhorn in the Central Hall of the university can still be seen on youtube.

Since the unexpected demise of Thursday jazz at Middleton’s Hotel, your next local essential jazz will be on Sunday at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate, at 1pm. John Marley (bass) and Paul Smith (drums) will host with guests (01904 620222). Later on Sunday, pianist Chris Moore and the Central Scrutinizers will be at the Phoenix Inn, George Street, at 8pm. The Phoenix will continue to run the Wednesday night jazz jam (01904 656401).

Outside of York, Jazz in the Spa on Saturday will present American Harlem stride pianists Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi (01937 844898). Scarborough Jazz operates every Wednesday at the Cask Inn, Cambridge Terrace, and next week’s guests will be Djangologie, with their spirited re-creation of the Hot Club of France gypsy jazz (01723 500570).