Steve Dyer

Steve Dyer believes that no single culture owns the monopoly on human wisdom.  Every human life born into whatever culture, ethnicity or spiritual belief system has the same value.

Steve was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1960 and completed a B Mus degree in performance at the University of Natal in 1981, majoring in saxophone and flute.

Refusing military conscription into the SADF he left South Africa and lived in Botswana for 5 years. Here he came into contact with the exile sounds blowing through the horns of Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa. He helped form “Shakawe” led by Jonas Gwangwa and played in the band for 3 years. In 1988 after a stint in the U.K. he settled in Zimbabwe where after releasing his debut album Southern Freeway (1989) he formed a group with that same name. “Indlela yenkululeko” was released in 1992. In 1990 he joined the Amandla cultural ensemble of the ANC on a 7 week tour of Japan.

With democracy on the horizon in 1993 Steve returned to South Africa. Steve has released 9 albums under his name, including the critically acclaimed “Genesis of a different world” released in 2019. He conceptualised the Southern African music “supergroup” Mahube that has been an ongoing touring collaboration since 1997. Steve has also composed “Rebirth” - a concerto for soprano saxophone, string quartets, music for saxophone and marimbas and more. Steve also has extensive producing experience including 6 albums for Oliver Mtukudzi (1998-2002) including the seminal Tuku music, as well as directing large and small scale concerts on the African continent and abroad.

 In April-May 2023 Steve toured the east and west coasts of the U.S.A. in a series of duo performances with Bokani Dyer called “Dyer-logue”. He also performed the Genesis of a different world repertoire at Dizzy’s Jazz club, Lincoln centre with a sextet.

Steve Dyer – saxophones, flute, keyboards, treated piano, guitar, voice

1 Heartland

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Percussion – Nompumelelo Nhlapo

Electric bass – Khola Phalatse

Piano – Bokani Dyer

Alto saxophone – Mthunzi Mvubu

Bass clarinet – Mark Fransman

Voice – Busi Dyer

2 Kindred Spirits featuring Andile Yenana - piano

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Percussion – Tlale Makhene

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Trumpet – Sthembiso Bhengu

3 TransAtlantic

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko,

Percussion – Nompumelelo Nhlapo, El Hadj Ngari Ndong

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Piano – Bokani Dyer

Trumpet – Sthembiso Bhengu

Bass clarinet – Mark Fransman

4 Inyembezi

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Piano – Andile Yenana

Trumpet – Sthembiso Bhengu

Voices – Afrika Cele, Titi Luzipho, Joshua Pule, Vusumuzi Nhlapho

5 Ihlasele

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Electric bass – Khola Phalatse

Piano – Bokani Dyer

Electric guitar – Louis Mhlanga

Voices – Afrika Cele, Titi Luzipho, Joshua Pule, Vusumuzi Nhlapho, Busi Dyer

6 Barren soil (land without opportunity)  featuring Louis Mhlanga – electric guitar

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Percussion – Nompumelelo Nhlapo

Electric bass – Khola Phalatse

Alto saxophone – Mthunzi Mvubu

Trumpets – Sthembiso Bhengu, Sydney Mavundla

7 Falling trees in the forest featuring Mthunzi Mvubu – alto saxophone

Drums – Simz Tshabalala

Percussion  – Nompumelelo Nhlapo, Tlale Makhene

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Piano – Bokani Dyer

Trumpet – Sydney Mavundla

8 Phola

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Electric piano – Bokani Dyer

Alto saxophone – Mthunzi Mvubu

Trumpet – Sydney Mavundla

9 Uyivile featuring Sthembiso Bhengu - trumpet

Drums – Sphelelo Mazibuko

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Piano – Andile Yenana

Voices – Afrika Cele, Titi Luzipho, Joshua Pule, Vusumuzi Nhlapho

10 Senzeni na? featuring Siya Mthembu - voice

Acoustic bass – Dalisu Ndlazi

Voices – Afrika Cele, Titi Luzipho, Joshua Pule, Vusumuzi Nhlapho

Enhlizweni - song stories from my heartland 

release date: april 5, 2024

All tracks composed and arranged by Steve Dyer

Produced by Steve Dyer

Mixed by Keith Farquharson

Mastered by Tim Lengfeld

Photography by Joanne Olivier

Art design by Romy Brauteseth

Thanks and gratitude to all the musicians and other creatives involved in this project.

Thanks also to Marty and Helene Kahn, Seton Hawkins, Sabina Czajkowska-Simpson and the Dyertribe. Kea leboga! – Steve Dyer