The Jazz Epistles were the very first South African jazz group who broke away from the swinging and danceable jazz forms in vogue during the 1950s. A group formed by strong personalities like pianist Dollar Brand, later known as Abdulah Hibrahim, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, saxophonist Kippi Moeketzi, trombonist Jonas Gwangwa, bassist Johnny Getze and drummer Makaya Ntschoko. A bunch of jazz modernists who already in the late 1950s, under the influence of the American "Bop" attitude began to switch on a more complex and hip music style. In 1959 just before breaking up the Jazz Epistles released their first and only album, a great piece of work which stands as the first album released by a Black South-African band. A cultural manifesto as part of the anti-apartheid struggle of the time.