Duncan Heining

Dear Blake I see you posted this in 2005. I'm just writing a piece for Jazz UK magazine on Louis Moholo-Moholo, which will be followed by a longer article in Jazzwise. As I'm sure you know by now Hazel Miller, Harry's wife continues to run Ogun and release CD's on the label. I've had the pleasure of doing features on Mike Osborne and The Blue Notes to coincide with reissues of Osborne's 'All Night Long' and the four CD Blue Notes set. Louis' latest CD (2009) 'An Open Letter To My Wife Mtumi' is also well worth a purchase, as is 'Viva La Black Live At Ruvo'. Louis turned 70 in march and we got to celebrate with him in Turin, where he, Keith Tippett and Julie Tippetts performed with the Minafric Orchestra. Since then, Louis has played in London at Cafe Oto with Sonny Simmons and is back in London in November for the London Jazz Festival. Given your (excellent) taste, you would love both Cafe Oto and the Vortex in London's Dalston. They're about 200 yeard apart. Obviously, most of the people in your list are now dead. Keith rarely plays in the UK, though he lives here. But Evan Parker plays regularly at the Vortex. There are also a lot of great younger players on the scene now. Check out Decoy - an improvising organ trio with Alexander Hawkins (org), John Edwards (bass) and Steve Noble (drums). They are supposed to be putting out a cD they recorded at Cafe Oto with the brilliant Joe McPhee. I was there - it was mind-blowing. Keep the faith Duncan Alistair Heining