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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPUKWANA, Dudu(b Dudu Mtutuzel Pukwana, 18 July '38, Port Elizabeth, SA; d 29 June '90) Alto and soprano saxes, composer, leader. His parents were musical but he was largely self-taught, taking up sax '56; won prize as best saxophonist at Johannesburg Jazz Festival '62: pianist Chris McGregor (see his entry) formed the Blue Notes from the best at the festival, incl. bassist Johnny Dyani (b 30 Nov. '45, East London, SA; d 25 Oct. '86), but the interracial group was illegal, so they went to Europe '64, played at Antibes, then at Ronnie Scott's in London, where Dudu settled. (McGregor later formed bigger band Brotherhood of Breath '70, revived it '88 to critical acclaim.) Dudu played everything from reggae to free jazz (with drummer Han Bennink, pianist Misha Mengelberg on Yi Yo Le '78 on Instant Composers Pool label); he sessioned with the Incredible String Band and with Keith Tippett's Centipede (on Septober Energy '71 on RCA Neon), much else. He recorded with the Blue Notes '63 on Gallotone (The African Sound), '68 on Polydor (Very Urgent), also For Mongesi '76 and In Concert '78 on Ogun; with McGregor in the big band '71 and '72 on RCA Neon, also Live At Willisau '74 and Procession '78 on Ogun, soundtrack for Wole Soyinka film Harvest. With Dyani on his Steeplechase LPs Witchdoctor's Son '78 (sextet with John Tchicai), Song For Biko '79 (quartet with Don Cherry), quartet Mbizo '81. (Dyani also recorded with Steve Lacy '68 and with Abdullah Ibrahim, like the latter retaining African roots: as leader also made two vols of Music For Xaba '72 on Sonet with trio, mostly solo African Bass on Italian Red Records, Backwards And Forwards on Impetus UK with drummer John Stevens, septet Afrika '83 and quartet Angolan Cry c'85 on Steeplechase.) Dudu's other LPs: with bands Assagai '71, '72 on Vertigo, kwela group Spear '73, '74 on Caroline (Spear played at Festac in Lagos '78; album In The Townships reissued '87 on Earthworks/Virgin under Dudu's name); with Hugh Masekela and trombonist Jonas Gwangwa as African Explosion on Who (Ngubani) '69 for Ahmad Jamal Productions; on Masekela's Home Is Where The Music Is '72 on Island; also with Jabula '79, Gavin Povey '81, etc. In '78 he formed combo Zila, made Diamond Express '78 on Freedom; Sondela as Atte and Zila '79 on Irish label Ceirnini Cladag; formed own Jika Records and made Zila Sounds '81, Life In Bracknell And Willisau '83, Zila '86: Zila's driving African-inspired jazz/dance music was a popular act, personnel variously incl. veteran Harry Beckett on trumpet/flugelhorn and Phil Steriopulos on bass, plus South Africans Lucky Ranku on guitar, Fats Ramoba Mogoboya on congas, Churchill Jalobe on drums, Mervyn Africa on keyboards and powerful vocalist Miss Pinise Saul; the Jika albums had Django Bates on keyboards. Dudu's They Shoot To Kill '87 on Affinity was a duo with Stevens, dedicated to Dyani. Gideon Nxumalo's Jazz Fantasia on Teal (South Africa) incl. Kippie Moeketsi and Pukwana. |