''Angolian Cry'' is an album by bassist

Johnny Dyani Johnny Mbizo Dyani (30 November 1945 – 24 October 1986) 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 L ...

. It was recorded on July 23, 1985, and was issued on LP later that year by SteepleChase Records. On the album, his final release as a leader, Dyani is joined by saxophonist and bass clarinetist

John Tchicai John Martin Tchicai ( ; 28 April 1936 – 8 October 2012) was a Danish free jazz saxophonist and composer. Biography Tchicai was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish mother and a Congolese father. The family moved to Aarhus, where he s ...

, trumpeter Harry Beckett, and drummer

Billy Hart Billy Hart (born November 29, 1940) is an American jazz drumming, jazz drummer and educator. He is known internationally for his work with Herbie Hancock's "Mwandishi" band in the early 1970s, as well as with Shirley Horn, Stan Getz, and Quest (b ...

. In 1986, the album was reissued on CD with an extra track.

Reception

In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

Scott Yanow Scott Yanow (born 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author. Life and career Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles. Beginning in 1974, Yanow was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles and was the jazz e ...

wrote: "Dyani's atmospheric and colorful music was long underrated but, like that of Abdullah Ibrahim... Johnny Dyani was a major composer whose flights were tempered by a strong emphasis on fresh melodies. Stimulating music." The authors of ''

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled b ...

'' stated that the album "brims with pathos and joy, and Beckett is sterling." Don Snowden of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' commented: "Dyani doesn't have the sophistication or broad palette of his countryman Abdullah Ibrahim, but he compensates in part with a stronger visceral drive. He combines with drummer Billy Hart to give the six original compositions a unusually solid rhythmic punch." A reviewer for '' Option'' called the album "easily one of the most inspired sessions of the year," and remarked: "Dyani has an impeccable sense of composition, offering wistful melodies which draw from both African and Afro-American sources."

Track listing

Composed by Johnny Dyani. # "Angolian Cry" – 9:50 # "For Leo Dirch Petersen" – 5:19 # "Does Your Father Know" – 4:33 # "U.D.F." – 2:43 # "Year of the Child" – 11:00 # "Blues for Moyake" – 7:00 # "Portrait of Mosa Gwangwa" – 8:39 (bonus track on CD reissue)

Personnel

– bass *

– tenor saxophone, bass clarinet * Harry Beckett – trumpet, flugelhorn *

– drums

References

{{Authority control 1985 albums Johnny Dyani albums SteepleChase Records albums