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Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath Review by Dean McFarlane

An album that fuses the influence of African music, jazz-rock, and free improvisation, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath shares affinities with the '70s music of Don Cherry and Miles Davis. Somewhat of a legendary album amongst collectors of British jazz and fusion, the LP was originally released in the '70s and in early 2002 finally became reissued by the Italian label Akarma. Enlisted on the session were the talents of a group of extraordinary musicians from the free jazz, progressive rock, and improvisation scenes. Chris McGregor led the group on piano and African xylophone with Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans on trombones, Mongezi Feza on pocket trumpet and Indian flute, Mark Charig on cornet, Harry Beckett on trumpet, and Dudu Pukwana on alto saxophone. Ronnie Beer's tenor saxophone is outstanding, and pitched up against Alan Skidmore's tenor and soprano saxophone, completing a massive horn section, are two bigger names: '70s U.K. jazzman Mike Osborne on alto saxophone and clarinet and John Surman on baritone and soprano saxophone. Brotherhood of Breath created one of the defining recordings of ethno-jazz with this album; with an expansive use of African-inspired melodies, they trace textures which culminate in an ecstatic peak on "Night Poem," the album's 20-minute standout track. Not to forget, the album is driven by the organic pulse of the rhythm section -- bassist Harry Miller and drummer Louis Moholo, no less -- who will be names familiar to fans of British free jazz. This album comes highly recommended to fans of Don Cherry, Afro-beat sounds, and the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath – Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath - Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath album cover

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Label:RCA – NE2, Neon (3) – NE2

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Dynaflex, Gatefold

Country:US

Released:1971

Genre:Jazz

Style:Free Jazz, Big Band, Contemporary Jazz

A1MRA

Written-By – Dudu Pukwana

5:02

A2Davashe's Dream

Written-By – Mackay Davashe

7:30

A3The Bride

Written-By – Dudu Pukwana

7:41

B1Andromeda

Written-By – Chris McGregor

4:07

B2Night Poem

Written-By – Chris McGregor

20:46

B3Union Special

Written-By – Chris McGregor

1:42

Published By – Warlock Music Ltd.

Engineered At – Sound Techniques, London

Copyright © – RCA (UK) Limited

Manufactured By – RCA Records

Alto Saxophone – Dudu Pukwana

Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Mike Osborne

Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – John Surman

Bass – Harry Miller

Cornet – Mark Charig*

Design – Keef (4)

Drums, Percussion – Louis Moholo

Engineer – Roger Mayer

Leader, Piano, Xylophone [African Xylophone] – Chris McGregor

Producer – Joe Boyd

Tenor Saxophone, Flute [Indian Flute] – Ronnie Beer

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Alan Skidmore

Trombone – Malcolm Griffiths, Nick Evans

Trumpet – Harry Beckett

Trumpet [Pocket Trumpet], Flute [Indian Flute] – Mongezi Feza

TMK (S) ® by RCA Corporation ● © 1971, RCA Limited (United Kingdom)

Manufactured by RCA Records, New York, N.Y. ● Printed in U.S.A.

Rights Society: BMI

Matrix / Runout (A side, on label side B): ADRS-5325

Matrix / Runout (B side, on label side B): ADRS-5326

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 1): ADRS-5325-2S I - Λ1

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 1): ADRS-5326-2S I - Λ1

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 2): ADRS-5325-1S-B R

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 2): ADRS-5326-1S-B R

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.