No surprise this sophisticated South African singer finds herself endlessly compared to fellow Johannesburg musical ambassador Miriam Makeba: Both have managed to carve out new repertoires from an inspired combination of Xhosa melodies and American soul. But Simphiwe Dana is no mere Makeba disciple. She knows her gospel history, loves contemporary R&B, and can even spit a little hip-hop when necessary. And she makes every song she sings her own. Even the jazzy percussion and winding guitar lines animating all her studio outings never manage to upstage those dusky vocals.