Louis Tebogo Moholo (born 10 March 1940), is a South African

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

drummer. He has been a member of several notable bands, including The Blue Notes, the Brotherhood of Breath and

Assagai Assagai was an Afro-rock band, active in the early 1970s in London, whose relatively short career produced two albums recorded in 1971. It has been described as "the second best-known African group of the late 60s/early 70s in Britain" after Osi ...

Biography

Born in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

, Moholo formed The Blue Notes with Chris McGregor,

Johnny Dyani Johnny Mbizo Dyani (30 November 1945 – 24 October 1986) was a South African jazz double bassist, vocalist and pianist, who, in addition to being a key member of The Blue Notes, played with such international musicians as Don Cherry, Steve L ...

Nikele Moyake Nikele (Nik) Moyake (c. 1933 – c. 1966) was born on a farm in Addo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. He was a musician who played mbaqanga and jazz. Music career In the early 1950s Moyake moved to Port Elizabeth where he was a key fig ...

Mongezi Feza Mongezi Feza (11 May 1945 – 14 December 1975) was a South African jazz trumpeter and flautist. Biography Feza was born in Queenstown, Cape Province, Union of South Africa, into a family of musicians, His elder brother, Sandi Feza, who ...

and

Dudu Pukwana Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana (18 July 1938 – 30 June 1990) was a South African saxophonist, composer and pianist (although not known for his piano playing). Early years in South Africa Dudu Pukwana was born in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, ...

,John Corbett
"South African drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo fans the spark of resistance into the flame of liberated jazz"
'' Chicago Reader, 29 August 2017. and emigrated to

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

with them in 1964, eventually settling in London, where he formed part of a South African exile community that made an important contribution to

British jazz British jazz is a form of music derived from American jazz. It reached Britain through recordings and performers who visited the country while it was a relatively new genre, soon after the end of World War I. Jazz began to be played by British ...

. In 1966, he toured Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he performed at the Theatron with Steve Lacy, Johnny Dyani and Enrico Rava and recorded the album ''The Forest and the Zoo'' with the same musicians. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Breath, a big band comprising several South African exiles and leading musicians of the British free jazz scene in the 1970s and is the founder of Viva la Black and

The Dedication Orchestra The Dedication Orchestra is a jazz ensemble formed as a tribute to the exiled South African musicians who formed the core of The Blue Notes and the Brotherhood of Breath, it features Alan Skidmore, Radu Malfatti, Django Bates, Kenny Wheeler, Elto ...

. His first album under his own name, ''Spirits Rejoice'' on

Ogun Records Ogun Records is a jazz record label created in London in 1973 by South African expatriate bassist Harry Miller, his wife Hazel Miller, and sound engineer Keith Beal. They recorded British avant-garde jazz musicians Keith Tippett, Mike Osborn ...

, is considered a classic example of the combination of British and South African players. In the early 1970s, Moholo was also a member of the afro-rock band

. He has played with many musicians, including Derek Bailey, Steve Lacy,

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, Cecil Taylor,

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and Harry Miller. Moholo returned to South Africa in September 2005, performing with George E. Lewis at the UNYAZI Festival of Electronic Music in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...

. He now goes under the name Louis Moholo-Moholo because the name is more ethnically authentic. South African promoter Slow Life in March 2017 at the Olympia Bakery in Kalk Bay,

produced a show where Louis performed along with Mark Fransman, Reza Khota, Keenan Ahrends and Brydon Bolton. Louis Moholo Quintet

Discography

As a Leader

* Louis Moholo; ''Spirits Rejoice!''; Ogun: OG520 (1978) * Louis Moholo with Larry Stabbins, Keith Tippett; ''Tern'' (Live); FMP-SAJ-43/44 (1983) * ''Louis Moholo's Viva La Black''; Ogun: OG533 (1988) * Louis Moholo's Viva La Black; ''Exile''; Ogun: OGCD003 (1991) * Louis Moholo's Viva La Black; ''Freedom Tour - Live in South Africa 1993''; Ogun: OGCD006 (1994) * Louis Moholo Moholo meets Mervyn Africa, Pule Pheto, Keith Tippett; ''Mpumi''; Ogun: OGCD014 (2002) * Louis Moholo-Moholo with Stan Tracey; ''Khumbula (Remember)''; Ogun: OGCD016 (2005) * Louis Moholo-Moholo Septet; ''Bra Louis - Bra Tebs'' + Louis Moholo-Moholo Octet; ''Spirits Rejoice!''; Ogun: OGCD017/018 (2006) * Louis Moholo-Moholo's Viva La Black; ''Live at Ruvo''; Ogun: OGCD 020 (2004) * Louis Moholo-Moholo Duets with Marilyn Crispell; '' Sibanye (We Are One)'' (Live); Intakt Records: Intact CD 145 (2008) * Louis Moholo-Moholo Unit; ''An Open Letter to My Wife Mpumi''; Ogun: OGCD031 (2009) * Louis Moholo-Moholo, Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani with Rev. Frank Wright; ''Spiritual Knowledge and Grace'' (Live); Ogun: OGCD035 (2011) * Louis Moholo-Moholo Quartet; ''4 Blokes''; Ogun: OGCD043 (2014) * Louis Moholo-Moholo Unit; ''For the Blue Notes'' (Live); Ogun: OGCD042 (2014) * Louis Moholo-Moholo with Frode Gjerstad; ''Sult'' (Live); FMR: FMRCD069 (2014) * Louis Moholo-Moholo with Frode Gjerstad, Nick Stephens, Fred Lonberg-Holm; ''Distant Groove''; FRM Records: FMRCD385-0115 (2015) * Louis Moholo-Moholo's Five Blokes; ''Uplift the People'' (Live); Ogun: OGCD047 (2018) * Louis Moholo-Moholo's Five Blokes; ''Live @ the Vortex Jazz Club''; Vortex (2020)

Collaborations

* Irène Schweizer, Rüdiger Carl, Louis Moholo; ''Messer''; FMP: FMP 0290 (1976) * Irène Schweizer, Rüdiger Carl, Louis Moholo; ''Tuned Boots''; FMP: FMP 0550 (1978) * Peter Brötzmann, Harry Miller, Louis Moholo; ''The Nearer the Bone, the Sweeter the Meat''; FMP: FMP 0690 (1979) * Keith Tippett & Louis Moholo; ''No Gossip''; FMP: SAJ-28 (1980) * Peter Brötzmann, Harry Miller, Louis Moholo; ''Opened, But Hardly Touched''; FMP: FMP0840/50 (1981) * ''Irène Schweizer & Louis Moholo'' (Live); Intakt: 006/1987 (1988) * Cecil Taylor & Louis Moholo-Moholo; '' Remembrance''; FMP: FMP CD 004 (1989) * Vincent Chancey, Φλώρος Φλωρίδης (Floros Floridis), Peter Kowald, Louis Moholo; ''Human Aspect''; OM: B/002 (1990) * Derek Bailey, Thebe Lipere & Louis Moholo; ''Village Life'' (Live); Incus: CD09 (1992) * John Law & Louis Moholo; ''The Boat is Sinking, Aparteid is Sinking''; Impetus: IMP CD 19322 * Louis Moholo / Evan Parker / Pule Pheto / Gibo Pheto / Barry Guy Quintet; ''Bush Fire''; Ogun: OGCD009 (1996) * Evan Parker, Steve Beresford, John Edwards, Louis Moholo; ''Foxes Fox''; Emanem 4035 (1999) * Hasse Poulsen, Peter Friis Lielsen, Louis Moholo; ''Copenhagen''; AV-ART: AACD 1010 (2000) * Roger Smith & Louis Moholo-Moholo; ''The Butterfly and the Bee''; Emanem 4114 (2005) * Foxes Fox (Evan Parker, Steve Beresford, John Edwards, Louis Moholo); ''Naan Tso''; Psi: psi 05.07 (2005) * Frode Gjerstad, Nick Stephens & Louis Moholo-Moholo; ''Quiddity'' (2007); Loose Torque: LT 019 (2009) * Wadada Leo Smith & Louis Moholo-Moholo; ''

Ancestors An ancestor, also known as a forefather, fore-elder or a forebear, is a parent or ( recursively) the parent of an antecedent (i.e., a grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent and so forth). ''Ancestor'' is "any person from w ...

''; TUM: TUM CD 029 (2012) * Alexander Hawkins & Louis Moholo-Moholo; ''Keep Your Heart Straight''; Ogun: OGCD 039 (2012) * Livio Minafra & Louis Moholo-Moholo; ''Born Free'' (Live); (2015) * Canto Generàl featuring Louis Moholo-Moholo; ''Rebel Flames''; Ogun: OGCD 044 (2015)

with Chris McGregor

* Chris McGregor Group; ''Very Urgent''; Polydor (1968) * Chris McGregor Septet; ''Up to Earth'' (1969); Fledg'ling: FLED 3069 (2008) * Chris McGregor Trio; ''Our Prayer'' (1969); Fledg'ling: FLED 3070 (2008)

with The Brotherhood of Breath

* ''Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath''; Neon (1970) * ''Brotherhood''; RCA (1972) * ''From Bremen to Bridgewater'' (1971/1975); Cuneiform Rune, (2004) * ''Live at Willisau''; Ogun: OG 100 (1974) * ''Procession''; Ogun: OG 524 (1978) * ''Yes Please''; In and Out: IaO 1001 (1981) * ''Country Cooking''; Virgin/Venture (1988) * ''En Concert a Banlieues Bleues'' with Archie Shepp; 52e Rue Est: RE CD 017 (1989) * ''Travelling Somewhere'' (1973); Cuneiform Rune (2001) * ''Eclipse at Dawn'' (1971); Cuneiform Rune (2008)

with Dudu Pukwana

* ''Dudu Pukwana and The "Spears"''; Quality (1969) * Dudu Pukwana & Spear; ''In The Townships''; Caroline Records (1974) * Dudu Pukwana & Spear; ''Flute Music''; Caroline Records (1975) * ''Black Horse'' (1975); Black Lion Vault Remastered (2012) * ''Diamond Express''; Arista Freedom: AF 1041 (1977)

with the Blue Notes

* ''Blue Notes For Mongezi''; Ogun: OGD 001/002 (1976) * ''Blue Notes in Concert - Volume 1''; Ogun: OG 220 (1978) * ''Blue Notes For Johnny''; Ogun: OG 532 (1987) * ''Legacy - Live in South Africa'' (1964); Ogun: OGCD 007 (1995) * ''Township Bop'' (1964); Proper Records: PRP CD 013 (2002) * ''Before the Wind Changes''; Ogun: OGCD 037 (1976)

with Assagai

* ''Assagai''; Vertigo (1971) * ''Zimbabwe''; Phillips (1971)

with Peter Brotzmann Group

* ''Alarm''; FMP: FMP 1030 (1983) * ''Fuck De Boere (Dedicated to Johnny Dyani)'' (1968/70); Unheard Music Series: ums/alp211cd (2001)

with Curtis Clark Quintet

* ''Letter to South Africa''; Nimbus West Records: NS501C (1986) * ''Live At The Bimhuis''; Nimbus West Records: NS505C (1988)

with The Dedication Orchestra

* ''Spirits Rejoice''; Ogun: OGCD 101 (1992) * ''Ixesha (Time)''; Ogun: OGCD 102/103 (1994)

with Harry Miller's Insispingo

* ''Family Affair''; Ogun: OG 310 (1977) * ''Which Way Now'' (1975); Cuneiform Records: Rune 233 (2006) * ''Full Steam Ahead'' (1975–77); Reel Recordings: RR012 (2009)

with Circulasione Totale Orchestra

* ''Open Port'' (1998); Circulasione Totale: CT 09 (2008) * ''Bandwidth''; Rune Grammofon: RCD2089 (2009) * ''PhilaOslo''; Circulasione Totale: CT 12 (2011) * ''Tampere-08''; Circulasione Totale: CT 053 (2020)

As sideman

* Roswell Rudd; ''

''; America Records: 6114 (1971) * Haaz & Company; ''Unlawful Noise''; KGB Records: KGB 7076 (1976) * Keith Tippett's Ark; ''Frames (Music for an Imaginary Film)''; Ogun: OGD 003/004 (1978) * Triple Trip Touch with Frank Lowe & Louis Moholo; ''TTT Live! Konzert Basel / What About JAZZ Today!''; Independent (1984) * Dennis Gonzalez Dallas-London Sextet; ''Catechism''; Daagnim Records 1 (1988) * Cat O'Nine Tails; ''Hoki-Poki''; Wire Cassettes: wire 001 (1990) * Sean Bergin & Radio Freedom All Stars; ''Jazz for Freedom''; VARAgram: VCD 006-02 (1990) * Dennis Gonzalez Band of Sorcerers; ''Hymn for the Perfect Heart of a Pearl''; Konnex Records: KCD 5026 (1991) * Tristan Honsinger Quintett/ Sextett/ and with Mola Sylla; ''Travelogues - Music for Sasha Waltz & Guests''; Independent (1995) * Tristan Honsinger 5tet; '' Map of Moods''; FMP: FMP CD 76 (1996) * New York Art Quartet; '' Old Stuff''; Cuneiform Rune 300 (2010) * Keith Tippett Tapestry Orchestra; ''Live at Le Mans''; redeye008 (2007) * Elton Dean's Ninesense; ''Ninesense Suite''; Jazzwerkstatt: jw107 (2011) * John Corbett's Dnagerous Musics; ''Kongens Gade''; Leo Records: LR 617 (2011) * Mike Osborne & Friends; ''Live at the Peanuts Club'' (1975); Jazz in Britain: JIB-07-S-DL (2020)

References

Other sources

*Philippe Carles, André Clergeat, and Jean-Louis Comolli, ''Dictionnaire du Jazz'', Paris, 1994.

External links

When free jazz means freedom
by Gary May, originally published in French in 2005 in the magazine ''ImproJazz''. This site also includes a 2010 interview with Moholo-Moholo by Olivier Ledure, also originally published in ''ImproJazz''.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moholo, Louis 1940 births Living people South African jazz drummers South African jazz musicians The Blue Notes members 20th-century South African musicians 21st-century South African musicians Brotherhood of Breath members The Dedication Orchestra members Assagai members FMP/Free Music Production artists Incus Records artists Intakt Records artists