Brotherhood of Breath

The Brotherhood of Breath was an English-South African big band established in the late-1960s by South African pianist and composer Chris McGregor, an extension of McGregor's previous band, The Blue Notes.

Brotherhood of Breath
OriginLondon, England
GenresJazz
Big band
Free jazz
Years active1960s–1970s; 1987–1989
Past membersChris McGregor
Louis Moholo
Harry Miller
Mongezi Feza
Dudu Pukwana
Johnny Dyani
Lol Coxhill
Evan Parker
Paul Rutherford
Harry Beckett
Marc Charig
Alan Skidmore
Jim Dvorak
Mike Osborne
Elton Dean
Nick Evans
John Surman
François Jeanneau
Louis Sclavis
Didier Levallet
Annie Whitehead

History

The Brotherhood of Breath included many members of the South African expatriate community resident in London, including McGregor himself, Louis Moholo, Harry Miller, Mongezi Feza, Dudu Pukwana, (occasionally) Johnny Dyani; and many of the free jazz musicians who were based in London at the same time. The group included, at various stages, Lol Coxhill, Evan Parker, Paul Rutherford, Harry Beckett, Marc Charig, Alan Skidmore, Jim Dvorak, Mike Osborne, Elton Dean, Nick Evans, and John Surman. The personnel was fluid, depending on who was available. The music resembles a mixture of Charles Mingus and the experiments of Sun Ra, but retains a unique feel due to the South African influences and the intelligent arrangements.

The original Brotherhood Of Breath ended in the late-1970s, with the deaths of Mongezi Feza and Harry Miller (whose label, Ogun Records, released some of the Brotherhood's albums). McGregor formed a second version of the group in France in the early-1980s, adding European musicians, including a number of French jazz musicians (François Jeanneau, Louis Sclavis, Jean-Claude Montredon, Didier Levallet).[1] In 1987, a third edition was formed with African and British musicians such as Annie Whitehead. In this incarnation the music was more tightly arranged and controlled, with less free improvisation.

Discography

References

  1. "Brotherhood Héritage". François RAULIN piano composition european jazz (in French). Retrieved 3 December 2017.

Bibliography

  • Maxine McGregor: Chris McGregor and the Brotherhood of Breath: my life with a South African jazz pioneer. Bamberger Books, Flint, MI 1995; ISBN 0-917453-32-8
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