Chris McGregor

Christopher McGregor (24 December 1936 – 26 May 1990) was a South African jazz pianist, bandleader and composer born in Somerset West, South Africa.

Early influences McGregor grew up in the then Transkei (now part of the Eastern Cape Province), where his father was headmaster at a Church of Scotland mission institution called Blythswood. Here McGregor was exposed to the music of the local amaXhosa people. The young trumpet player Mongezi Feza joined the group soon after. He also made a contribution to Nick Drake's Bryter Layter album by performing a piano solo on the track "Poor Boy".

Death McGregor died of lung cancer in May 1990, at the age of 53.

Discography As leader Jazz: The African Sound (New Sound, 1963) Very Urgent (Polydor, 1968; Fledg'ling, 2008) with the Chris McGregor Group Up to Earth (Fledg'ling, 1969 ) with the Chris McGregor Septet Our Prayer (Fledg'ling Records, 1969 ) trio Piano Song Vol. 1 (Musica Records, 1977) solo piano Piano Song Vol. 2 (Musica Records, 1977) solo piano In His Good Time (Ogun, 1977 ) live; solo piano Thunderbolt (Popular African Music, 1986 ) live; with the South African Exiles Sea Breezes (Fledg'ling, 1987 ) live; solo piano Grandmothers Teaching (ITM, 1988) with Marilyn Mazur and Harry Beckett

With The Blue Notes Legacy: Live in South Afrika 1964 (Ogun, 1964 ) Township Bop (Proper, 1964 ) Blue Notes for Mongezi (Ogun, 1975 ) Blue Notes in Concert Volume 1 (Ogun, 1977 ) Before the Wind Changes (Ogun, 1979 ) Blue Notes for Johnny (Ogun, 1987) The Ogun Collection (Ogun, 1964–1987 ) compilation

With Brotherhood of Breath Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath (RCA, 1971) Eclipse at Dawn (Cuneiform Records, 1971 ) live Brotherhood (RCA Victor, 1971) Bremen to Bridgwater (Cuneiform Recs, 1971 and 1975 ) live Travelling Somewhere (Cuneiform Recs, 1973 ) live Live at Willisau (Ogun, 1973 ) live Procession (Ogun, 1977 ) live Yes Please (In and Out, 1981) live Country Cooking (Virgin, 1988) En Concert a Banlieues Bleues (52e Rue Est, 1989) live In Memoriam (Vital Music, 1994) live; also released as The Memorial Concert (ITM, 1994) - posthomus

With Harry Miller Different Times, Different Places (Ogun, 1973–1976 )