Steve Dyer Quartet – Freedom Melody

Steve Dyer (saxophones), Aaron Rimbui (piano), tba (bass), tba (drums)

“Steve Dyer …is a visionary, a pioneer and a symbol of a new Africa.” -Vasco Zama Ndebele, Cue magazine

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. His parents listened consistently to music of the Western classical masters. He also remembers maskandi musicians walking the streets as they played their guitars, and the Soul Brothers and kwela” playing on the radio. He began composing music at the age of 10. Steve 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, where he immersed himself in the mbaqanga music tradition. At this time Steve also listened to saxophonists such as John Coltrane and Winston Mankunku. In 1988 after a stint in the U.K. he settled in Zimbabwe where he formed the group Southern Freeway. Two albums were produced; Southern Freeway (1989) and Indlelayenkululeko (1992). Steve came into contact here with the more introspective and often rhythmically complex mbira based Shona music, as well as reliving some Nguni based music playing with musicians that had Ndebele cultural roots.

In 1990 he joined the Amandla cultural ensemble of the A.N.C on a 7 week tour of Japan. With democracy on the horizon in 1993 Steve returned to South Africa. After studying briefly at the University of Natal, he relocated to Johannesburg and directed the Soweto String quartet live performance that toured Europe and Australia/New Zealand.

He conceptualised, directed and performed with the first ever substantive Southern African music collaboration Mahube” in 1997. Mahube toured Southern Africa and Europe and recorded recorded 2 albums: Music from Southern Africa 1998 (SAMA nomination), Qhubeka 2003 (Kora award)). Steve went on to produce 6 Oliver Mtukudzi albums between 1998 and 2002 including the seminal “Tuku music”.

He has released 8 solo albums since his return to S.A: Down South in Africa – 2000, Son of the Soil – 2004, Lifecycle 2006 (SAMA nomination) Native Art 2007 (SAMA nomination), IAP (U.S.A.) finalist), Ubuntu music 2012 (SAMA nomination), Confluence 2014 and Genesis of a Different World – 2019 (SAMA, Mzansi jazz nominations), Revision 2021 (SAMA nomination) and Enhlizweni – song stories from my heartland (SAMA Award winner – Best Jazz Album of the year). Steve has also composed and performed for feature film and TV soundtrack, for modern dance companies Moving into Dance and Tumbuka, as well as conceptualising and directing numerous shows and collaborations, and conducting improvising/music workshops.

In 2010 he composed and performed Rebirth, a first African concerto for soprano saxophone, orchestra with saxophones, African percussion and marimbas. Rebirth premiered in Johannesburg on 1st May 2010 with an 118-piece Miagi youth orchestra.

In April 2014 Steve was musical director for the opening show at HIFA (Harare international festival of the arts). He conceptualised, directed and performed in a groundbreaking multimedia work called Colour Me Human” – a new world musical” that premiered at Soweto theatre in May. The production also did a run at the Jo’burg theatre from 12th to 30th November. Colour Me Human was nominated for 5 Naledi theatre awards: Best ensemble, music score, music director, choreographer, animation/AV.

Steve’s latest solo album – “Revision” also nominated for a SAMA award was released in September 2021. In April and May 2023 Steve toured the west and east coasts of the U.S.A. with Bokani Dyer in a series of duo concerts called Dyer-logue. He also performed at Dizzy’s Jazz club in New York with a 6-piece band performing the “Genesis of a different world” repertoire. In 2024 Dyertribe (co-led by Steve & Bokani Dyer) performed at a series of festivals in the US, including Unity Festival, NYC, and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco, California.

In June 2024 his large-scale project, Visions of Ubuntu, was performed by an 8-piece band and a 40-strong Young People’s Chorus of New York City as part of the Summer for the City festival at Lincoln Center, NY. The project is presented in September 2025 at Joy of Jazz Festival, Johannesburg, South Africa. Steve Dyer’s next project, Freedom Melody, co-commissioned by Lincoln Center, will be performed at the Center in October 2025. Steve releases his 11th album as a leader entitled Multipolar in October 2025 on Ropeadope.