South African musician Johnny Dyani begins our week with world class jazz, followed by Atlanta-based Dominica, West Indies born neo-soul vocalist/composer Heston. And close out with six versions of Jackie McLean’s “Appointment In Ghana” featuring The Jazz Crusaders, Howard Johnson & Gravity, Laika Fatien, Jackie McLean and McCoy Tyner, and Marc Carey in addition to Jackie Mac’s original recording.
These musicians played as though jazz was in their blood, as though jazz was their musical mother tongue. South African musicians are the international separated-at-birth twins of Black jazz musicians from the United States. And yet, at the same time, they have their own distinctive heritage that manifests itself in a distinctive sound and distinctive approaches to the universal music known as jazz.
Whereas you can find individuals worldwide who are extremely proficient jazz musicians, only in South Africa do we get communities of significant jazz players who easily match their overseas kin. Moreover, even in this regard, Johnny Dyani is extraordinary. In the history of jazz there have been very few bass players who lead the way as innovators, composers, band leaders and/or performers.
Of course Charles Mingus comes immediately to mind, and some might point to Ray Brown but after that acoustic bass players as leading lights becomes a dim picture. Although I wish he had recorded more music, I am extremely grateful for the double handful of recordings on featuring Johnny Dyani’s beautiful music.
I have always marveled at how well Dyani could excel in a wide variety of musical styles: from straight ahead swing to free jazz, from classics to traditional South African melodies, no one else had such command and breadth of music. . Whether in duet or larger ensemble, playing originals or traditional music, Johnny Dyani was a major musical force.
—Kalamu ya Salaam