Coming to the final instalment in this series of Dudu Pukwana and Zila posts, this sees the band live at the Battersea Arts Centre in 1989 and it may possibly even be the last known recording of Dudu Pukwana, who died in 1990. Being a live recording, it's looser, more informal, more relaxed even than the Zila 86 studio recording we posted here last, and quite possibly for that reason, I happen to like it better. But judge for yourself. And we get to hear yet another version of "Mra", here interspersed with "Khali". There can never be too many versions of "Mra" in my humble opinion. Some of other tunes may also be known from earlier Zila and Blue Notes records.
Basic facts:
ZILA
DUDU PUKWANA alto and soprano saxophone
PINISE SAUL vocals and cabassa
LUCKY RANKU guitar
ERIC RICHARDS bass
ROLAND PERRIN keyboards
STEVE ARGÜELLES drums
FATS RAMOBA MOGOBOYA congas
1. MRA-KHALI (D.Pukwana/K.Ngcukana)
2. HAMBA (GO AWAY) (V.Ndlazilwana)
3. BIG APPLE (D.Pukwana)
4. COSMICS (D.Pukwana)
5. A BLUES FOR NICK (D.Pukwana)
6. ZWELITSHA (D.Pukwana)
Recorded at Battersea Arts Centre, London, 2.11.89 by TONY ROBINSON
Produced by DUDU PUKWANA, STEVE ARGÜELLES
We're not quite through with Dudu yet, so hang in there!
This is a fine album that I miraculously located on CD a while back (may still be available in some circles)--IMO the best of the Zila dates, maybe a touch below the Spear albums. The band is peppered with stalwarts of the South African diaspora, most of the compositions repeats of older tunes... it lends it a very nostalgic feel--though this album has, in my estimation, dated better than most of the other recordings by this band. For fans of the more organic sound heard on "In the Townships" or even the Assegai albums, you'll find the electronic sounds surprisingly subdued and well integrated--producing a live, largely acoustic ensemble sound and some solid jazz/funk/free/Mbaqanga blowing.
ReplyDeleteTwo things that stick out especially well: (1) the strength of Dudu's playing at this late stage of his career (still, clearly, one of the world's finest altoists and capable of summoning the thick, raspy tone and chaotic, spring-loaded attack of his "Very Urgent" days) and (2) probably the best version of "MRA" on record not essayed by the Brotherhood of Breath (I favor it over the other Pukwana versions, the one on "Thunderbolt," and even the recent Moholo-Moholo/Tippett re-envisionings)--thanks, in large part, to the amazingly propulsive playing of guitarist Lucky Ranku.
-Karl ADE
Yes, another great Dudu album, but still available on CD... only from http://www.jazzloft.com/p-48096-cosmics-chapter-90.aspx as far as I can tell.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered mine, fwiw.
Cheers!
Thanks for the continued Dudu. Appreciate the opportunity to hear this one.
ReplyDeletejason
What an excellent blog...Fantastic Dudu...Many,many thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes, Lucky Ranku is certainly one of the reasons which make this album very good as was Harry Beckett on the earlier Willisau-Bracknell live album.
ReplyDeleteRe. availability: I did not check Jazzloft, but among the other places I did check, I was only able to locate a couple of used copies. That's all.
FYI I'm pleased I ordered mine from Jazzloft when I did... as they're now sold out.
ReplyDeleteI think that might be the end of the retail price, new copies of this CD on the market now.
Cheers!
New link:
ReplyDeleteAdrive
This one has yet another version of Mra, which to these ears is always a good thing.
Thanks again, kinabalu.
ReplyDeleteMega thanks!
ReplyDelete