The Blue Notes

Pianist Chris McGregor assembled the South African ensemble in 1962 alongside altoist Dudu Pukwana, trumpeter Mongezi Feza, tenor saxophonist Nick Moyake, bassist Johnny Dyani, and drummer Louis Moholo. The Blue Notes captured the nation’s Best Jazz Group prize the next year, yet mounting restrictions after anti-apartheid unrest rendered continued existence untenable for a racially integrated unit; consequently the musicians departed in 1964 when an invitation arrived to appear at the Antibes Jazz Festival (Legacy, Ogun 1995). Following that performance they sustained themselves by street playing across towns in the South of France before relocating to Zurich for the winter, where fellow exile Abdullah Ibrahim offered support; from there the group proceeded first to London and subsequently to Copenhagen, where they recorded Very Urgent for Polydor with tenorist Ronnie Beer added. European existence proved arduous amid pervasive racism, scarce engagements, and complications arising from their refugee circumstances. Homesick, Moyake eventually returned to South Africa; Dyani settled in Copenhagen and established independent ensembles, while McGregor launched the Brotherhood of Breath in London together with white South African bassist Harry Miller. In addition to their Brotherhood commitments, Pukwana and Moholo directed separate projects that frequently drew on each other’s participation. Feza contributed trumpet to sessions with Keith Tippett, Henry Cow, and Robert Wyatt before his untimely death in 1975 (Blue Notes for Mongezi, Ogun 1975). Tragically, every member except Louis Moholo died between that year and 1990. The ensemble’s final release stands as a poignant trio homage to Johnny Dyani (Blue Notes for Johnny, Ogun 1987).