Blue Notes - Legacy - Live In South Afrika 1964

OGUN RECORDS

£12.22

Cat. no: OGCD024
Format: CD
Barcode: 5020675000278
|Release Date: 22 Apr 2022
Genre: Jazz

Last issued as a part of the Blue Notes box set on Ogun (now deleted) 'Legacy' gets a stand-alone CD issue to coincide with the reissue of all the Ogun Blue Note CDs from the box set and the vinyl issue of 'Blue Notes for Johnny' and 'Blue Notes for Mongezi', which are coming on the Cafe Oto label Otoroku in June 2022

Recorded live in Durban, South Afrika in 1964, prior to the departure of the Blue Notes to appear by invitation at the Juan- Les- Pins Jazz Festival, this is an historical artifact, not just in the musical development of the Blue Notes, but in the history and dire consequences of that period of the South Afrikan tragedy.

Much credit is due to the far-sighted organisers of the 1964 Antibes -Juan Les Pins jazz festival, who recognised the talent of South Africa's premier jazz combo the Blue Notes and accorded them an invitation to appear at that year's event. The ensuing voluntary exile of the multiracial group from their increasingly racist and violently oppressed homeland led to a seismic impact on the jazz scene in Britain, their adopted home.

The Blue Notes toured South Africa prior to leaving and luckily one of these performances, in Durban, was taped. The six musicians played an exhilarating set of original compositions with one standard (I Cover the Waterfront), their inventive harmonic interplay to the fore. Sound quality is perfectly acceptable and the package includes sleevenotes by Tony McGregor, brother of pianist/ leader Chris McGregor.

Some historical artefacts gather dust, neglected. 'Legacy - Live in South Afrika 1964' is not one of them. Regular playback of this album breathes life into the memory of the early days of this vital group.

Tracks: Now / Coming Home / I Cover The Waterfront / Two For Sandi / Vortex Special / B My Dear / Dorkay House