Brothers Alvin, left, and Errol Dyers Brothers Alvin, left, and Errol Dyers
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In July, renowned jazz musician Errol Dyers died at the age of 65 from complications with emphysema.
He was scheduled to perform at Artscape’s Jazz Masters: Tribute to the Legends concert series which is on from September 28 - 30 at Artscape. His passing leaves a gaping void in the Cape jazz scene.
To honour and celebrate his contribution to jazz- particularly to goema (Cape jazz), Artscape has dedicated the final performance on the Jazz Masters platform, on September 30, to Errol.
His brother, the jazz guitarist Alvin Dyers will take centre stage at that performance and will play some of his sibling’s songs as well as his own songs.
The Jazz Masters three-day festival is part of Artscape’s Heritage Festival.
There were five siblings and they were the two oldest and were drawn to music from an early age - from five or six. On Saturday afternoons, in their home in Wesley Street in Harfield Village, Claremont, the youngsters were fascinated by the music played by their father, Betram and their uncles.
The oldies played a wide range of instruments. The Dyers brothers were not allowed to touch the instruments. Sensing their interest, their mother, Freda, (who played violin) bought them a guitar - “one guitar to share” - to gauge if their interest was real.
They were about eight and 10. The brothers had found their métier and she soon bought them another guitar.
They learnt the chords and taught themselves - watching the family players and by listening to records - anything they could get hold of - from rock to jazz. As to getting lessons, Alvin says, jazz tuition wasn’t readily available.
“It’s not like today -where just about every college and university has a jazz department.”
Alvin has taught jazz for over a decade at UCT - at the South African College of Music.
After school at Livingstone High the brothers fitted in music gigging with their day jobs.
“We were involved with a rock band - The Sacred Legion and then Errol went his way and I went my way.” They headed up their own bands; played with legends.
They shared the stage here and there. The last major gig that Alvin can recall is the International guitar Night - presented by Tony Cox at the Baxter in 2012. Alvin admits that he is not great at archiving the details of gigs. It’s the music that drives him - performing and teaching.
After his brother’s death there was much said about the fact that because of his illness, he was unable to work. Here was an icon; an artist and innovator and there was no assistance from the establishment - no industry safety net.
Alvin pauses when responding, yes, there was - is an element - of the musical establishment ignoring, not supporting artist but there were other issues.
“Errol was uncompromising. He would play only Cape jazz - goema and his own work. If you booked him, you knew that is what you would get.”
He would for instance not play from the American jazz songbook. He became increasingly “uncompromising” as he got older. That cost him gigs. Errol was intent on keeping his focus on the heritage of Cape jazz.
Nothing wrong in that. It was an artistic choice that he made. Sadly, there wasn’t enough support to sustain his art.
“Errol was also passionate about the theatre”, added Alvin. “He wrote plays - with music.”
To Alvin’s knowledge, these plays have not been staged. The scripts are probably sitting in a drawer in his home. Just putting it out there.
Other jazz legends participating in the three-day jazz celebration include Hilton Schilder, McCoy Mrubata and Sylvia Mdunyelwa and Dizu Plaatjies.
* Tickets to the Heritage Festival productions range from R100 - R150 and are available via Computicket or Artscape-Dial-a-Seat 0214217695.