Thunderbolt

Sometime well after the legendary small combo the Blue Notes and during the tenure of the big band Brotherhood of Breath, South African pianist Chris McGregor led a septet of primarily fellow exiles, dubbed Thunderbolt, a short-lived and obscure ensemble among the other groups McGregor fronted. This live in-concert recording documents one of their rare appearances, in this case at the Open Ohr Festival in Mainz. If you are a fan of McGregor, be aware that this performance provides an incomplete visage of this band. The first two tracks feature the full ensemble with the famous uplifting combination of South African funk, rock, and calypso and urgent rhythms and vocals during "Mra," while the pretty ballad "Chandeliers + Mirrors" features interplay between alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana and trumpeter Harry Beckett. Mostly heard on solo electric piano, McGregor constructs lengthy stairstep frameworks on "Bakwetha" and the happy, danceable "You and Me." Bassist and vocalist Johnny Dyani is easily as much a force as McGregor, especially during the kwela highlife icon "U.D.F.," while the other main member of the band, guitarist Lucky Ranku, takes the spotlight for the long workout "Magwazakazo" and the joy chant "Yanci Inkozo," with the horns laying out. The finale, "Funk Them D.P. to Erico," is another signature tune, an infectious funk strut with Pukwana's sweet-and-sour sax playing off Dyani's expressive vocals. What you don't experience is that three dancers accompanied the live music. Chris McGregor recordings are works of unmitigated joy, though uneven musically, and there are far too few of them in the world. Only a handful of musicians, McGregor among them, could translate the strife of apartheid into such a positive message. This one is worth searching for. ~ Michael G. Nastos