Was Bra Tebs’ “4 Blokes & 1 Doll” show the highlight of Cape Town Jazz Festival? Louis Moholo-Moholo’s beautifully manic mix of South African anthems, free jazz, and switches from Brenda to Mannenberg, all with his multi-limbed dexterity, certainly enthused crowds. Changing key, it’s time for a trio of conversations with the Blues Notes great; watch, listen and learn.
Take 1: Chimurenga Library Sessions, 2009. Louis Moholo(-Moholo) with Neo Muyanga.
Take 2: Ancestors. Wadada Leo Smith and Louis Moholo-Moholo (TUM Records, 2012)
“Louis Moholo-Moholo is one of the most unusual artists I have ever played with. Louis has created a drumming practice that does not transfer African drumming onto the drum set but, rather, he has developed a drum tradition that did not exist anywhere in the music before he created his own language. His use of space and silence, sonic depth accents and drum rolls that are multi-rhythmical in design, with all of this centered within micro-sonic fields, make him one of a kind.” Wadada Leo Smith, liner notes for Ancestors.
Listen to the album’s opening (inter)track(ion) on the player below and watch the men sonically converse in the video from a live show. (Thanks Helen Petts)
More on Wadada Leo Smith and Louis Moholo-Moholo’s Ancestors here.
Take 3: Tagore’s, 2013. Louis Moholo-Moholo with Shabaka Hutchings.