I just sold my copy of Very Urgent by the Chris McGregor group on Discogs for $85. Amazing music. I also have that Brotherhood Of Breath album you were playing. Your presentation was very skillful, and I learned a lot. Thanks!
Hey Blake. Good looks on this video! I'm a huge fan of all the Blue Notes solo work as well. Especially their bass player Johnny Dyani. All the LPs he put out on SteepleChase are outstanding. The tribute albums these guys did on Ogun for their trumpeter - Blue Notes for Mongezi - and for Dyani when he died - Blue Notes for Johnny - are incredible pieces of music. Highly recommended!
I bought a Chris McGregor (Septet) LP earlier this week called 'Up to Earth' and I love it. I didn't know much about the man so your video was much appreciated -- really informative. Sad to hear that the history of South African isn't taught much in the US. Thanks for a fantastic update.
Gah! Jealous of you guys with that McGregor record, lol. I have it on "harddrive" ;-). It is indeed amazing. Maybe I will look into the reissue but that kind of album, I dunno, only an original will do! Yet another fine tutorial. Great stuff, Blake.
Glad to see people all over the world enjoying South African music, nicely explained here. Especially that first piece "Mra" is a classic. Chris McGregor had played on an earlier recording of this piece with Dudu Pukwana, here th-cam.com/video/zZsGoO0DJCQ/w-d-xo.html . Mra is name they called one of the most influential saxophonists in South Africa at that time, real name Chris Ngcukana.
Hello Blake, Interesting story of how some of the Blue Note members had to exile themselves to France and Europe just to play their music. So I assume if you found some of those original records you would have some real collectibles. The music sounds pretty free indeed. Lots of combined influences in the music. I appreciate when you expressed how happy and positive this music makes you feel after you hear it. Please do more of this type of post Blake. I loved the lesson~ Rob/Boston
Thanks for a great post Blake! I was around when the South Africans first hit London. It was one of those life-changing music moments. I promoted them live a few times too. I do joint VC posts over at my good friend drrhythmn's channel and will definitely pull out something S African next time. Nice copy of the first BoB too.
Great video Blake. Nice looking book. I think the original U.K RCA NEON version have the african figures cover and the McGregor picture inside the gatefold. That's the version I have. But the U.S and Canada first pressing from -70 have McGreror on it, different original cover depending on country. I have 'Live At Willisau' and one Blue Notes album on Ogun, will show it soon.
There are a number of live CDs of the big band available, but one should also get McGregor's solo piano work, as well. "Sea Breezes" is brilliant; "In His Good Time" harder to come by, but beautiful. The two "Piano Songs" LPs (French, if I remember right) very difficult, as well. The Blue Notes albums are like the early Trio CDs now available--much freer and less of the "call and response" you mention as a feature of the Brotherhood. I am the publisher of Maxine's book (the edition is pretty much all sold out at this point). There is a French translation of the book being done, and there is some murmuring of a film adaption of McGregor's story. I don't know how likely that is as yet. Those who like this music might also want to look into the Swedish/Turkish groups that formed at about the same time: Sevda, Oriental Wind, Rena Rama. Not exactly like the BoB, but as rhythmic and original. There were a number of offshoots, of course: Dyani, Temiz and Feza did a couple albums listed as "Music for Xaba," for example; Dudu Pukwana's albums are fine, as well. Good to see McGregor still gaining fans....
Hello Bill! Thanks very much for watching and commenting. All of the information you have provided is very much appreciated. The prospects of a movie sounds very intriguing! And again, thanks for the recommendations for other groups to look into. That's why we do these videos is to help each other learn about all of the music that is out there. An yes, there are more and more fans as we all learn what came before. Thanks again! Sincerely, Blake
Hi Blake, I made a comment a year ago and just realised I made a big mistake - I was referring to bluenotes.me.uk and autocorrect had 'corrected ' it to bluenoses.
Interesting. I first met him in South England then moved in with him and Maxine in France. I often wonder what Andromeda and Kyle are doing now. Hate the music btw. Did go out with Harry, the sax player, for a while.
Haha. You didn't much care for the music, huh? I probably wouldn't have 10 years ago--it is something that I think you kind of grow into when studying music. And they were a bit ahead of their time, I think. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. All the best, Blake
I was blessed to "grow up" with these guys.... Thanks for this supporting plug ...BUT a bit of too little too late....
Great music! Thx for showing.
Hubert - Germany
I just sold my copy of Very Urgent by the Chris McGregor group on Discogs for $85. Amazing music. I also have that Brotherhood Of Breath album you were playing. Your presentation was very skillful, and I learned a lot. Thanks!
Blake, this sounds awesome! Fantastic!
Great record Blake! my copy has the back cover in front...also on neon/ Very nice infos about that lp, thanks for sharing! take care
Hey Blake. Good looks on this video! I'm a huge fan of all the Blue Notes solo work as well. Especially their bass player Johnny Dyani. All the LPs he put out on SteepleChase are outstanding. The tribute albums these guys did on Ogun for their trumpeter - Blue Notes for Mongezi - and for Dyani when he died - Blue Notes for Johnny - are incredible pieces of music. Highly recommended!
I bought a Chris McGregor (Septet) LP earlier this week called 'Up to Earth' and I love it. I didn't know much about the man so your video was much appreciated -- really informative. Sad to hear that the history of South African isn't taught much in the US. Thanks for a fantastic update.
Gah! Jealous of you guys with that McGregor record, lol. I have it on "harddrive" ;-). It is indeed amazing. Maybe I will look into the reissue but that kind of album, I dunno, only an original will do! Yet another fine tutorial. Great stuff, Blake.
Glad to see people all over the world enjoying South African music, nicely explained here. Especially that first piece "Mra" is a classic. Chris McGregor had played on an earlier recording of this piece with Dudu Pukwana, here th-cam.com/video/zZsGoO0DJCQ/w-d-xo.html . Mra is name they called one of the most influential saxophonists in South Africa at that time, real name Chris Ngcukana.
Hello Blake,
Interesting story of how some of the Blue Note members had to exile themselves to France and Europe just to play their music. So I assume if you found some of those original records you would have some real collectibles.
The music sounds pretty free indeed. Lots of combined influences in the music. I appreciate when you expressed how happy and positive this music makes you feel after you hear it.
Please do more of this type of post Blake. I loved the lesson~
Rob/Boston
Thanks for a great post Blake! I was around when the South Africans first hit London. It was one of those life-changing music moments. I promoted them live a few times too. I do joint VC posts over at my good friend drrhythmn's channel and will definitely pull out something S African next time. Nice copy of the first BoB too.
I saw 2 concerts in Mozambique, between 1980 and 1985 (I don´t remember the year). I liked very much.
Great video Blake. Nice looking book.
I think the original U.K RCA NEON version have the african figures cover and the McGregor picture inside the gatefold. That's the version I have. But the U.S and Canada first pressing from -70 have McGreror on it, different original cover depending on country. I have 'Live At Willisau' and one Blue Notes album on Ogun, will show it soon.
I also feel 'hope' in that spiritual music, there's a different twist to it, south african sound, agreed
There are a number of live CDs of the big band available, but one should also get McGregor's solo piano work, as well. "Sea Breezes" is brilliant; "In His Good Time" harder to come by, but beautiful. The two "Piano Songs" LPs (French, if I remember right) very difficult, as well. The Blue Notes albums are like the early Trio CDs now available--much freer and less of the "call and response" you mention as a feature of the Brotherhood. I am the publisher of Maxine's book (the edition is pretty much all sold out at this point). There is a French translation of the book being done, and there is some murmuring of a film adaption of McGregor's story. I don't know how likely that is as yet. Those who like this music might also want to look into the Swedish/Turkish groups that formed at about the same time: Sevda, Oriental Wind, Rena Rama. Not exactly like the BoB, but as rhythmic and original. There were a number of offshoots, of course: Dyani, Temiz and Feza did a couple albums listed as "Music for Xaba," for example; Dudu Pukwana's albums are fine, as well. Good to see McGregor still gaining fans....
Hello Bill! Thanks very much for watching and commenting. All of the information you have provided is very much appreciated. The prospects of a movie sounds very intriguing! And again, thanks for the recommendations for other groups to look into. That's why we do these videos is to help each other learn about all of the music that is out there. An yes, there are more and more fans as we all learn what came before. Thanks again! Sincerely, Blake
Brilliant band! Do you know the web site bluenoses.me.uk
It gives a full history of all the musicians involved and their recordings
Hi Blake, I made a comment a year ago and just realised I made a big mistake - I was referring to bluenotes.me.uk and autocorrect had 'corrected ' it to bluenoses.
Sorry, meant 'bluenotes'
Interesting. I first met him in South England then moved in with him and Maxine in France. I often wonder what Andromeda and Kyle are doing now. Hate the music btw. Did go out with Harry, the sax player, for a while.
Haha. You didn't much care for the music, huh? I probably wouldn't have 10 years ago--it is something that I think you kind of grow into when studying music. And they were a bit ahead of their time, I think. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. All the best, Blake