- Vinyl
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Akarma
- ASIN: B00008LDX8
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Mra |
| 2. Davashe's Dream |
| 3. Bride |
| 4. Andromeda |
| 5. Night Poem |
| 6. Union Special |
Product Description
CD Description
A long-overdue release on CD of a classic title from 1971 by Chris McGregor's magnificent big band Brotherhood Of Breath. Arguably one of the most influential albums to emerge from the London jazz scene of the early 1970s. The Brotherhood of Breath was an exuberant big-band created by South African born pianist and composer Chris McGregor. In South Africa, McGregor had formed the racially mixed Blue Notes in the early 1960s. By 1964, finding it very difficult to work at home, they left for Europe, finally settling in London in 1966. The Blue Notes - Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza, Johnny Dyani and Louis Moholo made a huge impact on London's jazz scene and befriended many in London's emerging avant-garde jazz community. The Brotherhood Of Breath was essentially the expatriate Blue Notes augmented by a large number of their friends from the British jazz community. The ensemble played an "energetic mixture of Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Sun Ra but retained a unique feel due to the South African influences and the intelligent arrangements." McGregor dreamed of keeping the band together "not as an institution, but as a community." Unfortunately the economics of touring with such a large ensemble made that impossible. The group with a varying line-up continued to perform and record sporadically until McGregor's untimely death in May 1990. Sadly Mongezi Feza died in December 1975, Johnny Dyani in October 1986 and Dudu Pukwana June 1990. Their wonderful joyous music continues to be performed by the occasional Dedication Orchestra. Chris McGregor (leader, piano, African xylophone), Malcolm Griffiths (trombone), Nick Evans (trombone), Mongezi Feza (pocket trumpet, Indian flute), Mark Charig (cornet), Harry Beckett (trumpet), Dudu Pukana (alto saxophone), Ronnie Beer (tenor saxophone, Indian flute), Alan Skidmore (tenor and soprano saxophone), Harry Miller (bass), Louis Moholo (drums, percussion), Mike Osborne (alto saxophone, clarinet), John Surman (baritone and soprano saxophone). Tracks: MRA / Davashe's Dream / The Bride / Andromeda / Night Poem / Union Special
About the Artist
One of South Africa's most distinguished jazz pianists, Chris McGregor was a founder member of pioneering jazz group the Bluenotes. He recorded this joyful, ground breaking album in 1970 for RCA s Neon label with some of the finest and most original musicians of the day. Chris brought together old pals alto saxophonist Dudu Pakwana, trumpeter Harold Beckett and drummer Louis Moholo together with contemporary London jazzmen Malcolm Griffiths, Alan Skidmore, Mike Osborn and John Surman. Together they formed a wonderful brotherly big band, whose musical styles incorporate Township jive with bebop and swing on such numbers as the lively MRA and up tempo The Bride . Freedom rules in the 20-minute epic Night Poem , capped by the jolly Union Special , making the whole album a refreshing experience. McGregor died in 1990 and this excellent, much sought after re-mastered 6-track CD serves as a fitting memorial to Chris and many of the other contributors who have since passed away. Listen and it ll take your breath away.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This great album by a legendary band has long been unobtainable, vinyl copies change hands at high prices. The music is similar to some of Mingus' work, but with the township jive feel replacing the funky gospel of Mingus. The soloists are 1st rate, Dudu Puckwana and Mongezi Feza stand out. This is passionate music played from the heart by an extraordinary band at its peak. Bravo Chris Mcgregor!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Chris McGregor had called upon his old mates from the Blue Notes Mongezi Feza, Dudu Pukwana & Louis Moholo and combined them with the cream of the British free movement including Malcolm Griffiths, Alan Skidmore, Mike Osborne & John Surman to form a big band like no other, a free band that swung or was that a swing band that played free in any event the music they made on CM'sBOB was astonishingly fresh and inspired.
From the opening pulse of Moholo's drums and McGregor's driving piano on Dudu Pukwana's excellent MRA you just know that this is a very special record, even before the horns come in you can feel that African Sun.
MRA is followed by the lovely ballad 'Davashe's Dream', the McGregor led 'The Bride' and African tinged Ellingtonia of 'Andromeda'.
Night Poem is a twenty one minute free exersise that builds and builds as layer upon layer of ideas bounce off of the various players in a most delightful cacophony.
The last track is the whimsical 'Union Special'.
Highly Recommended as an introduction to the workings of a quite remarkable collective.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This great album by a legendary band has long been unobtainable, vinyl copies change hands at high prices. The music is similar to some of Mingus' work, but with the township jive feel replacing the funky gospel of Mingus. The soloists are 1st rate, Dudu Puckwana and Mongezi Feza stand out. This is passionate music played from the heart by an extraordinary band at its peak. Bravo Chris Mcgregor!
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