LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Born from a Scottish father, Chris McGREGOR was born in South Africa, a country that he always remembered. He quickly became one of the greatest jazz pianists that existed on the continent. His collaboration with some black musicians still obliged him to exile in London, since 1964, in these trouble days when the Apartheid ruled. Chris McGREGOR BROTHERHOOD OF BREATH was a famous jazz big band that blended their African roots to a brassy progressive rock that was in fashion at the beginning of the Seventies. Founded in Great-Britain by a famous South African pianist, the band included numerous characters that were later found with CARAVAN, KING CRIMSON, SOFT MACHINE, Keith TIPETT and even Elton DEAN. Let's just mention Nick EVANS, Mark CHARIG, Dudu PUKWANA, Mongezi FEZA, Alan SKIDMORE, Harry MILLER, Louis MOHOLO, John SURMAN and Ronnie BEER. The eponymous album was recorded in 1971 and evokes of course some of the above mentioned references, but still keeps a particular personality. As for "Country Cooking", an album recorded in 1988 and now re-issued by Great Winds, it was the last recording made by Chris McGREGOR, given that he actually passed away twenty-four months later, aged 54.