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Double Bass Johnny Dyani and Harry Miller

damonsmith

damonsmith

May 10, 2006
10,335
9,048
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Saint Louis, MO
www.balancepointacoustics.com
#1
It was getting a little embarassing around here not to have a thread about the great South African double bassists. They had different styles but worked in many of the same contexts and with similar collaborators often together.
Some rare Johnny Dyani can be heard here:
http://inconstantsol.blogspot.com/search/label/Johnny Dyani
I'd avoid Witchdoctor's Son (the version here, the one on SteepleChase is great) as he doesn't play bass on it.

Some comercial releases here:
http://www.emusic.com/search.html?mode=x&QT=johnny+Dyani
& a great duo with Dollar Brand:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Dollar-...d-News-From-Africa-MP3-Download/11320071.html

Rare Harry Miller can be heard here:
http://inconstantsol.blogspot.com/search/label/Harry Miller

The incredible big band of South Africans and UK improvisors they both played in can be heard here:
http://inconstantsol.blogspot.com/search/label/Brotherhood of Breath

Miller's work with Peter Brötzmann is well worth tracking down as well as Dyani's work with Don Cherry.
 
#2
All of Johnny Dyani's Steeplechase recordings are well worth tracking down, as well as the albums he did with David Murray and Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra.

There's something really special in his playing, I'm not sure how to describe it exactly, something in the sense of time and the flexibility of his tone, the powerful intention of his attack. I tracked down most of his albums as leader well before I was even interested in playing the double bass.

My kids (5 and 7 yrs old) absolutely love the Steeplechase "Witchdoctor's Son", and burst into spontaneous dancing whenever it comes on. John Tchicai and Dudu Pukwana really kill on that album as well. Not that I think a child's reaction should be taken as some kind of universal endorsement, but I listen to a LOT of music and there isn't much that strikes them so hard and so consistently.
 
#4
Two of my very favourite bassists. For more Dyani reccomendations, 'Song for Biko' is incredible, with Dudu Pukwana, Don Cherry and Makaya N'tshoko. It'd be between that and 'angolan cry' for my favourite of the steeplechases. Also, the Blue Notes box-set is all fantastic.
And for Harry Miller, the trio with Louis Moholo and Mike Osbourne is unmissable. Anything with Miller and Moholo is unmissable really...
 
#6
oliebrice said:
Two of my very favourite bassists. For more Dyani reccomendations, 'Song for Biko' is incredible, with Dudu Pukwana, Don Cherry and Makaya N'tshoko. It'd be between that and 'angolan cry' for my favourite of the steeplechases. Also, the Blue Notes box-set is all fantastic.
And for Harry Miller, the trio with Louis Moholo and Mike Osbourne is unmissable. Anything with Miller and Moholo is unmissable really...
Click to expand...

Those Osbourne trios and the one quartet are fantastic. It would be great if someone dug up some broadcast of gig recordings of that trio.
 
#17
Thank you for posting these, i am a South African and had never heard of these gentleman. Which is disgraceful. Memories of many of our great jazz musicians have faded because we did not record our history correctly. For obvious reasons.

I think the new generation will have to put in more effort as far as recording and documenting jazz in South Africa.

Thank you again.
 

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