Mike Heron - Feast of Stephen + [Smiling Men With Bad Reputations]

 ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMASTIDE . . . . . . 

MIKE HERON - FEAST OF STEPHEN

I usually post this on St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) in memory of my dear brother Stephen, this is a favourite winter song and I post it every year . . . . . 

May I take this opportunity to wish you all well for the coming year ahead and may you get all that you need and just a little of what you want!

Mike Heron solo album with invited guests:
Pete Townshend * John Cale * Richard Thompson * Deve Pegg * Dave Mattacks * Jimmy Page * Elton John * Keith Moon * Ronnie Lane * Dudu Pukwana * Pat Donaldson * Gerry Conway * Steve Winwood and Dr Strangely Strange (now THAT'S  a line up!!!)

Speaking of reputations there's alway this from Reputation in 1975 . . . . . covered once by Manfred Mann's Earth Band but then largely forgotten . . . . . . I love this song

From 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' still a favourite album and check out Dudu Pukwana on sax

Frankly you are all DIAMONDS! But this is for my Neighbour Diamond Dave for his participation here and especially making all his Gretchen Peters albums available!

This was last listed at £75 and Amazon have it as currently unavailable I guess it is 'out of print' as is most all of Mike's work which is little short of criminal but you can smile here 

and get a bad reputation . . . . . 

Turn it up!

DUDU PUKWANA

Lovely compilation from 

this morning

Some For Dudu :: A Dudu Pukwana Companion

“If he plays a gig in some club, it’s the talk of the town for the whole year. Who can afford to pay for so much entertainment?… Well, for those who do not know Dudu Pukwana, he is the heaviest of the heaviest alto saxophone players and for many of us coming from South Africa… THE TEACHER. Go on doing the BOOGIE Bra Dudza.” – Joe Malinga (liner notes, One For Dudu)
Here now, “Some For Dudu,” a celebration and glance at Pukwana: the teacher, the exile, the saxophonist, the front man, the collaborator, the pianist, the singer and shouter; two hours of calm, frenzy, jazz and beyond.

Some For Dudu :: A Dudu Pukwana Companion

Playlist . . .

Dudu Pukwana – “Ko-didi”
Assagai – “I’ll Wait For You”
Dudu Pukwana – “Sondela”
Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai & Dudu Pukwana – “Magwaza”
Assagai – “Ayleo”
Gwigwi Mrwebi – “Nyusamkhaya”
Gideon Nxumalo – “Home At Night”
Dudu Pukwana and Zila – “Matume”
Dudu Pukwana – “Flute Music”
Gwigwi Mrwebi – “Mra”
Osibisa – “Inkosi Sikeleli Africa”
Centipede – “Septober Energy Part Two”
Dudu Pukwana And Zila Featuring Pinise Saul – “Ziyekeleni”
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – “MRA”
Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai & Dudu Pukwana – “Eyomzi”
Jabula – “Baile – They Are Gone”
Toots & The Maytals ft. Dudu Pukwana – “So Bad”
Dudu Pukwana – “Flute Music” [2]

I first came across Dudu's work through the wondrous Mike Heron's 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' and he rapidly became a favourite sax player of mine

so I would have included 'Call Me Diamond' from that album as one of the most joyous and exuberant examples of saxamaphone playing ever laid to vinyl - 

DUDU PAKWANA

From the wondrous Aquarium Drunkard comes this tribute!

Some For Dudu :: A Dudu Pukwana Companion

“If he plays a gig in some club, it’s the talk of the town for the whole year. Who can afford to pay for so much entertainment?… Well, for those who do not know Dudu Pukwana, he is the heaviest of the heaviest alto saxophone players and for many of us coming from South Africa… THE TEACHER. Go on doing the BOOGIE Bra Dudza.” – Joe Malinga (liner notes, One For Dudu)

Here now, “Some For Dudu,” a celebration and glance at Pukwana: the teacher, the exile, the saxophonist, the front man, the collaborator, the pianist, the singer and shouter; two hours of calm, frenzy, jazz and beyond.

I first came across the work of Dudu Pukwana via Mike Heron's solo album 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' which was never off my turntable when it came out and the sax and piano [apparently?] took a hold of me not least the extraordinary name and I have always liked his phrasing on the saxophone ever since. Check this it is REALLY worth a listen! Extraordinary joyful rhythmic and jazz at its very best!