Օne of South Africa’s most important jazz drummers – Louis Moholo – Bra Louis։ Video, Photos

Louis Moholo-Moholo left this world on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the age of 85, after being ill for several years. ‘Bra Louis’, as he was affectionately called, was born on March 10, 1940 in Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.

He is considered one of South Africa’s most important jazz drummers, known for his contribution to the promotion and development of free jazz. He is esteemed throughout the world for his period of exile in London and for having played with the iconic jazz group The Blue Notes.

Personally, I have a memory of him live that is not exactly exceptional. At the Clusone festival, many years ago, he showed up with a group of young and little-known musicians, and it was not a memorable evening. On the contrary, the discography that he left us is absolutely memorable and indispensable for any lover of African-American music. Happy reading.

With the passing of Louis Moholo Moholo we have lost the sole remaining member of Chris McGregor’s Blue Notes, the sextet that fled apartheid South Africa in the mid-1960s. They ended up in London, where they quickly became part of Britain’s vibrant “alternative” jazz community. I remember them first as a tight, impeccable band that played very much in the hard bop style. They soon took over Friday nights at the Old Place. My band played on Saturdays.

There was a general mood of liberation, of exploration. Musicians circulated freely between groups. The Blue Notes’ music broke free, partly I think in response to the creative and social freedom of the scene. Ronnie Scott deserves a lot of credit for that. Ronnie kept the Gerrard Street club open for new bands after the main club moved to Frith Street.

But it was the late John Jack, manager of the Old Place, who, with his generous nature, his open ears and his understanding of musicians, set the stage for the artists. He changed the course of jazz in Britain. After the audience had gone home, John would reopen the venue for musicians only.

There were many musical get-togethers and impromptu sessions, often involving American jazz musicians who happened to be in town. As individual composers on our own, Chris McGregor and I never played together. However, there were parallels in our work at this time. We both worked with a regular sextet.

Each of us found in the group of musicians circulating at the Old Place an opportunity to compose for larger forces. In after-hours rehearsals one night I would rehearse Marching Song with the Concert Band, while on another night Chris would put together what would become the Brotherhood of Breath, which included some of the same musicians. There seemed to be a marked change in his music at this time.

Artists such as Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler rejected the forms of modern jazz and found in blues and folk music a basis for freer improvisation. Chris has clearly dug deep into his roots in the rich musical culture of South Africa: bold, singable melodies, simple arrangements, dancing rhythms and a joyful collective sound. He quickly became one of the most successful bands in Europe.

Louis Moholo, Cape Town, 1960s

This change may have stemmed from a deep nostalgia among the exiled musicians for their homeland and a desire, with the Brotherhood, to create the sense of community they felt was lacking in England.

Far from the camaraderie of the jazz scene, the typical English reserve, divisions, lack of emotional expression could seem cold and indifferent. This was highlighted years later when, at a memorial service, it was revealed that Mongezi Feza had died alone and uncared for, something that would never have been allowed in his country’s close-knit community.

For Kate and me, a special memory of Mongesi is meeting him and John Jack at St Martins in the Fields and the fact that the four of us were barred from entering the memorial service for Duke Ellington. We took refuge in a cafe and talked about Duke.

It was clear how much South Africans loved their country. I remember a rare conversation during a car trip, when Louis talked about life in his country, its customs and its beauties.

I hardly knew Louis personally. Musically, I was well aware of his dominating presence from the start. We were in different camps, so we rarely played together. When John Jack opened the Crucible in a basement Chinese restaurant near Cambridge Circus after the Old Place closed, Louis was with us on drums.

It was around the time of the Apollo 11 moon landings. I wrote Earthrise for a big band with two drummers, Laurie Allen and Louis Moholo, an exciting combination. After a while, the original Blue Notes went their separate ways, among the most admired and loved musicians on the European scene. Louis became a shining star of the avant-garde, while tirelessly fighting against apartheid.

Chris and Dudu Pukwana both died in 1990. Mongesi died in 1975, Johnny Dyani in 1986. All died prematurely and in exile. Ronnie Beer had long since ceased to be a regular member. Of the Blue Notes, only Louis lived to see the end of apartheid.

In 1992, Louis, Hazel Miller and friends formed the Dedication Orchestra, an all-star band, to celebrate the music of the Brotherhood. I had the pleasure and challenge of arranging Chris’ composition Manje (Now) for their Spirits Rejoice album.

Louis Moholo led the fight for artistic and political change with defiant energy. He toured, recorded and formed bands that inspired a whole new generation of musicians. The spirit of his music will live on as long as there are people who find freedom in picking up a saxophone or sitting down at a drum kit. Louis died peacefully in the home he had longed for during his years of exile.

Once, in the middle of a concert in a quartet with Mike Osborne, Harry Miller and a drummer, I suddenly became aware of a great wave of energy behind me. In an instant the sound went to a higher and more intense level. The reason? Louis Moholo Moholo had taken over on drums.

 

Written in memory of trumpet player Mongezi Feza. From the album Spirits Rejoice! 1978 (Ogun).

Louis Moholo – drums Harry Miller – bass Johnny Dyani – bass Nick Evans – trombone Radu Malfatti – trombone Evan Parker – tenor sax Keith Tippet – piano Kenny Wheeler – trumpet