Chris McGregor - Cry Freedom
Friday, November 28, 2008
As a new boxed set tracing the work of the pioneering South African jazz group the Blue Notes is released, Duncan Heining charts the genesis of the distinctive group and the charismatic figure of Chris McGregor from early days in apartheid-era South Africa to exile in Europe and the subsequent development of Brotherhood of Breath and other offshoot groups
Early one August morning in 1964, seven people crossed the border by train passing from South Africa into Mozambique. It was an unusual group of people – five black guys, one white and one white woman. Any “mixing of the races” was, of course, immediately suspicious in apartheid South Africa. The six men – Louis Moholo-Moholo, Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani and Nikele Moyake – made up The Blue Notes. South Africa’s only multi-racial jazz group was ostensibly travelling via Mozambique to Paris and then to the South of France to play at the jazz festival in Juan Les Pins. The woman was Maxine, pianist Chris McGregor’s partner and the group’s manager, publicist and often main source of financial support. It was true that they were heading for France but there was no question that they were coming back.
This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #126 – read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE CD
This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #126 – read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE CD