This is an online find. Recorded live at the Bracknell (UK) and Willisau (Switzerland) Jazz Festivals. Zila Personnel: Dudu Pukwana (leader, alto and soprano saxophones and whistles), Pinise Saul (vocals, cabassa), Harry Beckett (trumpet and flugelhorn), Django Bates (keyboards), Eric Richards (electric bass), Paul Gamblin (guitar), Churchill Jolobe (drums), Thebe Lipere (percussion).
Pukwana, who left South Africa in 1964 played with Chris McGregor’s bands, The Blue Note (till that band split up) and Brotherhood of Breath. Later he formed his own bands, Assegai, Spear and Zila. He sadly died in 1990 before he could return to South Africa.
The song “Hug Pine (Bambalela)”–audio below–was composed by Pukwana and features fellow South African Saul, who still lives in London, on vocals.
Via Likembe (where you can hear the seven other tracks of that album)
Yebo,Mra,our bellowing bull,what a great musician!If South Africans would know the true stature of this brother,he would not be so unsung.At the moment there is a super rare download of an album of his,which I’m sure only a handfull of people knew existed.A couple of years ago there was the Outernational Meltdown series,where some guys did a version that was called Hug Courtney Pine!
Sorry,that download is @ matsuli.blogspot!
This is a great find as I was at the Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1983 when this was recorded. I present a show on an internet station ukjazzradio.com based on those who have appeared at the venue for this festival (1974-1988); South Hill Park Arts Centre, which still presents jazz and I found your posting while researching a show featuring SA exiles of the time.
If anybody knows where I can get this album or download a copy of this ablum I would love to hear from you via the ukjazzradio website. You can email me via the station. Just look under “presenters”.
Keep gooving
this is the best music.