Dudu Pukwana - Zila '86

Here is the third of the Zila records on the Jika label and it's a studio recording, in contrast to the two earlier ones. Perhaps because of that, it sounds more polished and arranged than the others. To these ears, also a more deliberate attempt to cross over in order to reach the mainstream, to appeal to the dance club scene and to the emergent audience for so-called world music. In any event, it's an eminently danceable and well-groomed set of tunes, and I'm particulary happy to encounter yet another version of the Dudu classic "Mra", here neatly intertwined with another tune. I think we must be up to about half a dozen versions by now and everyone's a pure delight!

The crew is very much the same as on the former posted here, except that Harry Beckett is unfortunately absent from the proceedings. Pinise Saul is in full force and so are Lucky Ranku, Churchill Jolobe, Ernest Mothle and others of the regular crew. And Django Bates is on piano and synthesizer throughout the disc.

Basic info:

Dudu Pukwana - Zila '86
Jika ZL3

Side A

1. Madodana (The Young Ones) (Dudu Pukwana)
2. Hamba (Go away) (Victor Ndlaziwana)
3a. Mra (Dudu Pukwana)
3b. Khali (Columbus Ngukana)
4. Harare '86 (Dudu Pukwana)

Side B

1a. Nonceba /Merciful) (Dudu Pukwana)
1b. Nonmpongo (Ace) (Allen Kwela/Dudu Pukwana)
2. Let's Get Together (Mervyn Africa)
3. August One (Ntulukazi) (Adam Glaser/Dudu Pukwana)

Zila personnel all tracks

Dudu Pukwana Alto & soprano saxophones, Arranger
Pinise Saul Vocals & Cabassa
Lucky Ranku Electric guitar
Churchill Jolobe Drums
Fats Ramobo Mogoboya Congas

plus

Django Bates synthesizer on A1 A2 A3 B1b/B2, piano on B1 B2, tenor horn on A3 B3
Mervyn Africa Piano on Side A/B2, Vocal on B2
Adam Glasser synthesizer on A4/B3
Eric Richards Electric Bass on A1/A4/Side B
Ernest Mothle Electric Bass on A1/A4 Side B
Roberto Pla Timbales on A1/A3/B2
Josh Makhene Backing Vocals on Side A/B1/B2

Rrecorded January 1986 at Wave Studios, London
Engineered by Martin Giles
Produced by Dudu & Barbara Pukwana
Phoography and sleeve design by Jak Kilby
Cover illustration by Nathan Dambuza Mdledle

So get those feet tapping and other body parts shaking! Party time!

Dudu Pukwana and Zila - Live in Bracknell & Willisau

More Dudu Pukwana coming up. I have already posted the first record with Zila and the third will soon be up. On this record, he can draw on veteran Harry Beckett as well as then up-and-coming Django Bates. In my opinion, this one is better than the first, giving both Pukwana and Beckett the chance to stretch out on the fetured pieces, not unrelated to their being performed at jazz festivals in the UK and Switzerland. As I said before, possibly not as interesting from the pure jazz point of view as the 70s combo Spear, but these pieces swing pretty hard, enhanced by the vocal presence of Pinise Saul.

Dudu Pukwana and Zila - Live in Bracknell and Willisau featuring Pinise Saul

Side A

1.Hug Pine (Bambelela) - Dudu Pukwana
2.Mahlomole (Lament) - Thebe Lipere
3.Lafente (Ntabemi - In The Mountains) - Dudu Pukwana
4.Baqanga Bay - Dudu Pukwana
5.Freely - Django Bates

Side B

1.Funk Them to Eriko - Johnny Dyani/Dudu Pukwana
2.Ziyekeleni (Let Them Be) - Mervyn Africa/Dudu Pukwana
3.The Big (Pine)Apple - Hugh Masakela
4.Zama Khwalo (Try Again) - Dudu Pukwana

Zila

Dudu Pukwana - Leader, alto/soprano saxophones, whistles
Harry Beckett - Trumpet/flugelhorn
Django Bates - keyboards
Eric Richards - Electric bass
Paul Gamblin - guitar
Churchill Jolobe - Drums
Thebe Lipere - Congas, percussion, African chanting

A1,A4,B1,B4 recorded live at 1983 Bracknell Jazz Festival, England, by Tim Summerhayes

A2,A3,A5,B2,B3 recorded live at 1983 Willisau Jazz Festival, Switzerland, by Peter Pfister