Assagai

Last updated

Assagai was an Afro-rock band, active in the early 1970s in London, whose relatively short career produced two albums recorded in 1971. It has been described as "the second best-known African group of the late 60s/early 70s in Britain" after Osibisa. [1]

Contents

History

The original band consisted of five members, three from South Africa and two from Nigeria: drummer Louis Moholo, trumpeter/flautist Mongezi Feza, alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, tenor saxophonist Bizo Mngqikana, and guitarist/bassist Fred Coker — the latter, according to Rob Fitzpatrick in The Guardian , "helped guide Assagai into position as the only real West African competition to the super-star firepower of Ghana's Osibisa" before Coker left Assagai to replace Spartacus R in Osibisa. [2] Canterbury scene keyboardist Alan Gowen and King Crimson percussionist Jamie Muir were also briefly members (1971-72). [3]

The band recorded for the British label Vertigo Records, and are thought to be "the only African or 'Black' band ever signed" by the label. [4]

Assagai's self-titled debut album was released in 1971; among the African musicians who played with the group on the recording was Terri Quaye. [5] Assagai was reissued on CD by Repertoire Records in 1994. The band's second and final album, Zimbabwe (with cover artwork by Roger Dean), was released later in 1971. It was re-released as LP by Music for Pleasure label, but under a different title, AfroRock. Both Assagai albums featured songs written by members of the British group Jade Warrior and included guest appearances from them as well. [4] [5]

Previously, in the 1960s Pukwana, Feza and Moholo had been members of the jazz band The Blue Notes alongside Chris McGregor.

Discography

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osibisa</span> Ghanaian-Nigerian-British band

Osibisa are a British-Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro-rock band founded in London in the late 1960s by four expatriate West African and three London based Caribbean musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudu Pukwana</span> South African saxophonist and composer (1938–1990)

Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana was a South African saxophonist and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Moholo</span> South African jazz drummer

Louis Tebogo Moholo, is a South African jazz drummer. He has been a member of several notable bands, including The Blue Notes, the Brotherhood of Breath and Assagai.

Mongezi Feza was a South African jazz trumpeter and flautist.

Johnny Mbizo Dyani was a South African jazz double bassist, vocalist and pianist, who, in addition to being a key member of The Blue Notes, played with such international musicians as Don Cherry, Steve Lacy, David Murray, Finnish guitar player Jukka Syrenius, Pierre Dørge, Peter Brötzmann, Mal Waldron, fellow South African Dollar Brand, and Leo Smith, among many other prominent players.

Afro rock is a style of rock music with African influences. Afro rock is a dynamic interplay between Western rock music and African musical elements such as rhythm, melodies and instrumentation. Afro rock bands and artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s included Osibisa, Assagai and Lafayette Afro Rock Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Tippett</span> British jazz pianist and composer (1947–2020)

Keith Graham Tippetts, known professionally as Keith Tippett, was a British jazz pianist and composer. According to AllMusic, Tippett's career "...spanned jazz-rock, progressive rock, improvised and contemporary music, as well as modern jazz for more than half-a-century". He held "an unparallelled place in British contemporary music," and was known for "his unique approach to improvisation". Tippett appeared and recorded in many settings, including a duet with Stan Tracey, duets with his wife Julie Tippetts, solo performances, and as a bandleader.

The Brotherhood of Breath was an English-South African big band established in the late-1960s by South African pianist and composer Chris McGregor, an extension of McGregor's previous band, The Blue Notes.

The Blue Notes were a South African jazz sextet, whose definitive line-up featured Chris McGregor on piano, Mongezi Feza on trumpet, Dudu Pukwana on alto saxophone, Nikele Moyake on tenor saxophone, Johnny Dyani on bass, and Louis Moholo-Moholo on drums. After moving away from their home country in 1964, they established themselves on the European jazz circuit, where they continued to play and record through the 1970s. They are now considered one of the great free jazz bands of their era, whose music was given a unique flavour by their integration of African styles such as Kwela into the progressive jazz ideas of the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade Warrior (band)</span> British progressive rock band

Jade Warrior were a British progressive rock band formed in 1970, originally evolving out of a band named July. The founder members were Tony Duhig (guitar), Jon Field and Glyn Havard. David Duhig, the younger brother of Tony Duhig, played on several of Jade Warrior's albums and in every live gig Jade Warrior ever performed - apart from the reunion concert of 2008. He died 1st December 2021.

<i>Zimbabwe</i> (Assagai album) 1971 studio album by Assagai

Zimbabwe is an album by afro-rock band Assagai. Their second and final release, it was recorded at Nova Sound Studios in London for Vertigo Records, but was instead issued by Philips Records in 1971. The album features saxophonists Dudu Pukwana, Bizo Mngqikana, and Fred Fredericks, trumpeter Mongezi Feza, vocalist Martha Mdenge, drummer Louis Moholo, percussionists Terri Quaye and Smiley De Jonnes, and members of the progressive rock group Jade Warrior, who also contributed three compositions. Cover art was provided by Roger Dean, best known for his work with bands such as Yes, Asia, and Uriah Heep. In 1975, the album was reissued by the Music for Pleasure label with the title Afrorock.

<i>Very Urgent</i> 1968 jazz album by Chris McGregor Group

Very Urgent is an album by the Chris McGregor Group, led by pianist McGregor, and featuring saxophonists Ronnie Beer and Dudu Pukwana, trumpeter Mongezi Feza, bassist Johnny Dyani, and drummer Louis Moholo. It was recorded at Sound Techniques in London, and was released on LP by Polydor Records in 1968. In 2008, the album was reissued on CD by Fledg'ling Records. With the exception of Beer, all of the musicians were members of The Blue Notes, and the album can be viewed as the group's debut studio recording.

<i>Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears"</i> 1969 studio album by Dudu Pukwana and the "Spears"

Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears" is the debut album by South African saxophonist Dudu Pukwana and his band, the "Spears." Produced by Joe Boyd, it was recorded in 1968 at Sound Techniques in London, and was initially released on vinyl in 1969 by Quality Records, a subsidiary of the Trutone label. In 2020, the album was remastered and reissued by Matsuli Music as a double-LP set with nine previously unissued tracks that were recorded in 1969, and that feature a number of guest artists such as Fairport Convention's Richard Thompson and Simon Nicol.

<i>Procession (Live at Toulouse)</i> 1978 live album by Chris McGregors Brotherhood of Breath

Procession (Live at Toulouse) is a live album by South African pianist and composer Chris McGregor's big band Brotherhood of Breath. It was recorded on May 10, 1977, at Halle aux Grains in Toulouse, France, and was released on LP by Ogun Records in 1978. In 2013, Ogun reissued the album on CD with three extra tracks.

<i>Legacy: Live in South Afrika 1964</i> 1995 live album by The Blue Notes

Legacy: Live in South Afrika 1964 is a live album by The Blue Notes, featuring saxophonists Nick Moyake and Dudu Pukwana, trumpeter Mongezi Feza, pianist Chris McGregor, double bassist Johnny Dyani, and drummer Louis Moholo. It was recorded during 1964 in Durban, South Africa, shortly before the group fled the country's apartheid regime and went into exile in Europe, and was released in 1995 by Ogun Records. The music was reissued in 2008 as part of the compilation The Ogun Collection, and was reissued again as a stand-alone release in 2022.

<i>Township Bop</i> 2002 studio album by The Blue Notes

Township Bop is an album by The Blue Notes. Documenting the group's first studio session, it was recorded during early 1964 for the South African Broadcasting Corporation in Cape Town, South Africa, shortly before the musicians fled the country's apartheid regime and went into exile in Europe. The album was not released until 2002, when it was issued on CD by Proper Records. All of the tracks feature saxophonists Dudu Pukwana and Nick Moyake, as well as pianist Chris McGregor, while a number of the tracks include musicians who would not go on to become core members of the band: trumpeter Dennis Mpali, bassists Mongezi Velelo and Sammy Maritz, and drummer Early Mabuza.

<i>The Ogun Collection</i> 2008 compilation album by The Blue Notes

The Ogun Collection is a five-CD box set compilation album by The Blue Notes, featuring saxophonists Nick Moyake and Dudu Pukwana, trumpeter Mongezi Feza, pianist Chris McGregor, double bassist Johnny Dyani, and drummer Louis Moholo. It brings together the contents of four albums previously released by Ogun Records: Legacy: Live in South Afrika 1964 ; Blue Notes for Mongezi ; Blue Notes in Concert ; and Blue Notes for Johnny. The latter three albums appear here in expanded form. The Ogun Collection, which also includes a booklet containing photos and essays, was released by Ogun in 2008. In 2022, the label reissued all four albums as stand-alone releases, using the expanded versions found on the compilation.

<i>Chris McGregors Brotherhood of Breath</i> 1971 studio album by Chris McGregors Brotherhood of Breath

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath is the debut album by South African pianist and composer Chris McGregor's big band of the same name. Produced by Joe Boyd, it was recorded in 1970, and was issued on LP by the short-lived Neon imprint of RCA Records in 1971 as the label's second release. In 2007, it was reissued on CD by Fledg'ling Records.

<i>In the Townships</i> 1974 studio album by Dudu Pukwana and Spear

In the Townships is an album by South African alto saxophonist, pianist, and composer Dudu Pukwana. It was recorded during 1973 at The Manor Studio in Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England, and was released in 1974 by Caroline Records. On the album, Pukwana is joined by members of his band Spear: tenor saxophonist Bizo Mngqikana, trumpeter Mongezi Feza, double bassist Harry Miller, and drummer Louis Moholo.

<i>Diamond Express</i> 1977 studio album by Dudu Pukwana

Diamond Express is an album by South African alto saxophonist and composer Dudu Pukwana. It was recorded during the fall of 1975 at Island Studios in London, and was released on vinyl in 1977 by Arista/Freedom. In 1999, it was reissued on CD by the German Jazz Colours label with the title Ubagile, and with a different track order. On four of the album's five tracks, Pukwana is joined by trumpeter Mongezi Feza, guitarist Lucky Ranko, keyboardist Frank Roberts, double bassist Ernest Mothle, and drummers James Meine and Louis Moholo. On the remaining track, he is accompanied by saxophonist Elton Dean, trumpeter Feza, trombonist Nick Evans, guitarist Ranko, pianist Keith Tippett, double bassist Victor Ntoni, and drummer Moholo.

References

  1. ↑ Jon Stratton and Nabeel Zuberi (eds), "'Spearheading the Afro Trend' — Assagai", in Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945, Routledge, 2014, p. 56.
  2. ↑ Rob Fitzpatrick, "The 101 strangest records on Spotify: Assagai - Zimbabwe", The Guardian, 11 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Alan Gowen", NNDB.
  4. 1 2 "Assagai", radagast.org.
  5. 1 2 Lloyd Bradley, Sounds Like London: 100 Years of Black Music in the Capital, Serpent's Tail, 2012, p. 155.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.