Johnny Dyani: African Bass

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Johnny Dyani (b, p, v)
Clifford Jarvis (d)

Label:

Red Records

October/2024

Media Format:

CD, LP

Catalogue Number:

RR1233339

RecordDate:

Rec. 1979

Like his esteemed collaborator, Don Cherry, Johnny Dyani was a multi-instrumentalist. The late South African is known primarily as a double bassist but he also played piano and sang quite beautifully.

On this mesmerising duo with American drummer Clifford Jarvis, Dyani creates a thrilling sound world by moving between strings, keys and voice, above all on the tour de force triptych of ‘African Anthem (Zulu)-African Blues-Ithi-Gqui’, 12 minutes of virtuosity in which his glowing bass timbres, whirlwind runs and earthy overtones are given vivid relief by impassioned screams and ululations. The mood is celebratory on the Arabic-tinged, piano-led ‘Lonely Flowers’ as Jarvis keeps a steady rolling tom tom beat which he skillfully displaces at opportune moments while the interaction between the two men on the rest of the album is as impactful.

Listening to the partners create a kind of live echo chamber through their rhythmic exhalations and irregular hand clapping on the epic closer ‘South African/The Robin Island Struff’ is to hear a unique orchestra of two.

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