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Mongezi Feza

 
Artist: Mongezi Feza
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Similar Artists:

Okay Temiz, Hugh Masekela

Influenced By:

Booker Little, Clifford Brown

Worked With:

Louis Moholo, Dudu Pukwana

Formal Connection With:

Fred Frith, Keith Tippett, Johnny Dyani, Robert Wyatt, Henry Cow
  • Born: 1945, Queenstown, South Africa
  • Died: 1975, London, England
  • Active: '60s, '70s
  • Genres: Jazz
  • Instrument: Trumpet Representative Album: "Free Jam"

Biography

Mongezi Feza began playing the trumpet very early, and by his teens was already playing professionally in groups, taking part in the very popular jazz competitions. Chris McGregor spotted him there and invited him to join the Blue Notes; with them he fled the country in 1964, playing first at the Antibes Jazz Festival and then in Zurich, London, and Copenhagen. Feza was a member of the ensembles McGregor led and played with Dudu Pukwana in his groups Assagai and Spear in the early '70s. In Flute Music (Caroline 1975), he plays flute and percussion on four original compositions, including the beautiful "Sondela." He was heard on Keith Tippett's huge Centipede (Septober Energy, RCA 1971); with avant-rock's Robert Wyatt (Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, Virgin 1975), and in Henry Cow with Fred Frith (Desperate Straights and In Praise of Learning, Virgin 1974). In 1972, Johnny Dyani invited Feza to join the trio Xaba, with Turkish percussionist Okay Temiz. Feza recorded one of his last sessions (Diamond Express, Freedom 1977) with Dudu Pukwana. He passed away in 1975, from a combination of nervous disorder and untreated pneumonia; his friends and colleagues believed that his complaints were not taken seriously enough at the London hospital. Explosive yet lyrical, Feza was enamored of the style of Clifford Brown and Booker Little. His free improvisations, infused with the influence of kwela rhythms and African melodies, are a marvel of invention. With his premature death, the European jazz scene lost one of its most original voices and a person loved by audiences and colleagues alike. ~ Francesco Martinelli, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Mongezi Feza
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia

Mongezi Feza (1945 – 14 December 1975) was a South African jazz trumpet player and flautist.

A member of The Blue Notes, he left South Africa in 1964 and settled in Europe, living in London and Copenhagen. As a trumpeter, his influences included hard bopper Clifford Brown and free jazz pioneer Don Cherry. After The Blue Notes splintered in the late 1960s, he played with British rock musician Robert Wyatt, progressive rock band Henry Cow, and most extensively with fellow ex Blue Notes Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor and Dudu Pukwana. His compositions 'Sonia' and 'You Ain't Gonna Know Me ('Cause You Think You Know Me)' remained in the repertoire of his colleagues long after his death. In the early 1970s, Feza was also member of the afro-rock band Assagai.

He died in 1975 of untreated pneumonia.

Contents

Discography

Albums

  • Free Jam with Bernt Rosengren Quartet, Ayler Records (1972)
  • Music For Xaba Vol 1 and Vol 2. Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani, Okay Temiz. (1972)
  • "Rejoice" Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani, Okay Temiz (1972)
  • "Brotherhood of Breath" (Chris McGregor) (1970)
  • "Assagai" by "Assagai" (1971)
  • "Very Urgent" by Chris McGregor's Blue Notes (1968)
  • "In Praise of Learning" by Henry Cow (1975)
  • "Theatre Royal Drury Lane" by Robert Wyatt (1974)

with Harry Miller's Isipingo

  • Which Way Now, Cuneiform (1975)

with Dudu Pukwana

  • In The Townships by Dudu Pukwana & Spear, Virgin C1504 (1973). This album dedicated to the memory of Mongezi Feza.
  • Diamond Express by Dudu Pukwana, Freedom FLP 41041, (1977)
  • "Flute Music" by Spear (Dudu Pukwana) 1975

Underground Recordings

  • 1965 The Blue Notes featuring vocalist Patrice Gcwabe
  • 1967 The Blue Notes featuring vocalist Tunji Oyelana
  • 1968 Unissued LP (Bootleg) of Brotherhood of Breath.

References

Philippe Carles, André Clergeat, and Jean-Louis Comolli, Dictionnaire du jazz, Paris, 1994


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
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Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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