Louis Moholo and Guests

Fri., June 29, 8 p.m., with Fred Lonberg-Holm's Valentine Trio, International House, 3701 Chestnut St.

by Shaun Brady

jazz

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Plenty of people resettle at the age of 65. But Louis Moholo wasn't looking for retirement when he relocated to South Africa in 2005; he was going home after 40 years in exile. The Cape Town-born drummer left in 1964 along with pianist Chris McGregor, finally landing in London and forming the Brotherhood of Breath, a big band joining fellow expats with members of the British free jazz scene, including Evan Parker and Paul Rutherford. Living as a man without a country, Moholo consistently stressed that "freedom" has meanings far beyond music. More akin to his American than European contemporaries, there was a consistent political aspect to his art. Regardless, he's always been a dense and intricate drummer, playing with tight and detailed percussive patterns, buoying up his collaborators with thick, crashing waves. Regardless of who he ends up playing with in Philly (a detail still up in the air as I write this), he'll doubtless feel at home.

Fri., June 29, 8 p.m., $12, with Fred Lonberg-Holm's Valentine Trio, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, www.arsnovaworkshop.com.