This South African pianist's discography is huge, but he's played with Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, and others, and he's still around. What's a good starting place?
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 23 August 2012 20:14 (9 months ago) Permalink
how about at the (relative) beginningactually, aside from a johnny dyani duo record, i think that's all i have by this dude. but i like him!
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 August 2012 22:21 (9 months ago) Permalink
is that good news from africa? beautiful record, one of my favorites.
― call all destroyer, Thursday, 23 August 2012 22:40 (9 months ago) Permalink
His daughter is Jean Grae!
― Choogle Image Search (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 23 August 2012 22:41 (9 months ago) Permalink
i think the dyani/ibrahim record i have is called echoes of africa, or something along those lines. i should dig it out, i haven't listened to it all that much.
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 August 2012 22:44 (9 months ago) Permalink
AFRICAN SPACE PROGRAM
― 69, Thursday, 23 August 2012 22:55 (9 months ago) Permalink
(that's kind of the only one i think ill hold on to forever, though ive heard/owned most of his records at one point...)
I mainly have live sets i picked up from Dime etc.Have a great late 60s one with John Tchicai and Gato Barbieri which is really pretty avant.Also a few 70s 1s.
What I've heard of his less fiery current stuff isn't bad either, more based in earlier jazz and township folk.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 23 August 2012 22:57 (9 months ago) Permalink
I love this guy. One of my favorite players of all time.
He's a very versatile player. One album will be straight post-bop, the next will be free and the one after that will be funky funky. All are played incredibly well.
Good News From Africa is usually considered his masterpiece (and it's really good, to be sure), but I prefer his later 70's albums like Cape Town Fringe, Soweto and African Marketplace. There's just a really good melodic, soulful sound to the material on those albums. I hesitate to throw the term "soul jazz" at that stuff, but there's definitely a resonating, introspective tone the heads. The album Soweto is honestly among some of the happiest music I've ever heard.
The great —but also intimidating— thing about him is that he's been consistently good through his entire career. I definitely have favorite albums, but, just off the top of my head right now, I can't think of an album that I don't like or am even lukewarm about.
If you're up for an adventure, check out the album he did with Max Roach: http://www.allmusic.com/album/streams-of-consciousness-mw0000032771
― Austin, Thursday, 23 August 2012 23:51 (9 months ago) Permalink
I only have The Dream, but it's really good.
― wmlynch, Thursday, 23 August 2012 23:54 (9 months ago) Permalink
Great start, thanks everyone!
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Friday, 24 August 2012 02:04 (9 months ago) Permalink
Anything with Johnny Dyani, I'm all over it. Gonna start there. Did he record with any of the other Blue Notes / Brotherhood of Breath folks?
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Friday, 24 August 2012 02:05 (9 months ago) Permalink
― 69, Thursday, August 23, 2012 6:55 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― 69, Thursday, August 23, 2012 6:55 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark
good to hear that, I didn't want to chime in on the thread because that's the ONLY one I have or have heard, but I think it's good
― dmr, Friday, 24 August 2012 02:46 (9 months ago) Permalink
I only know African Magic (from 2003) but I really like it. I'm embarrassed to admit that I did not know his career stretched so far back and that he had been so prolific. AMG says African Magic is different from his other concerts. Maybe I should look into more.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 24 August 2012 03:18 (9 months ago) Permalink