LIVE AT WILLISAU, SWITZERLAND, 27th JANUARY

CHRIS McGREGOR: Chris McGregor was born the son of a Scottish missionary, brought up on church hymns and Xhosa dances. He studied at the Cape Town College of Music and discovered the black jazz scene. His septet played in the 1962 National Jazz Festival, and after founding the Blue Notes in 1963, he led a big band. Harassed by the authorities, they escaped the country through an invitation to the 1964 Antibes Jazz Festival. Fellow expatriate Abdullah Ibrahim helped them find work in Zurich, then at Ronnie Scott’s in London and the Café Montmartre in Copenhagen.

 

This live CD, released for the first time in 1994, features such soloists as tenor saxophonist Evan Parker, trumpeter Harry Beckett, trombonist Radu Malfatti (who is somewhat bizarre on "Kongi's Theme") and such Blue Notes as pianist McGregor, altoist Dudu Pukwana, trumpeter Mongezi Feza and drummer Louis Moholo.

PERSONNEL:

Chris McGregor (p)
Dudu Pukwana (as)
Evan Parker, Gary Windo (ts)
Mongezi Feza, Harry Beckett, Marc Charig (tp)
Nick Evans, Radu Malfatti (tb)
Harry Miller (b)
Louis Moholo (d)

Live at Willisau, Switzerland, January 27, 1973.

Tracks:
01. Do It
02. Restless
03. Camel Dance
04. Davashe’s Dream
05. Kongi’s Theme
06. Tunji’s Song
07. Ismite Is Might
08. The Sepent’s Kindly Eye
09. Andromeda
10. Union Special
11. Funky Boots