Okay Temiz & Johnny Dyani - 1976 - Witchdoctor's Son

Okay Temiz & Johnny Dyani

1976

Witchdoctor's Son

01. Gece [The Night] 3:38

02. Yesil Fener [I'm A Green Lamp] 5:37

03. Sark Gezintileri [Orient Trip] 4:06

04. Karadeniz Dalgari [Black Sea Waves] 2:03

05. Doktur [Play For Me] 4:06

06. Elhamdulillah Marimba [Marimba] 6:09

07. Hepimiz Icin [It's For You All] 3:49

08. Ben Muslumanim [I'm Muslim Man] 4:36

09. Moriva [Moriva] 7:30

Bass, Piano, Vocals – Johnny Dyani

Clarinet, Violin – Saffet Gundeger

Drums, Percussion – Okay Temiz

Electric Bass – Oğuz Durukan

Saxophone – Gunnar Bergsten

One of the hippest albums we've ever heard from bassist Johnny Dyani – and that's saying a lot, given his tremendous records of the 70s! The album's different than the album that Johnny recorded with fellow Blue Notes members on the Steeplechase label – and instead, the group here is led by percussionist Okay Temiz, and mixes Johnny's round, bold lines on acoustic bass with additional electric bass, plus clarinet and saxes too! The tunes are heavily rhythmic – still jazz, but with very strong global currents too – an even rootsier vibe than most jazz of the South African scene from whence Dyani came – in a mode that really seems to set him free. Johnny also plays a bit of piano, too – and the tracks are a mix of Dyani originals, plus Temiz arrangements of traditional Turkish tunes.

The recording captures a complex, funky and musically together exploration of folk themes, jazz messages and popular directions. After many years together discovering both South African and Turkish sources, Temiz and Dyani were intimately versed in each other’s traditions. Side one features material arranged by Temiz, and the second has material arranged and composed by Dyani – including a stunning arrangement of Don Cherry’s Elhamdulilhah Marimba with Dyani on piano and voice.

‘The visionary Turkish percussionist and the great South African bassist were introduced by Don Cherry in 1969, when Dyani moved to Sweden after the break-up of The Blue Notes. They worked together regularly over the next decade, starting out with Cherry in the Eternal Ethnic Music trio.

“Another world,” recalls Temiz. “At that time I was trying to learn as a big band jazz drummer, and when I met Don Cherry, I said, forget it. We played another kind of music. Indian music, Turkish music, Bulgarian, Chinese, you know… All kinds of music.” “Every musician,” Dyani said later, “should realize and acknowledge that folk music is the backbone of every music.”

Recorded in Istanbul in 1976; originally released in an edition of one thousand copies only, on the Turkish label Yonca. The first side features Turkish material arranged by Temiz; the second, SA-oriented music put together by Dyani, opening with a stunning interpretation of Cherry’s Marimba

Mystical grooves, deep forest psychedelic sounds, and freaky, wild, joyful sunny dances all happen here in less than 45 minutes. That review is actually quite ironic because the production is fine and, especially, because these rythyms and beats are very tight (well, it's Okay Temiz). I was shocked at first when reading that "some musicians sound behind the beat". Just listen to "Yesil Fener". That's some savage 9/8 madness in the greatest Turkish tradition.

Get this one. It's... spiritually enhancing, to say the least.