Louis Moholo-Moholo RIP

[adh1907]

Beautiful memories, thanks Alexander. Saw Louis with you at Cafe Oto a couple of times I think. Great gigs. 

Re classical music, my late brother in law working for Serious Music collected John McLaughlin from Heathrow years back. He flipped when my brother in law put some loud jazz rock stuff on the radio and demanded silence or classical music. 

[jlhoots]

Alexander was part of 4 Blokes & 5 Blokes.All great.

 

[Alexander Hawkins]

On 6/25/2025 at 3:22 PM, mjazzg said:

Thanks for such a lovely piece which I'm guessing was probably equal parts very difficult and a pleasure to put together.

A few years ago you MD'd a Moholo-Moholo big band at QEH and I distinctly remember him coming on at the beginning to start playing before the well intentioned announcer had finished what they were saying.

I also sat in the first row at the Vortex for 4 Blokes and witnessed up close that phenomenal sound but also those looks, I was scared and I wasn't even in the band!

Such a privilege to have had him on our bandstands for all those years, changing immeasurably (along with his other SA confreres) the UK Jazz scene.

That band in heaven reminiscence is indeed heartbreaking. They have their first pick back again now.

So glad you got to hear that band live...And I'd forgotten that QEH gig (2014, a quick search suggests) - but yes! I think I probably only took the reins for a piece or two - my memory is that they wanted some arrangements of tunes actually by Louis, of which there aren't so many, and he asked me if I could arrange them for the band...

19 hours ago, adh1907 said:

Beautiful memories, thanks Alexander. Saw Louis with you at Cafe Oto a couple of times I think. Great gigs. 

Re classical music, my late brother in law working for Serious Music collected John McLaughlin from Heathrow years back. He flipped when my brother in law put some loud jazz rock stuff on the radio and demanded silence or classical music. 

Ha! I wonder if Louis and John ever played together? It seems likely they must have done at some stage...

16 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Alexander was part of 4 Blokes & 5 Blokes.All great.

 

Thanks so much for listening!

[clifford_thornton]

On 6/25/2025 at 9:44 AM, Alexander Hawkins said:

Here's a piece I was invited to contribute the UK Jazz News website in case anyone is interested: https://ukjazznews.com/10-tracks-i-cant-do-without-louis-moholo-moholo-a-tribute/

Wonderful piece, Alex, and my condolences.

[Alexander Hawkins]

1 hour ago, clifford_thornton said:

Wonderful piece, Alex, and my condolences.

Thanks, Clifford!

[ep1str0phy]

On 6/25/2025 at 6:44 AM, Alexander Hawkins said:

Here's a piece I was invited to contribute the UK Jazz News website in case anyone is interested: https://ukjazznews.com/10-tracks-i-cant-do-without-louis-moholo-moholo-a-tribute/

Thanks for sharing, Alex! I know it must be tough to put this into words. Contextualizing this in terms of a formal breakdown of a performance is a brilliant touch. 

[Alexander Hawkins]

20 minutes ago, ep1str0phy said:

Thanks for sharing, Alex! I know it must be tough to put this into words. Contextualizing this in terms of a formal breakdown of a performance is a brilliant touch. 

Cheers Karl...yes, a tough one I guess, but at least a small consolation in the joy of watching the videos..! Hope all well with you - speak soon.