Brotherhood of Breath reissues

[RogerF]

The first two Brotherhood of Breath albums have just been reissued on the British "Fledg'ling" label. They come in a digipack with good sleeve notes and photos and are approved and licensed by Chris MacGregor's widom, Maxine McGregor. They appear to have been remastered to a very high standard indeed. Although I had heard the first eponymous album, the second one 'Brotherhood' I had not, and it was certainly a revelation as BoB studio albums are something of a rareity. 'Brotherhood' is as good as, if not better than, the first. But both are really essential, joyous beautifully crafted and executed medium big band modern to avant jazz. Very highly recommended.

[Guy Berger]

If I was going to pick up an album by these guys, would one of these be a good start? Which one?

There's also an earlier, less expensive issue of Brotherhood of Breath on the Repertoire label. Which is better?

Guy

Edited March 7, 2007 by Guy

[Chalupa]

I recently heard a copy of "Very Urgent" by Chris MacGregor. That needs to be re-issued too.

[clifford_thornton]

If I was going to pick up an album by these guys, would one of these be a good start? Which one?

There's also an earlier, less expensive issue of Brotherhood of Breath on the Repertoire label. Which is better?

Guy

Either would be a good start. I'd almost suggest Brotherhood as the better place, but I'm very, very fond of that first one too. Can't say how the reissues sound, but the original LPs are well-recorded.

[sidewinder]

Yep, the RCA Neon label was short-lived but the quality of recordings and cover artwork was first rate. Funky decals on the LPs too !

Didn't last - the accountants no doubt caught up with them.

[ep1str0phy]

If I was going to pick up an album by these guys, would one of these be a good start? Which one?

There's also an earlier, less expensive issue of Brotherhood of Breath on the Repertoire label. Which is better?

Guy

Either would be a good start. I'd almost suggest Brotherhood as the better place, but I'm very, very fond of that first one too. Can't say how the reissues sound, but the original LPs are well-recorded.

The early CD issue of the 1st Brotherhood album sounds perfectly fine (I'm satisfied with it, anyway). Unless the remastering has succeeded in making the Miller/Moholo rhythm team even more badass on those first few seconds of "MRA", then I'll stick with what I've got.

The more I listen to it, the more I'm beginning to think that Brotherhood is the superior album--more for variety than for value (as discussed in the SA thread). None of that's to say that the self-titled is lacking for ambition ("Night Poem"), aggression, or skill, of course. My opinion could change tomorrow, and together those first two albums are some of the best studio output that that axis of musicians (South African and European alike) ever produced.

[Chalupa]

I recently heard a copy of "Very Urgent" by Chris MacGregor. That needs to be re-issued too.

I was just looking this up on AMG and they don't have a listing for it.

Does this look familiar??

Chris McGregor

Very Urgent

(Polydor 1968)

1. Marie My Dear / Travelling Somewhere

2. Heart’s Vibrations

3. The Sounds Begin Again / White Lies

4. Don't Stir the Beehive

Chris McGregor: piano

Mongezi Feza: trumpet

Dudu Pukwana: alto saxophone

Ronnie Beer: tenor saxophone

Johnny Dyani: bass

Louis Moholo: drums

[ep1str0phy]

AMG doesn't have listings for half the stuff I purchase nowadays. Sooner or later, hopefully, someone will put together a workable, readily available discography on these guys.

[clifford_thornton]

What Chalupa found is correct.

[clifford_thornton]

Unless the remastering has succeeded in making the Miller/Moholo rhythm team even more badass on those first few seconds of "MRA", then I'll stick with what I've got.

[Guest donald petersen]

i didn't like "very urgent". very free-ish and loose.

but then again, i don't like the SA stuff when it is too tight, either.

[Alexander Hawkins]

To me, 'Very Urgent' always sounds the least overtly South African of a lot of these albums - much more US free jazz inflected (McGregor plays some *killing* piano).