Bokani Dyer Trio

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Review:

This is the Hundredth and thirty-second in a series of special Jazz on the Tube reviews of live stream performances.

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South African jazz pianist Bokani Dyer was born in Botswana, began on the piano when he was 14, and graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2008.

Dyer worked with the groove-oriented band Soul Housing project, organized his Swiss Quintet, and has toured several times throughout Africa and Europe, developing his own voice on the piano.

On this LiveStream from June 21, 2020, Bokani Dyer’s group (which is actually a quartet) features Dyer along with altoist and flutist Mthunzi Mvuby, bassist Romy Bfrauteseth, and drummer Spheleo Mazibuko on a set that includes a mellow spiritual-oriented ballad and several hard-driving pieces, works that are a bit influenced by the John Coltrane Quartet.

Altoist Mvuby’s passionate flights, the inventive piano solos, and the tightness of the rhythm section on the leader’s post bop originals show that high-quality modern jazz does not necessarily have to emanate from New York or the U.S; jazz has truly become a universal language.

– Scott Yanow