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Dudu Pukwana When
Mike Fowler suggested that I write a few words about my bandleader of 10 years
or so my immediate reaction was one of being very pleased to do so, Dudu having
left a very deep impression on me as he did on all of us musicians who were
lucky enough to have spent some time under his wings. Then up popped the
question: what do I write about him? As there were many sides to Dudu Pukwana I
asked Mike for some ideas as to what I should concentrate on. Back came the
prompt email reply: his personality, performance skills, rehearsing, humorous
anecdotes, etc - that could take up six books!
Now this is not really so much of an exaggeration. Dudu really was
larger than life. There are so many humorous stories, but I am sure someone
else can remember them and tell them better than I. Dudu was a jolly person - he
was often laughing and would sometimes narrate the odd humorous tale or two
himself (which reminds me of a favourite phrase of his on the bandstand: "tell
me a story" - a musical one that is). Dudu was a very "loud" type
of person - a whole room would notice him the moment he walked in. Dudu also had
a darker angry side that occasionally took over and could even be a little
off-putting to strangers, although friends knew it was only a role he was acting
out. At times he could be a fabulous actor as well as being a most wonderful
performer. He was a "positive" person. I can't remember him ever being
malicious. He was a "charming gentleman" especially, but not only,
when he wanted to avail himself of something e.g. that one last drink after the
last set when the bar had already closed! He would sometimes call himself
"a black paddy". He and his friend Joey (a retired singer from a South
African vocal group) used to occasionally frequent some of the local bars in
their predominantly Irish inhabited area of London - Kilburn NW6 - where they
would play pool (at which Dudu was a real mean opponent) and generally enjoy
life. In some ways "the black paddy" was very apt although some people
maybe saw him more as some sort of South African medicine man or shaman! I think
Dudu, in spite of living in exile, felt at home in England and in Kilburn where
he and his wife Barbara had a pleasant little house. Dudu's room which we used
for rehearsals was covered from floor to ceiling with pictures, photos and album
covers of his favourite musician's including of course members of his own band,
Zila - a kind of monstrous mishmash montage!. He spoke good English, bought and
read the Sun most mornings and generally appeared to be happy with his lot in
life and never seemed to become too involved in politics, although we did of
course play lots of benefit gigs on behalf of the ANC etc. At home he would
often play, amongst other things, South African music (of all sorts) at such
high volume levels that his Indian neighbours probably thought that they were
temporarily in Port Elizabeth instead of Bombay!
Dudu thrived on London's cosmopolitan flair and was more than happy to
have musicians in the band from foreign shores like Barbados (Harry Beckett) and
America (Errol Clarke, Roland Perrin) as well as his South African brothers and
sisters. His attitude to the music was also very eclectic. Sometimes Zila would
be described as playing funky afro-jazz-rock with township roots not forgetting
the all so important swing and free jazz elements. Dudu loved this openness of
style - freedom of artistic expression. Dudu gave every musician that came
through his band the opportunity to be himself and every musician, with maybe
one or two exceptions, really did love to work with Dudu. Dudu inspired us to
play our best, even on days when he himself was not on top form. There were few
bad gigs; there were some good gigs and many, many absolutely amazing gigs. Dudu
was very keen on making cassette copies of every gig (and rehearsals). We would
listen to these recordings non-stop in the minibus on tour and on the way to
gigs. There were many reasons for the recordings: first of all he really liked
listening to his band members play, secondly, the tapes were a good
reference point for any new musical arrangements as not everything was written
down in full detail, thirdly, he might get an idea for a composition from an
improvisation etc etc. The more "normal" musician's reasons for
recording a gig, to do a kind of quality control on his soling, to see what did
and did not work were not really in his mind. He was beyond improving his
technique, style etc - his playing was simply an extension of his life. Much has
already been written about his saxophone playing: from Ben Webster through
Charlie Parker to John Coltrane - it was all in there plus a very big dose of
Dudu Pukwana - playing free, imitating the sounds of the chickens on his uncle's
farm back home somewhere in the Eastern Cape, sounds of agony, sounds of love,
so much music bursting out of one person and always laced with lots of sweet,
sweet soul. He meant every note he played just as he meant every movement he
made. Whether it was a quartet or big band Dudu's presence as leader was always
felt, although he sometimes relied on us for direction and inspiration as we did
on him! He was the best teacher we all had ever had. He had the most incredible
"feel" for the music. I have since worked with some musicians who were
perhaps technically better but am yet to encounter a player who has that
wonderful thoroughly dynamic intuitive approach to the music that Dudu had. The
way he would tap out (on my arm or shoulder), or sing (including of course those
wonderful Zulu clicks), a rhythmic feel was so complete that there were no
excuses for not getting right into the groove!
At the piano, at rehearsals, he would show us how his music should sound,
occasionally mentioning the days back at home when he was hired as a piano
player in a nightclub or when he used to accompany a local choir. He was always
looked up to and treated with respect, especially by the South Africans but also
by the rest of us. He loved his own music, his band, his musicians and his life
which could have maybe been a little longer had he not been so excessive but
unfortunately this is so often the case with the true musical geniuses and Dudu
was just that: a master musician. ER. |
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