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Johnny Dyani

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Johnny Dyani · Johnny Mbizo Dyani (1945 to 1986) was a South African jazz bassist, singer and pianist. He grew up in Duncan Village near East London, in the Eastern Cape. In the early 1960s he played in the Blue Notes, South Africa's first mixed jazz band, alongside trumpeter Mongezi Feza, alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, tenor saxophonist Nikele Moyake, pianist Chris McGregor and drummer Louis Moholo. In 1964 the group fled South Africa in order to play freely, far from an apartheid system that did not allow Black and white musicians to perform together.

Music and breakthrough

In 1966 Dyani toured Argentina with Steve Lacy's quartet, where The Forest and the Zoo was recorded. In 1971 he founded his own group, Earthquake Power, and a year later, with Feza and the Turkish percussionist Okay Temiz, the group Xaba. He lived in Copenhagen and later in Sweden, where he recorded many albums under his own name. He also played with Dollar Brand, Don Cherry, Steve Lacy, David Murray, Joseph Jarman, Han Bennink, Mal Waldron and Pierre Dørge. In 1986 he died suddenly after a performance in West Berlin.

Influence

After his death the surviving Blue Notes made the album Blue Notes for Johnny. Pierre Dørge named a record Johnny Lives, and David Murray wrote the piece Mbizo. In a tribute, Pallo Jordan wrote that his music above all sounded of joy in life. Dyani shows how South African jazz in exile changed Europe.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Song for Biko and notice the bass as the leading voice, and how African singing and free jazz come together.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists