Dudu pukwana biography of nancy drew

South African saxophonist and composer (–)

Dudu Pukwana
Birth name	Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana
Born	18 July Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Died	30 June () (aged&#;51) London, England
Genres	Jazz, kwela
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instrument(s)	Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, piano
Years active	s&#;&#;
Labels	77 Records, Vertigo, Virgin, Caroline, Affinity, ICP

Musical artist

Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana (18 July – 30 June )^[1] was a South African saxophonist and composer.

Early years in South Africa

Dudu Pukwana was born in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.^[1] He grew up studying piano in his family,^[1] but in he switched to alto saxophone after meeting tenor saxophone player Nikele Moyake.^[2] In , Pukwana won first prize at the Johannesburg Jazz Festival with Moyake's Jazz Giants ( Gallo/Teal).

In his early days he also played with Kippie Moeketsi. Chris McGregor then invited him to join the pioneering Blue Notes sextet,^[3] where he played along with Mongezi Feza, Nikele Moyake, Johnny Dyani and Louis Moholo. Although the Blue Notes are often considered McGregor's group, Pukwana was initially the principal composer and all the group members had pivotal roles.

Emigration to Europe

As mixed-race groups were illegal under apartheid,^[4] the Blue Notes, increasingly harassed by authorities, emigrated to Europe in , playing in France and Zürich, and eventually settling in London.^[3] After The Blue Notes split in the late s, Pukwana joined McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath big band, which again featured his soloing heavily.^[3] As a composer Pukwana wrote "Mra," one of the best-loved tunes by the Brotherhood.

In February , Pukwana received his first mention in America’s DownBeat magazine: "Tenorist Ronnie Scott’s "Old Place", having a hard time breaking even, scored a financial success with the Bob Stuckey Trio, featuring the leader’s organ and altoist Dudu Pukwana". The trio later expanded to a quartet when Phil Lee joined on guitar, and this group performed twice on BBC's Jazz Club.

Dudu pukwana biography of nancy Dudu Pukwana was born in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. [1] He grew up studying piano in his family, [1] but in he switched to alto saxophone after meeting tenor saxophone player Nikele Moyake. [2] In , Pukwana won first prize at the Johannesburg Jazz Festival with Moyake's.

As a quartet the band also had a regular session at the Witches Cauldron in Belsize Park. The band completed a series of UK dates throughout , including regular appearances at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.^[5]

Assagai, Spear and Zila, etc.

He also went on to form two groups with Feza and Moholo.

The first was Assagai, an afro rock band that recorded for the Vertigo label. The second was Spear, with whom he recorded the seminal afro-jazz album In the Townships in for Virgin Records at The Manor Studio.

Dudu pukwana biography of nancy williams Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana was a renowned South African saxophonist, composer, and pianist. Inspired by Nikele Moyake, Pukwana switched from piano to alto saxophone. He gained recognition by winning the Johannesburg Jazz Festival with Moyake's Jazz Giants. Joining the Blue Notes led by Chris McGregor, Pukwana played a pivotal role as a composer.

Assagai and Spear, which recorded a few albums in the early s, blended kwela rhythms, rocking guitars, and jazz solos.^[3]

Pukwana played on Matata'sIndependence album that was released in ^[6][7]

Pukwana's playing was heard in many diverse settings including recordings of Mike Heron, Centipede and Toots and the Maytals (Reggae Got Soul) as well as improvising with Misha Mengelberg and Han Bennink (Yi Yo Le, ICP ).

With Mongezi Feza, Elton Dean, Keith Tippett, and Louis Moholo, Pukwana recorded two acoustic tracks on the mostly electric album Diamond Express (Freedom ). The death of his friend Mongezi Feza in also inspired the heart-rending Blue Notes for Mongezi (Ogun Records), alongside Blue Notes colleagues Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor and Louis Moholo.

He also guested on albums with his former Blue Notes colleague, Johnny Dyani, particularly Witchdoctor's Son (, SteepleChase Records), which features some of his best recorded work, and played extensively with the drummer John Stevens. Several African leaders invited him into their groups, including Hugh Masekela (Home Is Where the Music Is, ) and trombonist Jonas Gwangwa (African Explosion, Who, Ngubani ).^[3]

Zila and the later years

In , Pukwana founded Jika Records and formed his own band, Zila,^[3] featuring South Africans Lucky Ranku on guitar and powerful vocalist Miss Pinise Saul.

Zila recorded Zila Sounds (), Live in Bracknell and Willisau (), partly recorded at the Bracknell Jazz Festival, and Zila (), the last with keyboardist Django Bates and Pukwana increasingly using soprano sax.

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Dudu pukwana biography of nancy drew

In duo with John Stevens, he recorded the free session Radebe:They Shoot to Kill (Affinity, ), dedicated to Johnny Dyani.^[8]

On 16 April , Pukwana took part in the Nelson Mandela Tribute held at Wembley Stadium.^[9] He died in London of liver failure^[2] in June , not long after the death of his longtime friend and colleague McGregor.^[8]

Discography

References

External links