“African Bass” – The reissue of an iconic global-jazz album

Written by Michael Polychronis

Johnny ‘Mbizo’ Dyani wasn’t just another jazz musician. Although he lived only 39 years (1947-1986), he wasn’t confined solely to practicing his art as a bassist and composer. He actively fought against the Apartheid regime in South Africa, which led him to leave the country in 1964 along with the Blue Notes. Of course, the Blue Notes were not just any band either. Interracial and politically engaged, they quickly drew the attention of the authorities. Dyani came from a musical family and started participating in local traditional choirs at an early age before delving into bass and later piano and vocals. Abroad, he collaborated with jazz luminaries such as Don Cherry, Steve Lacy, David Murray, Peter Brotzmann, Dollar Brand, Leo Smith, and many others. Like another Sun Ra, his music “connects” with the ancient isiXhosa culture of Africa, using “cosmic” titles in his pieces. Perhaps that’s why he’s also considered among the so-called Afrofuturists.

African Bass” was recorded in 1979 and was recently reissued from the original analog copy (Johnny Dyani – “African Bass,” Red Records / AN MUSIC – 2024). Alongside him was drummer Clifford Jarvis, who had collaborated with Sun Ra for over two decades, thus recognizing Dyani’s musical language. A language that operates on many levels. Perhaps the album shouldn’t be confined only to jazz catalogs. One of the reasons that make it outstanding is its clear integration of tribal African elements, both in the orchestration and vocals, which share equal importance, especially in the third and final track of the record. Its global texture lies at the core of the compositions and transports you to ecstatic African rituals of the continent’s tribes. After all, it represents what Dyani himself had stated: “I play jazz, but above all, I play black music. We convey a message. Armstrong had it, Ellington had it, Gillespie has it. It can be political, sociological, economic, it can relate to good or bad times. It’s our way of communicating. You don’t need to read ‘big’ books about a place to know what it stands for. Listen to their music to know what they want to say.” And one only needs to listen to his bass to understand how it transforms sonically into mbira or other indigenous string instruments without losing its Western dimension.

A reissue that excites lovers of good music and reintroduces the album to the top of the global-jazz charts, giving the opportunity for both older and younger listeners to connect with his work, albeit in a limited number of vinyl records. The recording took place in Milan on 14/11/1979 by Giancarlo Barigozzi at his namesake studio.

Johnny M. Dyani (bass, piano, vocals)
Clifford Jarvis (drums, vocals)

For those who want to learn more about the creator, they can also seek out the book “Mbizo – A book about Johnny Dyani” written by Lars Rasmussen. For the record, after his death, those of the legendary Blue Notes who remained reunited and created the album “Blue Notes For Johnny” (1987).

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