Dudu Pukwana - Sounds Zila
Some more dance music coming up here, this time Dudu Pukwana's 80s band, Zila. This was the first of three lps on his and Barbara Pukwana's own label, Jika, and there was a final record, a cd out in 1990. A live recording from the 100 Club in London in 1981, here's the band in a festive mood, some riveting up-tempo numbers, some smoochers and a little traditional South African music adapted for the band. This is Dudu taking his band in a more explicit danceable direction, perhaps not as interesting as his 70s recordings with Spear from the jazz point of view, but as with the Francois Tusques' Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra, attempting to strike a sort of balance between the head and the feet, which is a good combination, particularly for a live performance. Party music, in other words.
Not a top copy, this one - a bit of crackle and some nasty scratches here and there, but it's what I found, so it's what we'll have to make do with for now.
Basic facts:
Dudu Pukwana - Sounds Zila (Jika ZL1, 1981)
A Side
Zila (Dudu Pukwana)
Uyini (Dudu Pukwana)
Chandeliers & Mirrors (Harry Beckett)
B Side
Suite Sweet Nowami (Dudu Pukwana)
Thula Sana (traditional arranged by Dudu Pukwana)
B My Dear (Dudu Pukwana)
Dudu Layi Layi (Dudu Pukwana)
ZILA
Dudu Pukwana - alto, soprano saxes, leader
Harry Beckett - trumpet, flugelhorn
Dave Defries - trumpet, flugelhorn
Errol Clarke - piano
Mark Wood - guitar
Eric Richardson - bass
Churchill Jolobe - drums
Smiley de Jones - congas
Peggy Phango - vocals
Special guests
George Lee - tenor sax, flute
Pinise Saul - vocals
Sonia Matabane - backing vocals
Linda Conco - backing vocals
Tiny Conco - backing vocals
Peter Segono - trumpet
Phil Kember - trombone
Ernest Mothle - bass
Produced by Dudu and Barbara Pukwana
Recorded live at the 100 Club, London, 16th January 1981
Liner notes by Val Wilmer
Suite Sweet Nowami was composed and performed with the support of a Jazz Bursary from the Arts Council of Great Britain
Enjoy! More Zila available from your blogger if you want it!
.jpg)
36 comments:
Thank you...
Saw Zila on numerous occasions, freat band! Partly helped by the fact that I worked behind the bar at the 100 club.
Regards/
this looks really neat. thanks a lot!
-fb
Nope, not the strongest Pukwana LP, but interesting within his discography. If you don't know already I've created just such a discography of Pukwana's recordings at http://wallofsound.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/dudu-pukwana-discography/
I'll give this a listen to see if my copy is any better. If so I'll post an upgrade.
I'm looking forward to your future posts.
Many thanks for this one. More Zila will be much appreciated.
Yes, I know about the discography. I have most of the items on the list in one form or another. The Masakela might be one to post. Jabula, too. I wasn't aware that he was on "Funky Kingston"! Gotta give it another listen.
Mona,
Zila live must have been a thrill! You weren't there on the night of the recording? It bugs me that some of the tracks are faded out before they ended. Limitations of the medium?
Wos,
if you have the Assagai "Zimbabwe" and "Afro Rock Festival", cculd you possibly up them? They've slipped by so far.
beautiful, joyous music..
Thank you so much.
If you have the other two Zila album please post 'em, scratches and all!
Assagai - Zimbabwe can be found here @320
http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2009/12/assagai-zimbabwe-1971.html
Jason, thanks for the tip. I might have thought so. A very fine blog, that one ...
Thanks for sharing this, it's much appreciated. -MB
I'm sure I'd heard that name before, couldn't say where;it's not a name one tends to forget, but wow, that sound!! I'm almost sure I hadn't actually heard him play before, and I now have another alto sax god in my pantheon of great players. Thanks so much for this introduction.
@ kinabalu, I have got both Zimbabwe and Afro Rock Festival currently undigitised. The recommended link to Zimbabwe is a good one. I'll try and find time to digitise Afro Rock Festival, but I don't remember it as a classic recording.
I can post the Masakela, but I think I've seen it on other blogs.
Hugh Masekela - Home Is Where The Music Is is on a couple of blogs in mp3 but there is a flac rip at AvaxHome.
Hi. Does anyone know where I could get a copy of Zila preferably on vinyl? I played Trombone on this record and would very much like to own a copy. Thanks, Phil Kember.
Phil,
I got it off Ebay from an individual in the UK, not from a shop. Of all the Zila records I've managed to find, this was decidedly the hardest.
New link:
1fichier
Thank you.
Further thanks: - Great !
Thanks for taking the trouble to re-up so many earlier-posted Dudu Pukwana records. Appreciated!
Thank you very much!!!
Thank you very much!!!
Any possibility of a re-up?
reup possible please? Thanks!
Kinabalu, a repost of all Zila albums will be more than much appreciated
Hi Thole. I've checked all four Zilas and from what I can see, three are missing, but the Zila86 is still OK. Go to the link near the bottom of the thread, not the one at the top. I'll have the other three items up very soon.
New link:
Adrive
Wow, nice, The Brotherhood musicians are amazing, thanks.
Thanks kinabalu!
Thanks a lot Kinabalu, I'm looking forward to the other Zilas. And please don't forget Jabula self titled album. You've been my star player and I appreciate what you do for us; so thank you thank you thank you
Coming up!
Adrive
Kinabalu, the great... amen
Thanks kinabalu and Thole.
thank u kinabalu
i first heard dudu on that solo mike heron album a long time ago, then the brotherhood and various bands. thanks and i love adrive.
robert
Thank you for the great music.
Link is still a live! Thanks for this rare gem, by the legendary Dudu, which passed away far to early!
Post a Comment