Music, as every artistic creation, needs framework; it must be structured. A lack of structure quickly leads to the area of unpredictability. As much freedom as possible, as much structure as necessary – that was Magog. The six members that made up this ensemble were so extremely different in character that the connection of respect for each other’s skills and creativity was bolstered by a drive to search for something new by an evolutionary exploration, even though they themselves didn’t feel like revolutionaries.

There was no plan, there was no leader. The music that gradually emerged didn’t have a set form. Fixed tempos and free passages alternated, initiated by one or another of them; everyone listened to everyone else, and anyone could initiate a change if they felt it was appropriate. The balance between structure and freedom was subject to the moment, influenced by each player.

When Magog took the stage at the Montreux jazz Festival in 1973, it was after many months of just getting together once a week and creating. People knew them as established individual virtuosos and artists, but they had no opportunity to call attention to themselves as a group.

But perform they did. The success of that evening brought recognition and, over several years, performances at concerts and festivals, appearances on radio and television in various countries. This TCB release, preserves that Montreux performance from obscurity. The audience and critics alike clearly appreciated in particular their attempt to forge something unifying, yet unique, from the divergent styles of music at the time.