''Spiritual Knowledge and Grace'' is a live album by drummer

Louis Moholo-Moholo Louis Tebogo Moholo (10 March 1940 – 13 June 2025) was a South African jazz drummer. He was a member of several notable bands, including The Blue Notes, the Brotherhood of Breath and Assagai. Biography Born in Cape Town, Moholo formed The Bl ...

, saxophonist

Dudu Pukwana Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana (18 July 1938 – 30 June 1990) was a South African saxophonist and composer. Early years in South Africa Dudu Pukwana was born in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He grew up studyin ...

, bassist and pianist

Johnny Dyani Johnny Mbizo Dyani (30 November 1945 – 24 October 1986) was a South African jazz double bassist, vocalist and pianist, who, in addition to being a key member of The Blue Notes, played with such international musicians as Don Cherry, Steve L ...

, and saxophonist Frank Wright. It was recorded on June 22, 1979, at Jazzclub De Markt in Eindhoven, Holland, and was released in 2011 by

Ogun Records Ogun Records is a jazz record label created in London in 1973 by South African expatriate bassist Harry Miller, his wife Hazel Miller, and sound engineer Keith Beal. They recorded British avant-garde jazz musicians Keith Tippett, Mike Osbo ...

. The concert was intended to be a Blue Notes event, but leader

Chris McGregor Christopher McGregor (24 December 1936 – 26 May 1990) was a South African jazz pianist, bandleader and composer born in Somerset West, South Africa. Early influences McGregor grew up in the then Transkei (now part of the Eastern Cape Prov ...

was delayed. However, Wright was in town and available, and accepted Moholo's invitation to join the group for the evening.

Reception

A reviewer for ''The Free Jazz Collective'' wrote: "the collaboration works well, because the South-Africans knew 'how powerful a Zulu Frank was', and it works really well, free form, floating and rhythmic and hypnotic like the free jazz of those days." Sid Smith of ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'' stated: "Here, two 30-plus minute improvisations chart a series of heaving peaks and troughs into which ideas, lines and playful episodes are pitched and tossed with complete abandon... Dense, ebullient and tempestuous throughout, the near-telepathic, lightning-fast exchanges between these truly remarkable musicians is a marvel." ''Point of Departures John Litweiler commented: "At the start the three old partners don't quite seem to know what to make of Wright. But the music soon comes together, as jazz improvisation uniquely unites people, and by the end it sure sounds like brotherly love." Writing for ''London Jazz News'', Alexander Hawkins remarked: "The... group dynamics are fascinating: the 'three and one' of the South Africans and their American guest; the 'one versus one' of two combative saxophonists each with plenty to say for themselves; the 'one and one' of the same two saxophonists, whose shared enterprise is to make music together; and the 'us and them' of a rhythm section on devastating form that day, seemingly offering infallible support at the same time as threatening to overwhelm anyone in their way."

Track listing

Composed by Pukwana, Wright, Dyani, and Moholo-Moholo. # "Ancient Spirit" – 31:59 # "Contemporary Fire" – 36:59

Personnel

– alto saxophone, piano, whistle, voice * Rev. Frank Wright – tenor saxophone, double bass, voice *

– double bass, piano, voice *

– drums, voice

References

{{Authority control 2011 live albums Louis Moholo live albums Dudu Pukwana live albums Johnny Dyani live albums Frank Wright (jazz musician) live albums Live free jazz albums Ogun Records live albums