28 March 2011

Louis Moholo's Viva-La-Black



Lous Moholo's Viva-La-Black
Ogun Records OG 533 (1988)

We had a request for this album in our requests section, described there as "completely obscure." As this blog thrives on complete obscurity, naturally we had to post it. This was Viva-La-Black's first album, folowed by "Exile" which recently has been rereleased on Ogun. Incidentally, this was the last vinyl album Ogun ever released as cds came to replace vinyls as the standard music reproduction format.

What we have here is a wonderfully varied album. Starting on the A side, we have the stately "Tristan's Line", followed by the lilting swing of "Joyful Noises" and rounding out the first side is the split-second (it's not over when you think it is) precision of "Mongezi-Frames Part One". Flipping the record over, figuratively speaking, we get the elegiac "Lost Opportunities" (my fave), the companion piece to "Frames", "Mad High" and rounding out the proceedings is the propulsive fast-forward shuffle of "Woza". Very accessible, very enjoyable, all in all, and an item not to be left to the dustbins of history, in my opinion. Fine musicianship all around, but a special mention of the very fine sax work of Sean Bergin.

Basic info:

Side A

1. Tristan's Line (Tristan Honsinger)
2. Joyful Noises (Chris McGregor)
3. Mongezi-Frames Part One (Keith Tippett)

Side B

1. Lost Opportunities (Harry Miller)
2. Mad High (Mongezi Feza)
3. Woza (Louis Moholo)

Louis Moholo leader/drums/vocals
Sean Bergin tenor/alto saxes
Claude Deppa trumpet/flugel horn
Thebe Lipere congas/percussion/drums
Roberta Bellatalla double bass
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23 comments:

  1. kinabalu28 March 2011 at 20:48:00 CEST

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. gilhodges28 March 2011 at 21:07:00 CEST

    Right you are about Sean Bergin, Kinabalu. No easy shoes to fill, what with everyone's ears primed to expect the magnificence of Pukwana.

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  3. Wallofsound28 March 2011 at 23:32:00 CEST

    Not quite sure why this hasn't got a CD re-release, but the Ogun catalogue does come back piece by piece.

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  4. Anonymous28 March 2011 at 23:33:00 CEST

    It sounds like a1 is "Joyful Noises" (not exactly the same as, but sharing several motivic similarities with, the long, piano concerto-type track on the classic Brotherhood of Breath's second album).

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  5. Anonymous28 March 2011 at 23:33:00 CEST

    This is great. And FWIW, I think Sean Bergin's Kids Mysteries is a worthy descendent of the Brotherhood of Breath. Cheers, MB

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  6. Ernst Grgo Nebhuth29 March 2011 at 00:43:00 CEST

    For a long time I have heard "rumours" about this album - now I'm able to hear it.

    Really appreciated - thank you.

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  7. kinabalu29 March 2011 at 01:41:00 CEST

    Gil: I was thinking of Pukwana while listening to Bergin. No accident, I guess.

    Anon: Interesting point about "Joyful Noises." I'll have to listen again to the second BoB.

    Marc: I might have that Sean Bergin somewhere.

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  8. miloo229 March 2011 at 02:11:00 CEST

    Huge thanks, kinabalu ! going to download and looking forward to listen in the morning. BTW, I got some Sean Bergin rarity to post.

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  9. Anonymous29 March 2011 at 06:48:00 CEST

    I've been after this album FOREVER. So many thanks!

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  10. gilhodges29 March 2011 at 16:36:00 CEST

    Kinabalu, I have Kids Mysteries, if you don't. Let me know...

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  11. wightdj29 March 2011 at 17:02:00 CEST

    Rare indeed, thanks.

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  12. Anonymous29 March 2011 at 20:47:00 CEST

    woza, woza, woza...this is wonderful music, powerful, intense, dramatic, joyful...great!
    I'd like to hear Blue Notes / Viva La Black live recordings. Can you help me?
    THANK YOU!!
    Bra Robs

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  13. Anonymous29 March 2011 at 21:01:00 CEST

    Fantastic! Many thanks!

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  14. Nuage fiché qui rêve30 March 2011 at 00:33:00 CEST

    Thanks Kinabalu.
    My favorite tracks are Lost opportunity and Woza (a contrasting choice)

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  15. kinabalu30 March 2011 at 15:14:00 CEST

    Checking the archives, I have three Sean Bergin albums, but not Kids Mysteries, so any help in that regard would be appreciated.

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  16. kinabalu30 March 2011 at 15:37:00 CEST

    Bra Robs,

    we have posted one live concert by the Blue Notes (with Frank Wright) here and one with Louis Moholo here, but not with Viva-La-Black. I do have one from the mid-90s which I might put up at a later date.

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  17. miloo24 April 2011 at 01:32:00 CEST

    thanks for reminder of blue notes with frank wright, kinabalu, i would missed it otherwise. BTW, i have found free download of mongezi's You Ain't Gonna Know Me by Sean Bergin from Nansika somewhere - beautiful version, seems like it is another great album dedicated fully to south african composers. i am also curious about Kids Mysteries...

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  18. corvimax8 April 2011 at 09:13:00 CEST

    so good! thank you

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  19. kinabalu22 October 2012 at 00:53:00 CEST

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. Andy22 December 2012 at 17:18:00 CET

    Thanks a lot. :)

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  21. kinabalu14 March 2016 at 15:22:00 CET

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  22. rev.b14 March 2016 at 21:55:00 CET

    Wow, an album on Ogun I didn't know about! Thanks!

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  23. Ernst Grgo Nebhuth27 June 2024 at 13:14:00 CEST

    Removed the link - this recording was reissued with two alternate titles on CD by OGUN.
    https://ogunrecording.co.uk/2024/06/19/louis-moholo-moholos-viva-la-black-re-released-with-new-material/
    https://louismoholo-moholo.bandcamp.com/album/louis-moholo-moholos-viva-la-black

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