Yi Yole

by Eugene Chadbourne Fans of fiery jazz alto saxophone playing inevitably find their way to Dudu Pukwana, whose career was too short and apparently rampant with chaos. Inevitable reactions are a sense of wonder at how much action he packs into his solos as well as regret that he didn't record more on his own, although his work as a member of several tremendous bands such as The Brotherhood of Breath is fairly well documented. This recording, too, is essentially a collaboration, and is a bit dissapointing. The recording is enjoyable as low-tech, but doesn't bring out the intensity of the quieter sections nor does it do justice to the sound of Pukwana roaring on alto. If his sound is often described as unbelievably juicy, in this case the juice has spilled all over the speaker cone, or perhaps actually spilled all over the microphone in the bar. ... Read More...