20 February 2010

Johnny Mbizo Dyani - African Bass



Here's some more Johnny Mbizo Dyani, this time a session recorded in Milano in November 1979, about a month or so prior to the Stockholm sessions we featured in the last post. This, however, is a solo/duo set with drummer/percussionist Clifford Jarvis and quite different from the Stockholm session. Only three pieces on this record, first a solo bass track with added Mbizo vocals, then a piano-drums duo with Jarvis on drums and then finally, on the second side, an extended duo piece, starting with vocal improvisations and handclaps, then sequing into a bass-drums duo, starting and ending with a four note motiv and developing into a drum solo with some frenzied arco playing from Mbizo in the middle. A much more closeted, intimate set, this one, featuring the fat, thick tone of Mbizo's bass, of which I'll never grow tired.

This one was out on the Italian Red Record label and has never been rereleased. A bit of background static on this disc, but hopefully, not too distracting. This one is for Igor/Selim and their valuable discographical project, to which this is a small contribution.

The basic facts:
Johnny M. Dyani - African Bass
Red Record VPA 149

Johnny M. Dyani - bass, piano, voice
Clifford Jarvis - drums, voice

Side1
Afrikan Anthem (Zulu) (trad. arr. J.M. Dyani)
Afrikan Blues (J.M.Dyani)
Ithi-Gqi (J.M.Dyani)

Side2
South Afrikan (trad.arr. J.M.Dyani)
The Robin Irland Struff (J.M.Dyani)

Recorded at Barigozzi Studio, Milan, 14/11/79
Produced by Sergio Veschi
Photos: E. Carminati

It's actually listed as "Irland", but I trust it's a typo for "Island". There's no date of release for this record, but as the session was in late 1979, I guess we're talking 1980 or later.

As always, enjoy!

28 comments:

kinabalu said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gilhodges said...

Up to your old tricks, eh, Kinabalu? What a gorgeous slab of wax this is. My old vinyl specimen is ready for a rest. A blessing!

Wallofsound said...

Many thanks, kinabalu, over the years I've made many attempts to get my own copy of this. Until then it will be great to hear what the record sounds like.

exilestreet said...

Indeed...many thanx for this and the last one. Scuse my ignorance but what is discography project you mention?
Regards/

kinabalu said...

Mona, the said gentlemen are on a mission to document the entire Red Record catalogue on an invitation-only blog. If they read this, they might extend you an invitation, hopefully.

kinabalu said...

gilhodges, fer sure. But you knew that ...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this and a lot other things you posted. great work!

Igor said...

Thanks so much, kinabalu, for thinking on our small RR community.
What a great contribution this is!

Igor said...

@Mona
Could you, please, contact me.
wazooline@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

wow. the biggest of thank you's.
I am a big fan of mr Dyani and this is among his truly finest work. Together with "Witchdoctor's son" with Okay Temiz.

U rule.

Anonymous said...

Could anybody, please, re-upload this album? It is very hard to find one!

kinabalu said...

The flacs are gone, but the mp3s are still there.

Anonymous said...

Yes, they are! I didn't check mp3 link, i'll gladly take it, thank you!

tommy said...

Howdy everyone -longtime fan of JD's music and saddled with only the first solo track on a copy of a copy of copy of a cassette ! The mp3 is gone now too - is there any chance of a re-up ?
I dunno about the "Witchdoctor's Son" with Temiz - I'll give it another listen to make see if I missed something.

Anonymous said...

paul said....
Many thanks for great site! Any chance of a re-up of this recording.

kinabalu said...

New link:

1fichier

headman said...

Thanks, kinabalu...missed this first time around.

Solomon said...

Thank you!

Javier Roz said...

Thanks again kinabalu! Love that bass playing

Anonymous said...

thank you for the re-up after all these years kinabulu...

Anonymous said...

Masterpiece! And an underrated one too.
I wish there were more recordings with Mbizo in this raw, intimate setting.
He's on fire as well as the drummer.
Hope it gets re released soon....

Ernst Grgo Nebhuth said...

This time I'll get it.
I created (what a word for such a mundane task) a blogger account the month you were posting it - February 2010.
And some months later I was invited to IS...
Thank you, kinabalu.

_rirrie said...

yooo! please re-up. thank you.

pierre d'alai said...

Would you be able to upload this one again, please?

kinabalu said...

Sure thing.

Adrive

pierre d'alai said...

Thanks so much. It's solid stuff.

Destroyer1985 said...

Thanks!

wrayb said...

Thank you very much