DYERLOGUE: A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
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ABOUT THE TORCH LIGHT SERIES
The TORCH LIGHT series features the work of the TORCH Artist Collective, our friends in Seattle, and beyond. We serve as a platform to highlight powerful artists and create socially responsive work. Each show is performed in front of a live audience and simultaneously broadcast across the world. We have deliberately placed TORCH LIGHT events on (mostly) the last Monday of each month to attract as many creators, musicians, and art lovers as possible. Tickets are at the door and by suggested donation.
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ABOUT DYERLOGUE
A multi-generational celebration of South African Jazz will entrance American audiences on both coasts in April and May 2023 with the upcoming tour of Dyerlogue: the extraordinary collaboration of saxophonist Steve Dyer and pianist Bokani Dyer. This father-son duo pairs two of South Africa’s most astonishing talents and boundary-breaking musical minds as they embark on a series of performances, educational events, and outreach initiatives across both the East and West Coasts.
Multi-reed virtuoso Steve Dyer stands as one of South Africa’s most influential Jazz artists of all time. In addition to his own award-winning solo projects, Steve has also enjoyed an incredible tenure overseeing the genre-crossing Southern African supergroup Mahube, which draws together musical minds from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and beyond into a uniquely singular fusion. In the Jazz world, his own solo records have consistently stood as some of the most acclaimed albums of the past two decades, with such masterpieces as Genesis of a Different World and Convergence demonstrating a boundless vision for the music.
Bokani Dyer rapidly emerged as one of South Africa’s most promising rising talents. A bandleader who has thus far released five albums of his own, with a sixth due out on Brownswood Recordings in May, Bokani has rightly earned breathless praise from critics for his seamless integration of styles from straight-ahead Jazz to Afrobeat to Amapiano. With his upcoming release Radio Sechaba, Bokani seems poised to make an enormous mark in America’s own Jazz market.
Together, the Dyers represent two generations of South Africa’s greatest musical minds, performing in settings that will range from the iconic Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City to intimate venues that allow for one-on-one interaction with audience members. This tour, part of their efforts in the Southern African Arts Alliance artist collective, ensures large and meaningful strides in the alliance’s goals of fostering rich and lasting collaborations between American and African artists.
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Steve was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1960. His parents listened consistently to music of the Western classical masters. He also remembers maskandi musicians walking the streets as they played their guitars, and the Soul Brothers and “kwela” playing on the radio. He began composing music at the age of 10.
Steve completed a B Mus degree in performance at the University of Natal in 1981, majoring in saxophone and flute. Refusing military conscription into the SADF he left South Africa and lived in Botswana for 5 years. Here he came into contact with the exile sounds blowing through the horns of Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa. He helped form “Shakawe” led by Jonas Gwangwa and played in the band for 3 years, where he immersed himself in the mbaqanga music tradition. At this time Steve also listened to saxophonists such as John Coltrane and Winston Mankunku.
In 1988 after a stint in the U.K. he settled in Zimbabwe where he formed the group Southern Freeway. Two albums were produced; Southern Freeway (1989) and Indlela yenkululeko (1992). Steve came into contact here with the more introspective and often rhythmically complex mbira based Shona music, as well as reliving some Nguni based music playing with musicians that had Ndebele cultural roots.
In 1990 he joined the Amandla cultural ensemble of the A.N.C on a 7 week tour of Japan. With democracy on the horizon in 1993 Steve returned to South Africa. After studying briefly at the University of Natal, he relocated to Johannesburg and directed the Soweto String quartet live performance that toured Europe and Australia/New Zealand.
He conceptualised, directed and performed with the first ever substantive Southern African music collaboration “Mahube” in 1997. Mahube toured Southern Africa and Europe and recorded recorded 2 albums: Music from Southern Africa 1998 (SAMA nomination), Qhubeka 2003 (Kora award)). Steve went on to produce 6 Oliver Mtukudzi albums between 1998 and 2002 including the seminal “Tuku music”.
He has released 7 solo albums since his return to S.A: Down South in Africa – 2000, Son of the Soil – 2004, Lifecycle 2006 (SAMA nomination) Native Art 2007 (SAMA nomination), IAP (U.S.A.) finalist), Ubuntu music 2012 (SAMA nomination), Confluence 2014 and Genesis of a Different World – 2019 (SAMA, Mzansi jazz nominations), and Revision 2021. Steve has also composed and performed for feature film and TV soundtrack, for modern dance companies Moving into Dance and Tumbuka, as well as conceptualising and directing numerous shows and collaborations, and conducting improvising/music workshops.
In 2010 he composed and performed Rebirth, a first African concerto for soprano saxophone, orchestra with saxophones, African percussion and marimbas. Rebirth premiered in Johannesburg on 1st May 2010 with an 118-piece Miagi youth orchestra.
In April 2014 Steve was musical director for the opening show at HIFA (Harare international festival of the arts).
He conceptualised, directed and performed in a groundbreaking multimedia work called “Colour Me Human” – a new world musical” that premiered at Soweto theatre in May. The production also did a run at the Jo’burg theatre from 12th to 30th November. Colour Me Human was nominated for 5 Naledi theatre awards: Best ensemble, music score, music director, choroeographer, animation/AV.
Steve composed a Jazz suite commemoration June 14 1985 victims of the SADF Gaborone raid. This was performed at the Orbit jazz club on June 14 and featuring poetry by the late poet laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile, and featured guest musician Jonas Gwangwa.
Steve has recently performed in and directed numerous shows, working with artists Oliver Mtukudzi, Vusi Mahlasela, Ringo Madlingozi, Msaki, Ami Faku, Selmor Mtukudzi, Zamajobe, Ammara Brown, Tamy Moyo, Sijava, Bokani Dyer, Sisonke Xonti, Thandi Ntuli, Siya Makuzeni, Hope Masike, Siphokazi, Judith Sephuma, Mbuso Khoza, Themba Mokoena and many other fine musicians.
In 2017 he conceptualised a show called “Mantswe a Marabi” paying tribute to the Marabi musical tradition.
In May 2017 Steve directed a new look Mahube for the Harare international festival of the Arts, as well as at Jo’burg theatre for the Africa week celebrations. Mahube performed on the main National Arts festival in Makhanda to a standing ovation in July 2018.
Steve completed producing a record for Dorothy Masuka “Nginje” (Gallo records) released in late 2018.
In December 2018 Mahube released an album “Zenzele” across all digital platforms. Physical C.D copies have also been released. Mahube performed at the Cape Town international Jazz festival end March, and the Bushfire festival in Swaziland end May 2019.
Critically acclaimed “Genesis of a different world” was released in 2019. The live performance launch took place at the Jo’burg theatre on the 2nd and 3rd August 2019.
Steve’s latest solo album - “Revision” was released in September 2021.
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Born in 1986 in Gaborone, Botswana, where many artists from South Africa, including his father, musician Steve Dyer, were living in exile during apartheid, Bokani Dyer moved back to SA as a child in 1990. He grew up mainly in Johannesburg before moving to study jazz at the prestigious University of Cape Town, where he graduated with distinction. In 2009 Dyer was runner up in the SAMRO (SA Music Rights Organisation) Overseas Scholarship Competition and spent 3 weeks in New York, where he was tutored by Jason Moran. In 2014, he was invited to perform at the opening of the London Jazz Festival, as well as in a tribute to South African supergroup, The Blue Notes, led by Shabaka Hutchings.
In 2015, the Bokani Dyer Swiss Quintet reunited for a 10-show tour of South Africa and Mozambique, opening the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival and then going on to perform packed shows in King William's Town, Johannesburg, Maputo and Cape Town. The tour also served as to launch Dyer’s third album, World Music. Following on the success of the SA tour, the BDSQ toured Switzerland in October 2015, performing in Basel, Zurich, Bern, Wintethur and Interlaken. In November, Dyer travelled to the UK to collaborate with harmonica player, Adam Glasser, playing various venues around London and keeping the spirit of South African jazz alive. In April 2016, The Bokani Dyer Trio was selected for and performed at the annual Jazzahead showcase in Bremen, Germany. Other notable activities for 2016 included: a collaboration with SA theatre director Mkhululi Mabija on his production My Daughter/ Son, producing saxophonist Sisonke Xonti’s debut album Iyonde, and performing as a soloist at the launch of the SA/Russia Cultural Seasons in Moscow and St Petersburg. Dyer curated a regular slot at The Orbit Jazz Club, the Jazzafrika Legacy Sessions, dedicated to transcribing and performing the works of SA jazz composers from the last decades.
He was also honoured to accept an invitation from legendary South African trumpeter Feya Faku to join his Quintet.
Complementing his career as a jazz artist, Dyer has also explored various other genres and is particularly interested in electronic music. In 2007, Dyer and longtime collaborator vocalist/composer, Sakhile Moleshe (ex Goldfish) founded groove outfit, Soul Housing Project (formerly Plan Be). The band continues to be active in different configurations - the full 7-piece band, 5-piece band and then the 2-piece electronic duo, which most recently performed at the Lighthouse Festival in Croatia (May 2016) and as the opening show of the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa (July 2016).
Dyer has recorded five albums under his own name. His debut album, Mirrors, was released in 2010, and provides a strong indication of the style and artistic trajectory he continues to pursue. Emancipate the Story (2011), was recorded during his time as Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, as part of the award, and continued his musical journey, exploring the tradition and furthering the contemporary landscape of SA jazz through his compositions.
World Music (2015), was received with much respect and acclaim from both the SA and international music worlds, and nominated for Best Jazz Album at the 2016 South African Music Awards. The album features top local musicians Buddy Wells (tenor saxophone), Justin Bellairs (alto saxophone), Robin Fassie-Kock (trumpet), Shane Cooper (bass), John Hassan (percussion), Lee-Anne Fortuin (vocals) and Sakhile Moleshe (vocals). His trio album ‘Neo Native’ won the SAMA award for best jazz album in 2019. His most recent release was an album responding to the lockdown experience, produced and recorded in 2020 by himself called ‘Kelenosi’.
He composed the Original score for “Catching Feelings” a film directed by top SA comedian Kagiso Lediga.
In February 2017, he performed at the Safaricom Jazz Festival in Nairobi, Kenya. He, alongside his father Steve Dyer, co-directed the re-launch of an exciting collaboration project with artists from various Southern African countries. “Mahube” which debuted at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in May 2017.
His trio was invited to perform at the Musiques en ete festival in Geneva, Switzerland in July 2017.
In 2018, he was invited to perform at Festival Metis in Paris, France. In 2019, the trio was invited to take part in the prestigious ‘Piano Trio Festival’ hosted by the legendary Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London, UK.
ABOUT THE TORCH LIGHT SERIES
The TORCH LIGHT series features the work of the TORCH Artist Collective, our friends in Seattle, and beyond. We serve as a platform to highlight powerful artists and create socially responsive work. Each show is performed in front of a live audience and simultaneously broadcast across the world. We have deliberately placed TORCH LIGHT events on (mostly) the last Monday of each month to attract as many creators, musicians, and art lovers as possible. Tickets are at the door and by suggested donation.