Washington, DC — Trumpeter Hugh Masekela surprised several hundred guests in Washington DC at a 12th anniversary celebration of South Africa's first post-apartheid government. The virtuoso musician led a performance by a four-person local band that entertained an enthusiastic crowd hosted by his sister, South African Ambassador Barbara Masekela.

The ambassador is no stranger to the art world herself. She taught literature at a U.S. university and founded the African National Congress Office of Arts and Culture before becoming chief of staff for Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison in 1990. Among the several high-level jobs to which South Africa's first democratically elected president appointed her was ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Huge Masekela is currently on a U.S. tour that includes two days helping to revive New Orleans as a music destination, in the wake of hurricane devastation, with performances at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the House of Blues. Afterwards he heads to the U.S. west coast.

Trumpeter Aaron Brodus, who joined Masekela, along with keyboardist Quincy Phillips, bassist Hamilton Hayes and percussionist Jonathan Laine, said about the chance to play with the famous South African: "It was wonderful. He's a cool cat."