Procession (Live at Toulouse) explained

Procession (Live at Toulouse)
Type:	live
Artist:	Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath
Cover:	Brotherhood_of_Breath_Procession.jpg
Released:	1978
Recorded:	May 10, 1977
Venue:	Halle aux Grains, Toulouse, France
Genre:	Free jazz
Label:	Ogun OG 524 / OGCD 040
Producer:	Chris McGregor, Keith Beal, Hazel Miller
Chronology:	Brotherhood of Breath
Prev Title:	Live at Willisau
Prev Year:	1974
Next Title:	Yes Please
Next Year:	1981

Procession (Live at Toulouse) is a live album by South African pianist and composer Chris McGregor's big band Brotherhood of Breath. It was recorded on May 10, 1977, at Halle aux Grains in Toulouse, France, and was released on LP by Ogun Records in 1978. In 2013, Ogun reissued the album on CD with three extra tracks.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Reception

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "Although the themes are strong, the emphasis is on improvising, particularly by the full group together, and there are plenty of intense sections... Recommended to open-eared listeners, this is one of the Brotherhood of Breath's best recordings."

The Guardians John Fordham called the band "a cauldron of South African dance grooves, American free jazz and Duke Ellington harmonies," and commented: "This music sounds rough and unfinished, rather like a big-band version of Albert Ayler's early recordings. But it has Ayler's haunting mix of anguish, soul and hope, too."

Ken Waxman of Jazz Word stated: "the craftiness of the arrangements is such that sounds are both lilting and grounded in technical mastery. Adding just the bare minimum of notes to direct the band..., McGregor, plus bassists Johnny Dyanni and Harry Miller plus drummer Louis Moholo... effortlessly induce the beat. But at the same time stimulating horn vamps pull back enough so notable chases between trumpet triplets and slippery reed extensions are clearly heard."^[6]

Writing for The Quietus, Sean Kitching noted that the album provides "a taste of the full, gloriously melodic yet free jazz-squall of the group in full flight."^[7]

LP track listing

1. "Sunrise on the Sun" (Chris McGregor) – 17:30
2. "Sonia" (Mongezi Feza) – 4:35
3. "Kwhalo" (Dudu Pukwana) – 18:35

CD track listing

1. "You Ain't Gonna Know Me 'Cos You Think You Know Me" (Mongezi Feza) – 6:33
2. "Sunrise on the Sun" (Chris McGregor) – 17:10
3. "Sonia" (Mongezi Feza) – 8:42
4. "Kwhalo" (Dudu Pukwana) – 18:35
5. "TBS" (Chris McGregor) – 8:19
6. "Andromeda" (Chris McGregor) – 4:05

Personnel

• Chris McGregor – piano
• Dudu Pukwana – alto saxophone
• Mike Osborne – alto saxophone
• Evan Parker – tenor saxophone
• Bruce Grant – baritone saxophone, flute
• Harry Beckett – trumpet
• Marc Charig – trumpet
• Radu Malfatti – trombone
• Johnny Dyani – bass
• Harry Miller – bass
• Louis Moholo – drums

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chris McGregor: Live at Toulouse . Scott . Yanow . AllMusic . March 12, 2023.
2. Web site: Chris McGregor - Procession . Jazz Music Archives . March 12, 2023.
3. Web site: Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath – Procession Live at Toulouse . Ogun Records . March 12, 2023.
4. Web site: Ogun Records discography . JazzLists . March 12, 2023.
5. Web site: Details for release: Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath — Procession (Live at Toulouse) . Exposé Online . March 12, 2023.
6. Web site: Michel Doneda / Joris Rühl . Ken . Waxman . December 8, 2013 . Jazz Word . March 12, 2023.
7. Web site: Louis Moholo-Moholo Unit . Sean . Kitching . July 15, 2014 . The Quietus . March 12, 2023.