Bokani Dyer features Moroccan singer on new album

Physical copies of Neo Native will be available in South African music stores in May. The album features new material and reimagined works from his two previous albums, Emancipate the Story (2011) and World Music (2015).

“There are some traditional songs on the album,” Dyer told Music In Africa. “I collaborated with a lady from Moroocco called Asmâa Hamzaoui on the last tract called 'Oumou' – a dedication to Grammy Award-winning Malian wassoulou musician Oumou Sangaré.

“She is incredible. She was featured at a festival I was also playing at in Bern, Switzerland. I found her style perfect to compliment one of the songs that was not going to make the album.”

Dyer recorded the album with his band, Dyer’s Trio, which features drummer Sphelelo Mazibuko and bassist Romy Brauteseth. The album was produced at Dyer Tribe Music, a record label owned by Dyer and his father Steve.

Asked what the inspiration behind the album was, Dyer said: “Many things. The title of the album is about identity. It’s about how one chooses to identify and a question of what a person feels connected to as native. In the human experience beyond geography, where does the feeling of home reside? So basically that’s asking the question about belonging and identity.

Dyer said assembling a band to write, record and perform with was one of the main obstacles he had to overcome in order to create Neo Native.

"Anything can be a challenge in the process but if there is something inside you that makes you feel you want to push forward and make music, then you should have patience and the determination to carry on,” he said.

Dyer has been a leading voice in the new wave of young contemporary jazz musicians in South Africa. In 2011 he was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz. 

His previous album World Music was nominated in the Best Jazz Album category at the South African Music Awards (SAMAs). The album features Buddy Wells (tenor saxophone), Justin Bellairs (alto saxophone), Robin Fassie­-Kock (trumpet), Shane Cooper (bass), John Hassan (percussion), Lee­-Anne Fortuin (vocals) and Sakhile Moleshe (vocals).

The launch dates for the Neo Native are as follows:

• The Orbit Jazz Club, Johannesburg (3 May).
• The Chairman, Durban (4 May).
• Nassau Centre, Cape Town (5 May).
• Guga sthebe cultural centre, Cape Town (6 May).

Neo Native is available for purchase here.