Johnny Dyani

Born in East London, South Africa on November 30, 1945, Johnny Dyani was a jazz double bassist and pianist. His musical career began in the early 1960s when he joined The Blue Notes, South Africa’s first integrated jazz group. One of the band’s 1964 live performances was recorded but remained unreleased until 1995. In 1964, the Blue Notes fled South Africa to escape Apartheid and seek musical and political freedom. Two years later, Johnny Dyani toured Argentina as a member of American jazz saxophonist Steve Lacy’s band. He would eventually appear on Lacy’s album The Forest and the Zoo (1967). Johnny Dyani also appeared on albums by Alan Shorter (1970’s Tes Esat) and Don Cherry (1971’s Orient). He then formed the band Earthquake Power in 1971 and co-founded the band Xaba the following year with Mongezi Feza and Okay Temiz. Performing throughout Europe, Johnny Dyani eventually settled in Copenhagen, Denmark in the early 1970s. While serving as a sideman to artist just as Abdullah Ibrahim and Peter Brötzmann, he also recorded a series of albums as a leader and co-leader including Song for Biko (1978), Let the Music Take You with David Murray (1978), Suburban Fantasies with Joe Bonner (1983), and Afrika (1984). In total, he appeared on over 30 releases in his short career. Johnny Dyani died suddenly on October 24, 1986 after a performance in West Berlin, Germany. In the wake of his death, many artists recorded tributes to him including Peter Brötzmann, David Murray, and the remaining members of the Blue Notes.

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