Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Andile Yenana: We Used To Dance

196

Andile Yenana: We Used To Dance

By

Sign in to view read count
Andile Yenana: We Used To Dance
From its very first notes, pianist Andile Yenana's debut record flows with song. The opener, "Wicked Whispers" (a highly ironic title), introduces all four members of his quartet in a lyrical chorus soaring above gentle swing. Yenana's stated intent with this record is to fuse the sonorities of jazz with the culture and ritual of South Africa. His musical heroes (Winston Mankunku, Abdullah Ibrahim, Chris McGregor, Hugh Masekela, and Zim Ngqawana) represent the high points of this sort of cross-cultural fertilization, and he does them justice on We Used To Dance.

Yenana's efforts as Zim Ngqawana's pianist of choice showcased his abilities to keep a group grounded, and one might have expected from this earlier work that he would invade and dwell in the space opened up by McCoy Tyner. That he does with fluency and elegance, but We Used To Dance features an equal abundance of surprises.

Listening to this record, one has the sense that there simply wasn't enough time for Yenana to express all he had to say. The tunes cover a wide range of tone and style, from the Bill Evans-meets-gospel sound of "No Lights" to the intimate rhythmic textures of "Mhlekazi's Dance" and the carefree swing of Dudu Pukwana's "Blues for Nick." Influences from Herbie Hancock and Randy Weston (as well as the obvious antecedent, Abdullah Ibrahim) appear scattered throughout.

Feya Faku's work on trumpet and flugelhorn display a versatility and restraint that emphasizes color over flash, melody over showmanship—and his clarity of vision serves Yenana's ensemble sound well. The pianist does well within solo and trio contexts, but when he brings in the horns he enables a richness of texture and warmth only possible through human breath.

The fact that an articulate musician like Andile Yenana could turn out a record with this degree of cohesion should come as little surprise to those who are familiar with his approach to music. When you listen closely to his piano playing, you can pick up vocalizations of the melody, drawing attention to his unstated contention that the human voice is the beginning and the end of sound.

For Yenana, every note on the keyboard is a swirl in the air, an exclamation of joi d'vivre. While much of this material may be downtempo, that fact does not mean it lacks energy. We Used To Dance may at times convey melancholy, but never does it lose its sense of celebration. Some times it takes music like this to remind us why we're alive.

Track Listing

Wicked Whispers; Tembisa - The People; No Lights; The Source; Mhlekazi's Dance (Radio Edit); Oasis; The Finale; Wish You Sunshine; Blues for Nick; We Pray.

Personnel

Andile Yenana: piano, vocals; Feya Faku: trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Sydney Mnisi: saxophone, trombone, vocals; Kevin Gibson: bass, drums; Herbie Tsoaeli: bass; Morabo Morojele: drums.

Album information

Title: We Used To Dance | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Sheer Sound

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.