Mulatu and Phata Phata

A quick post about Mulatu in London and the upcoming Excavated Shellac guest post. Mulatu's London gig was put together by Karen P with funding from the Red Bull Music Academy. I've been waiting for the recording of the live show as it was promised on the Red Bull Music radio some time back. Some these tracks found their way into a set of podcasts explaining the work of the academy. So I listened to the Wandering Feet podcasts on my way to work and my scepticism faded as I heard more and more about creative excursions sans the commercial spin of tv, radio and the media. Well worth dipping into. I was obviously also listening to hear the interviews with Mulatu, the Heliocentrics, people at the London Mulatu gig and some of the live tracks recorded at Cargo early in April. The full podcasts are here:
Wandering Feet Podcasts


In addition to the Friday night gig Mulatu and the Heliocentrics also took time out to lay down some tracks at the BBC's Maida Vale studios. These have already been aired on Gilles Peterson's Worldwide show so check that out here:
GILLES PETERSON WORLDWIDE

You can also get Karen P's personal lowdown on the crazy week of the gig here. I took the liberty of extracting the live Mulatu tracks from the Wandering Feet podcast and these are available for a limited download.
Mulatu at Cargo - 4 Track Limited Download


FINALLY I want to alert you to a very special guest posting coming up this week from Jonathan Ward at Excavated Shellac. Provisionally entitled "Phata Phata - Shellac 78s from the Birth of Mbaqanga" you will need to act fast to get this very special selection of tracks.
WATCH THIS SPACE.

Shake It

If you can keep up with Honest Jon's 12-inch output you will know that Tony Allen's Lagos No Shaking LP has been remixed and reinterpreted a number of times over the past 12-18 months. Now all these versions and excursions have been pulled together on a single release entitled Lagos Shake - A Tony Allen Chop Up. The artwork comes from Lagos artist Demola Ogunajo. The cover comes from the Gadawan Kura series of photographs of street entertainers by Peter Hugo

Tracklisting:
01. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Sankofa
02. Carl Craig - Kilode (Remix)
03. Bonde do Rolê - Awa Na Re (Remix)
04. Mark Ernestus - Mark's Disco Dub
05. Wareika Hill Sounds - Reggae Land Dub
06. Newham Generals - Tetsuya's Theme
07. Son Palenque de Colombia - Samba
08. Diplo - Fuji Ouija
09. Terrence Parker - One Tree (TPs Spirit of Unity Mix)
10. Wajeed - Kilode (Rework)
11. Salah Ragab - Ole (Cairo Version)
12. Moritz von Oswald - Ole (Remix)

Out now and highly recommended.

Oriki knockout!

Kante Manfila & Sorry Bamba - Clash Mandingue

Amadou Balake - Senor Eclectico: Burkinabe Dance Music Of The 70s
More treasures from the Matsuli 2007 label of the year expected in June. At this stage I have no further details regarding tracklistings.

Mannenberg

Abdullah Ibrahim on YouTube, visiting Mandela's cell on Robben Island and in and around Cape Town. District Six and Mannenberg. The composition Manneberg (Is Where Its Happening) was originally released in 1974 for Rashid Valli's As Shams label and became an instant hit forging a new fusion of South African and international styles and idioms. Later in the early eighties it became an unofficial anthem of the resistance to military rule.

Manneberg - An Academic View from John Mason

Before its too late!

Voodoofunk Frank says: "Film maker Leigh Iacobucci just sent me this as a first glimpse of what she has filmed when following me around Ghana, Togo and Benin for 4 weeks in March and April. Of course this is only a very rough clip done within the first few days after her return. She shot some great stuff like Gilles Gnonnas performing his fathers' Afrobeat bomb "okpo videa bassouo" as well as interviews with El Rego, Gustave Bentho (Poly Rythmo) and Danialouh Sagbohan."

Merci

Thank you Sterns and thank you Graeme Counsel for the absolutely wonderful Syliphone Years collection of recordings by Balla et ses Balladins. Prior to this release I had to make do with the earlier reissue of Objectif Perfection on PAM recordings and the vinyl rips from collectors around the world. A fitting tribute lovingly done for one of Guinea's greatest bands. Very highly recommended. Out now in the UK via Sterns. Full details and samples here.

For further information I suggest a dig around at Graeme's Radio Africa site.

Matsuli-delic!

200000 plus visitors! Wow! Hope you have been enjoying the hospitality over here. Now if I had a pound, dollar or euro for each of these hits then you'd be seeing a record label and music cafe. To celebrate I've pulled together some May madness. Don't be surprised to hear house, rock, hip-hop and other styles mashed up. Its how I like it...juju, dub and afro funk...matsuli-delic.

MATSULI-DELIC MAY 2008 MIX
00:00 Narda - Trus'me
Tipped by Gilles Peterson from his house compilation for Defected and by the ever wonderful Sounds of the Universe store. Could't resist the spoken word sample at the start.
07:38 Gongo Asa - 9ice
Nigerian hip-hop sampled first on the taxi ride to Abuja from the airport. A stand-out track for sure on a mediocre album.
11:18 Transit Camp - Blk Jks
Black rock from Mzansi. Bring the noise!
14:32 Kalmiya - Marc Ribot
From Asmodeus: Book Of Angels Volume 7 Tom Wait's favourite guitarist pulls out an intense performance leading Trevor Dunn and Calvin Weston.
19:01 Smile, You On Camera - Tumi & The volume
Daisy-age hip-hop conceptualist Tumi hails from Jo'burg. Its new-school hip-hop, beat poetry and funked-up jazz, plus electric guitar.
20:48 Suprise - Gnarls Barkley
Psychedelic retro-futurists the odd couple return with a killer LP
24:16 Burn Devil Burn - Soul Messengers
From Numero's latest release Soul Messages from Dimona
27:58 Blind - Hercules and Love Affair
I loved the duet between Bjork and Anthony at Bjork's recent show in London. Its difficult not to like his contribution here.
34:08 E8 Highlife - Hugo Mendez and Friends
Hugo Mendez puts out a Sofrito Special 12"...who's on it?, who's sampled?, all these questions and still no answers. Just dance to the E8 Highlife bouncing beat.
38:08 L.E.S Artistes - Santogold
I just have an irrational love of this tune. An ear-worm as some people say. Just love it.
41:27 I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - Baby Charles
Artic Monkeys done in afro-beat style
45:52 Gossip - Cyril Neville
Killer funk nugget from the New Orleans Soul Vol 2 from Soul Jazz
48:21 Nao Posso Te Levar Serio - Saravah Soul
London-based brazilian soul-funk.
52:38 Look-Ka Py Py - Bacao Rhythm & Steel band
The Meters classic redone from the recent Mocambo 45s LP
55:19 Mow Mow - John Zorn
Blues abstracted fever dreams is the best way to describe this album of pieces written by John Zorn for other musicians.
58:18 Jailer - A'sa
More Nigeria blues from singer-snger writer sensation A'sa
LIMITED SAMPLE

I've got a fuzzbox and I'm going to use it

Part 3 of Soundway's deep dig into Nigeria's seventies sounds is unleashed on May 12 - hot on the heels of the Disco Funk Special and the Nigeria Special 2CD/4LP extravaganza. Its a flipside to the HighLife and Afrobeat documented elsewhere. At its core a group of young bands fusing fuzz guitar, psychedelia and groove-based rock. Hendrix was definitely in the air and Cream's Ginger Baker fell in love with Nigeria, making a number of trips to jam with various bands.

Some time back I put together the final compilation in the African Serenades series entitled Afropsychedlicdaze which mined the same area. Much of that compilation was inspired by Uchenna over at the comb&razor site who also gets a big shout out on the liner notes here. In addition to picking up a copy of this new Soundway compilation check out two "Flashback" compilations featured by Uchenna some time back.
FLASHBACK VOL 1
FLASHBACK VOL 2

Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock and Fuzz Funk in 1970s Nigeria features the following songs:
1. Adieu-Ofege
2. More Bread To The People-The Action 13
3. In The Jungle-The Hygrades [Instrumental]
4. Odenigbo-The Wings
5. Eniaro-Ofo The Black Company
6. Ku Mi Da Hankan-The Elcados
7. Kenimania-Mono Mono
8. Finger Toe-Tabukah 'X'
9. Acid Rock-The Funkees
10. Cotocun Gba Gounke-Colomach
11. Another Man's Thing-Joe King Kologbo & His Black Sound
12. Freaking Out-Question Mark
13. Igba Alusi-Original Wings
14. Omoba D'Eru Ri-Tunji Oyelana
15. Chant To Mother Earth-BLO

Highly recommended! Buy with confidence.

Heliocentric EthioJazz Meltdown

First time at Cargo for me. 20 years back the Bass Clef was the only similar venue in Hoxton. Sold out and wondering seriously if Mulatu was going to pitch, whether the Heliocentrics had managed to put in some practice time with Mulatu and whether the originator of EthioJazz still had some fire.

First off a great set from the Heliocentrics. Lots of funk based groove with electronics and references heading towards cosmic jazz and the outer regions. Think Sun Ra, Coltrane but all underpinned by a solid bass and drum funk groove.

Then on to the main event and from the opening chords of Yegelle Tezeta to the final encore of Yekermo Sew the Heliocentrics keep the EthioJazz renaissance on time and funking. Mulatu seemed constantly amazed at the audience response...reminding me of the first appearance of Mahlathini at the South Bank in 1986. The amplification and mix of the vibes was not up to scratch unfortunately but this didn't diminish the power of the Ethiopian groove as interpreted by the band. They had reheased the whole of Vol 4 of the Ethiopiques LP and played it with a hard afro-funk backbeat. This is the 40th Anniversary of EthioJazz says Mulatu. His new album is taking shape. A real pity that Soundway's compilation of his rare work did not see the light of day and that the collaboration between Will Holland, Mulatu and others seemed to run into legal problems.

Nigeria Now!

Midst all this 2008 Nigerian retro madness (no complaints from me!) here comes a mix of current Lagos sounds courtesy of Nicholas at the Protea Hotel Victoria Island. Not quite sure if he put this mix together or whether its a boot of another DJs' set. I can't even try to list the tracks or artists, even Nicholas had difficulty when I asked if he knew the track names and artists. If you want to know more about this scene I suggest a visit to AfricanHipHopDotCom In the meantime download and test the sound.
LIMITED SENDSPACE DOWNLOAD

Bjork and Toumani in London last night

A great and wonderful moment from last night's Bjork concert in London when Toumani Diabate is brought on as a special guest. The venue was packed and the performance memorable but the sound was murky at times raising the acapella material above the beats and solid bass. Her duet with Anthony was a highlight for me. Toumani, gracious as ever, did his stuff and Bjork looked on in awe, as most of us do when seeing the world's greatest living kora player.

Fela Mixup?

In which ChiTown DJ Mike Love meets Jay Z and Fela in a mixtape showdown. Here is the tracklisting and the Fela samples used. Download link below.
1. Intro
"Army Arrangement" from, the Best Of Fela Kuti (2000)
"VIP" from, VIP (1979)
2. Pray
"Sorrow Tears And Blood" from, the Best Of Fela Kuti (2000)
3. American Dreaming
"Upside Down" from Album, Upside Down (1976)
4. Hello Brooklyn
"Mistake" from Live! (With Ginger Baker), (1971)
5. No Hook
"Ariya" from album, Roforofo Fight/The Fela Singles (1972) (2006)
6. Roc Boys
"Water No Get Enemy" from, Expensive Shit, (1975)
"Mop / movement of the people" from Live in Amsterdam (1984).
"Stop The Violence" from, By Any Means Necessary-BDP (1988)
7. Sweet
"My Lady Frustration" The'69, Los Angeles Sessions (1993)
8. I Know
"Confusion" from, Confusion (1975)
9. Party Life
"Viva Nigeria" from, The Los Angeles Sessions '69, (1993)
10. Ignorant Shit
"Fear Not For Man" from, Stalemate (1977),
11. Say Hello
"Coffin For Head Of State" from, the Best Of Fela Kuti (2000)
"Mr. Grammarticalologylisatitiona Is The Boss" Monkey Banana, (1976)
12. Success
"Swegbe And Pako" from, Open & Close (1971)
13. Falling
"Mattress" from, Noise For Vendor Mouth (1975)
14. Blue Magic
"Water No Get Enemy" from, Expensive Shit, (1975)
15. American Gangster
"Kalakuta Show" from, Kalakuta Show (1976)
"Wayo" The'69, Los Angeles Sessions (1993)
DOWNLOAD

Ethio-London-Jazz

MULATU ASTATKE & THE HELIOCENTRICS
DJS: KAREN P + GILLES PETERSON + KARL INJEX
THURSDAY 17TH APRIL, 7-1, £15 ADV @ CARGO
Playing in London for the first time in 15 years Ethio-Jazz sound pioneer Mulatu Astatke, plays an exclusive live date at Cargo. His backing band will be made up of the fantastic Heliocentrics (Now Again / Stones Throw), who also provide a support set on the night. Host and DJ Karen P is also very happy to be joined by long-time friend, Gilles Peterson alongside NYC’s legendary party purveyor Karl Injex.

Born in Ethiopia in 1943, Mulatu Astatke is an innovative multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and originator of the Ethio-Jazz sound. Having studied music in London and then the US, he established himself as a vital vibraphone, conga and percussion player on both sides of the Atlantic before returning to his homeland to introduce Jazz, Soul and Latin to Ethiopia’s native musicians and artists. Included in the now legendary Ethiopiques compilations, Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers soundtrack, and much sampled by Hip-Hop and Dance producers alike, his sound will be familiar to many even if his name isn’t.

These days Mulatu regularly lectures at Harvard and gave a memorable lecture at the Red Bull Music Academy in Toronto last year. Karen P’s Broad Casting is honoured to host Mulatu’s first UK performance in over 15 years.

Mulatu meets Duke in a New York Ethio-Jazz showdown

Lagos Jumping

Quinton Scott's old Strut label is on the mend. First out of the blocks with Disco Not Disco 3, followed by Funky Nassau and now returning to mine the Naija grooves. The Nigeria 70 compilation set the standard some five or more years ago before the label went under. Now underwritten by L7 in German the new items are looking as good as ever. Here's the tracklisting for the new Nigeria 70 compilation:

1 Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars / Yabis
2 Ify Jerry Crusade / Everybody Likes Something Good
3 Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats / Ezuku Buzo
4 Ashanti Afrika Jah / Onyame
5 Olufemi Ajasa & His New Nigerian Brothers / Aiye Le
6 Peacocks Guitar Band / Eddie Quansa
7 Peter King / African Dialects
8 Dynamic Africana / Igbehin Lalayo Nta
9 Chief Checker / Ire Africa
10 Tony Tete Harbor & The Star Heaters Of Nigeria / Tete Muo Bu Muo
11 The Faces / Tug Of War
12 Eric (Showboy) Akaeze & His Royal Ericos / Wetin De Watch Goat Goat Dey Watcham
13 The Immortals / Hot Tears
14 Rex Williams / You Are My Heart
15 Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestros / Dododo
16 Eddie Okwedy / Happy Survival
Unfortunately not many more details over at the new strut site HERE

And thats not all, Honest Jons release their Nigeria Shake compilation of Tony Allen remixes with a cover shot by Peter Hugo
1 Sankofa - Allen, Tony & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
2 Kilode Remix - Allen, Tony & Carl Craig
3 Awa Na Re Remix - Allen, Tony & Bonde Do Role
4 Mark's Disco Dub - Allen, Tony & Mark Ernestus
5 Regga Land Dub - Allen, Tony & Wareika Hill Sounds
6 Tetsuya's Theme - Allen, Tony & Newham Generals
7 Samba - Allen, Tony & Son Palenque
8 Fuji Ouija - Allen, Tony & Diplo
9 Ole - Allen, Tony & Salah Ragab
10 Ole - Allen, Tony & Moritz Von Oswlad

Nigerian Strikeout!

As if the recent Soundway and Analog Africa offerings were not enough Vampisoul gives us a triple dose of Nigeria madness. Expected May.

STRIKE ONE: Various-Highlife Time (Nigerian & Ghanaian Sounds from the 60's and early 70's)
IT's HIGHLIFE TIME! Highlife, dance music played mostly in Ghana and Nigeria, represents one of the century's first fusions of African roots and western music, and before 1970 it ruled dancefloors across much of West Africa. The story of West African big-band Highlife is the story of West African independence itself. From its early roots in church music, old African song forms, sea shanties and military brass bands to the orchestra podiums of the slickest nightclubs and concert halls of Lagos and Accra, Highlife has charted the growing confidence of a proud and gifted people casting off the shackles of empire: a people ready to live the High Life.

Available on 2CD and 2LP formats, both with complete and informative essay by African music authority John Armstrong.

Disc 1 -
1. DR. VICTOR OLAIYA & E.T. MENSAH - TRUMPET HIGHLIFE; 2. OPOTOPO - BELAMA; 3. REX LAWSON AND HIS RIVERS MEN - NUMFINYE (NOME ALOBO); 4. STAN PLANGE AND THE UHURU DANCE BAND - GRAZING IN THE GRASS; 5. ST AUGUSTINE - JOLOSHO; 6. REX LAWSON AND HIS RIVERS MEN - YELLOW SISI; 7. STAN PLANGE AND THE UHURU DANCE BAND - DABRA BA; 8. OPOTOPO WITH FATAI ROLLING DOLLAR - WON BUM; 9. CHIEF STEPHEN OSITA OSADEBE – MAKOJO
Disc 2 -
1. SIR VICTOR UWAIFO AND THE MELODY MAESTROES - JOROMI; 2. DR. VICTOR OLAIYA - MOFE MUYAN; 3. REX LAWSON AND HIS RIVERS MEN – OKO; 4. STAN PLANGE & THE UHURU DANCE BAND - AASEM; 5. REX LAWSON AND HIS RIVERS MEN - PERI SPECIAL MBANGA; 6. DAN SATCH AND HIS ATOMIC 8 - IKORO SPECIAL; 7. CHIEF ENYANG HENSHAW - ESONTA; 8. PROFESSIONAL SEAGULLS BAND - AFRO BABY; 9. REX LAWSON AND HIS RIVERS MEN - PAY ME MY MONEY NOW; 10. OPOTOPO - ETUK OWO; 11. AKANA MAN - OKINA


STRIKE TWO: Fela Kuti-Ransome - Lagos Baby, 1963-1969
Fela Kuti (1938-1997) was the first and brightest African super star, and a music genious of colossal dimensions, considered by many the unrivalled king of african music for more than 30 years. What Vampisoul has the inmense pleasure to offer, as part of our ongoing African sonic exploration (Tony Allen, Orlando Julius, Highlife collection and more to come), is the musical birth of a MYTH and GIANT of world's music.

CD 1: Bonfu; Fere; Onifere No 2; Oyejo; Oluruka; Awo; Great Kids; Amaechi's Blues; Yese; Egbin; Orise; Eke; VC7; I know your feeling; Alagbara; Ajo; Signature Tune; Highlife Time; Lagos Baby; Omuti Soul; Olulufe Mi; Araba's delight. CD 2: Wa Dele; Lai se; Mi o mo; Obinrin Le; Omo Ejo; Everyday I got my Blues; Moti Gbrokan; Waka waka; Ako; Ororuka; Lai se.; Onidodo; Abiara; Se e tun de; Waka waka; My Baby Don Love Me; Home Cooking.


STRIKE THREE: Various -Afrobeat Nirvana
In this special priced collection you will find a wide variety of exciting african sounds created in Nigeria from the late 1950's up to the late 1980's. All the songs are taken from recent or upcoming releases on Vampisoul's massive Western African reissue project so consider it an appetizer!
On "Afrobeat Nirvana" music speaks for itself in its conflation of african tradition, Jazz, Highlife, Psych, Funk, Soul, R&B and –of course- AFROBEAT. Some of the names here are familiar to our occidental ears, such as the great Tony Allen, Orlando Julius, and of course Fela Kuti (here in his early years). But there are plenty of others, more obscure amd mindblowing artists, in here such as Godwin Omobuwa, Dr.Victor Olaiya, Bola Johnson, Fred Fisher and Opotopo. Equally hot and vibrant, these will be a total finding for you.
"Afrobeat Nirvana" is the perfect introduction to the almighty African sounds and rhythms… and soon to be one of your favourite compilations. In any case, one thing's for sure, if you don't feel like moving when you hear this stuff go to your doctore: you're probably dead!

BOLA JOHNSON: Lagos Special; FELA-RANSOME KUTI & HIS KOOLA LOBITOS: Lai Se; OPOTOPO: Belama; VICTOR OLAIYA & HIS ALL STARS: Okere / I Feel Alright; TONY ALLEN WITH AFRICA 70: Progress; ORLANDO JULIUS: Psychedelic Afro-shop; GODWIN OMOBUWA: Oriri Jerode; FELA-RANSOME KUTI & HIS KOOLA LOBITOS: Ajo; ORLANDO JULIUS & HIS AFROSOUNDERS: My Girl; FRED FISHER ATOLOBOR: W.T.F.S.; TONY ALLEN WITH AFRICA 70: Afro-Disco Beat.

Back to Africa Pt 8: The final [OUT] post

After an intense four days in Jozi catching up with family and friends plus business meetings I took a few hours off to visit Chilli Vinyl (pictured above). Steve runs the business from rooms behind a horse-shoe shop! There was a nice rack of South African material and I picked up some original 60s folk (Des Lindberg, Mel and Mel, Des and Dawn), psychedelia (Hawk) plus a few other bits and pieces. Well worth visiting. Then it was off to the airport and I was hit for being overweight (thats vinyl for you). Finally I got to my parents spot around eight and spent an emotional couple of days packing up the house and coming to terms with my Dad's Altzeimers...he's in a world of his own. On Friday I journeyed up to Durban and saw more friends and family and made a lightening visit to 3rd Ear Music to meet with David Marks (pictured below).

Finally back (home) this morning to a white welcome. Its been a long but rewarding journey.

Back to Africa Pt 7: Diggin' Jozi

On Saturday after arriving late into OR Tambo ariport and with precious little time on my hands I got downtown to Rashi Valli's Kohinoor store on Market Street. Back in the '80s this store was a regular stop-off on any trip to Johannesburg. (In fact the other store downstairs from Kapiteins Restaurant sometimes had better stock). Anyway I was vainly hoping that stocked away in the basement there may just be a pile of precious vinyl from the seventies period of jazz produced on Valli's As Shams label, including Dick Khoza's Chapita and other items. But it was not to be as the vinyl stock held few surprises. The original artwork that appears on many of the As Shams releases is framed and displayed on the walls and behind glass are eight tracks in original packaging. I got a few interesting things and got Rashid's number from the cashier. Today I spoke to Rashid about the fact that Dick Khoza's LP had sold for $360 on ebay last week and he was amazed. So I'm cooking a plan. On Sunday morning I had the fortune to pick up the Hal Singer LP that was recorded for As Shams at the Rosebank collectors market. Its very mashed up so I'm hoping I get a workable digital transfer when I get back to the UK. Time has been short with business meetings and hooking up with family and old friends. Tomorrow night into Tekwini. Peace

Back to Africa Pt 6: Leaving Lagos

Diesel resupply for the generators in the neighbourhood

The water pipeline...now you know where Fela's song title comes from.

Mantra of sorts

The biggest market I've ever seen

Parting glances from Lagos on Friday as we made a frantic 2 1/2 hour dash to the airport almost missing our connection to Accra.

Back to Africa Pt 5: Street Corner Taxation

In the picture you can see one of the "area boys" attempting to extract a tax from one of the Okada (motorcycle taxi) drivers. I quizzed my work colleague on this yesterday and he laughed. The "area boys" as he called them are basically chancers trying to extort cash from the Okada drivers trying to make an honest living.

Back to Africa Pt 4: Hits from the Lagos streets

Today I picked up two of the biggest selling Nigerian CDs from a street vendor between meetings in Lagos. The first from Asa (pronounced Asha) and the second from 9ice. At a total cost of 400 naira (less than £2) I'm not sure who is making the money here. I first heard 9ice on my way to Abuja city centre when the hit tune Gongo Asa had been playing. Asa (not sure if there is a connection?) I got on the recommendation of my Nigerian work colleague.

ASA MYSPACE
9ICE MYSPACE


9ice at the MTN Campus show

Back to Africa Pt 3: Lagos

Back to Africa Pt 2: Abuja

Lots to tell but not enough time. Enjoy the pictures.

Back to Africa Pt. 1

Its Easter Monday bank holiday in the UK with snow falling and temperatures hovering at around freezing. On top of that I've come down with a nasty sore throat and nasal drip. Not a good start for my journey to Africa which kicks off tonight when I fly directly to Abuja, capital of Nigeria. The trip is a combination of work (and some pleasure) plus a chance to see my dad before he gets put into a nursing home. A little disappointed that I won't be doing any record digging in Lagos or Accra but lets see where the wind takes me. I've packed my malaria tabs, plus some medication for the cold as well as a camera. So all things working well I should be able to post some pictures and reflections here every couple of days. Stay tuned.

You Rub Up You Push Up

From Adam Deeves:
"London in the 1950’s was a cold place in more ways than the obvious. Or so it appeared if you were one of the thousands of newly arrived Jamaicans. Many were overqualified for their menial jobs. Thousands of others quite simply could not get work. Discrimination and racial tensions culminated in fierce riots in both Nottingham and Notting Hill Gate.

It was in this environment that the Jamaican soundmen; Duke Vin and Count Suckle arrived in the UK. They both stowed away on a boat from Kingston and brought with them a sound that was sweeping across the small Caribbean island and would later change the face of music in the UK.

This was the sound of ska! Duke Vin was the main deejay on Tom The Great Sebastian’s Beat Street system in Jamaica and he built the first sound system in the UK in 1956. Count Suckle started the famous Roaring Twenties club on Carnaby Street in 1962 and Daddy Vego was its first deejay.

Daddy Vego would later set up People’s Sound Record Store, a bustling red, green and gold-painted reggae emporium that is the only non-gentrified business on All Saint’s Rd. Forty years ago that same street was rapidly evolving into one of London’s frontlines and a virtual no-go area for the police.

Count Suckle’s Roaring 20’s club was the first club that welcomed black people in London and its electric mix of rhythm and blues, soul and ska made it the busiest clubs in London for years, attracting all the leading musicians of the day.

Now in their 70’s, Vego and Vin, both continue to do as they have always done, promoting and pushing Jamaican music. Daddy Vego is still running his record store and plays a vital role in the Ladbroke Grove community with his youth projects and street fairs. Duke Vin is still a deejay, playing on sound systems at the Notting Hill Carnival and to packed clubs such as Gaz’s Rocking Blues in Soho.

These three men are the last surviving members of a small group of Jamaicans who played an instrumental role in bringing the sound and musical culture of Jamaica to the UK. This is their story and the story of their sound."

West Coast Express

In preparation for my trip to Abuja, Lagos and Accra I've been spinning Disco Funk Special, the next installment in Soundway's Nigeria Special extravaganza. To quote label boss Miles Cleret:

"it is impossible to squeeze the afro scene from Nigeria into one album, you could do twenty albums and still not have covered much of it. There are literally thousands and thousands of records made there, and the vast majority of non Nigerians have never heard it."

Thanks to the good work of Miles, Samy and others we are getting to hear some of what was rocking, grooving and funking Lagos. There's a great podcast with tunes and words from Miles available for download here. More details and other stuff from the Nigeria Special mini-site.

Out now.

Dreaming is free

It's been so long since I really enjoyed a John Zorn album. I lost my way after Naked City and never returned although there have been a number of incredible albums put out by his Tzadik label over the years. My idea of a single desert island disc could easily be Tom Cora's Hallelujah Anyway. I was delighted when I heard about - and then heard - Dreamers, Zorn's new project which combines multiple influences played out by members of Electric Masada. It fucking swings. Take note.

Heres the label's hype: "...The Dreamers is a project of breathtaking variety and will attract listeners of all backgrounds and ages...Seductive lyricism, hypnotic grooves, catchy hooks and romantic moods from this genre-bashing master of surprise.

MYSPACEJUKEBOXLINK

Magic from Mali

My journey back to vinyl was kickstarted whilst living in Sydney during 1999-2004. I met Tony aka Muvimi, compiler of Harare Hits and was blown away by his African music selection that he had pieced together at stores in Melbourne, Sydney and during his travels in Zimbabwe and further afield. This led to regular visits to Red Eye Records, Egg Records and to the Glebe Record Fair. On the first few visits to the fair there were bits and pieces but on the last journey I came across a table and a box of records that were packed with rare, high quality LPs. I did a quick flip through and pulled out the two LPs I'm sharing today. There were a whole lot more that I ould have loved to buy but the seller knew what he was selling and there were no real bargains. For me just finding these records was more than I expected.

Graeme Counsel at the Radio Africa website has this to say about the L'Orchestre National "A" de la République du Mali LP:
"Modibo Keita was Mali's first President, ruling the nation from 1960 to 1968. Inspired by Guinea's Sékou Touré, his government enacted a radical cultural policy which saw the formation of regional and national orchestras. L'Orchestre National "A" de la République du Mali were the first of these bands, and were formed the day after Mali's independence. In accordance with the cultural policies of the new government, the orchestra consisted of "musicians sworn to serve their country by contributing with all their genius to the protection and revalorization of Malian musical art". The orchestra contained some of the best musicians in the land, though not all could fit into one band, hence the existence in later years of the National "B" and "C" orchestras. The National "A" orchestra was led by Keletigui Diabaté, a multi-instrumentalist who played lead guitar in the group. The connection between Guinean and Malian cultural policy is enshrined in the group, for Keletigui was a former member of Guinea's Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine (Première Formation). The National "A' Orchestra's only LP (pictured above) was released in circa 1970 on the Bärenreiter-Musicaphon label. It contains two songs from the epic narrative tradition of the griots, "Taara" and "Duga", the latter on par with the best performances recorded in Mali. The exceptional number on the LP, however, is "Janfa", a song concerning a lover's betrayal (also performed by the Tjiwarra Band, among others). It's a superb number with a mesmerizing guitar solo by Keletigui Diabaté, and it was surely an inspiration for many of the nation's musicians. It's criminal that this LP, along with the other Bärenreiter's, has never been re-released."
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The second LP comes from the Orchestre Regional de Segou and was also originally released in 1970 on the Bärenreiter-Musicaphon label. The band later morphed into Super Biton de Segou.
25 Downloads ONLY


The only time someone has tried to re-issued these materials was in the late 80s when Sterns put out the Mali Music - Legendary Bands of Mali release featuring the following tracks:
1. Mali Cebalenw- Orchestre Rail Band de Bamako
2. Batumanbe-Orchestre Regional de Segou
3. Janfa-Orchestre National A de la Republique du Mali
4. Recital-Orchestre Regional de Mopti
5. Nanyuman-Orchestre Regional de Kayes
6. Mali Senekelaw-Orchestre Regional de Sikasso
7. Kayi-Orchestre Regional de Kayes
8. Duga-Orchestre National A de la Republique du Mali

So enjoy this limited access to these treasures and ask Sterns to reissue that compilation.

London - Texas - Worldwide :: CHECK IT!

Two heavyweight afrofunk LPs that I've just added to the afrodub and juju funk record box:


"Exploding out of the rich cultural mix in the melting-pot of London’s underground music scene, comes the exciting and original sound of SARAVAH SOUL. This half-brazilian, half-british outfit has drawn upon unashamedly old-school flavours to create a new genre of RAW AFRO-BRAZILIAN FUNK! Fronted by fiery break dancer Otto Nascarella, the intensity of their live shows has earned them a reputation for wild performances and a rapidly expanding fan base. Now their ground breaking first album (self-titled Saravah Soul) has caused an international stir amongst record labels eager to sign them, and the band seems set on an unstoppable rise to even wider acclaim."MORE/SOUNDSAMPLES


""Homenaje," Spanish for homage, is the debut album release from the Grupo Fantasma side-project (who recently supported none other than Prince on his recent UK tour) and gives more than a mere nod to late '70s Latin-funk acts like Joe Bataan and Santana. From the Fela Kuti style Afro-beat of "Con El Brownout" and "Chema's Contraband" to the smoldering neo-soul of "You Already Are" and the incendiary cover of Manu Dibango’s “African Battle”, the nearly all-instrumental album avoids stagnation by switching gears rapidly between tracks." MORE/SOUNDSAMPLES

Hedzoleh Soundz featuring Hugh Masekela

African classic and long out of print except for the track Languta that appeared on the recent Still Grazin greatest hits compilation. Uploaded by El Reza

David McDavitt at Afrofunkforum had this to say:
The 1973 album “Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz,” by Ghana’s Hedzoleh Soundz with South African trumpetist, Hugh Masekela is simply stunning- arguably the greatest African-Jazz fusion album of all time, and certainly Masekela’s most outstanding release. The musicianship & creativity on these precious cuts are matchless. All but 2 of 8 tunes are written by Hedzoleh (one is by Masekela in HS style, one is traditional)- and therein lies the album’s brilliance. So don’t be fooled by the title, this is Hedzoleh’s album with guest Masekela.

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The meter reader, Duncan Brooker and the security man

An absolutely amazing story about the gas meter reader, finding the leader of the band and the security man at the local supermarket. Kona Records label boss Duncan Brooker is interviewed as part of the Legends of Afrobeat film proposal

Postcards from Stonetown

The pictures I took on a visit to Zanzibar in late 1994 are deceptive - the camera appears to work very hard at protecting a romantic image of Zanzibar. Missing are the cows grazing on the rubbish dump, the delapidated remnants of East German architecture, the disused funfair, the scuba tourists and the mangey cats.

Whilst staying in Stonetown we enquired endlessly about taraab ensembles but I don't think we tried hard enough and clearly no-one had "commercialised" this need back then. When finally a message was passed to us that an ensemble was appearing it was too late.

But things have changed. These days its worth organising your trip for February when the Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) festival takes place. And if you don't travel to Zanzibar but are still interested then you should pick up the following Festival highlights CD/DVD package:

This features musical treats from the festival and is presented by the festival’s founder Yusuf Mahmoud (aka DJ Yusuf). The CD features 13 tracks from artists that have previously performed at the festival, whilst the DVD, produced by Head of Fourth World Dennis Tapfuma, international filmmaker Tamara Gordon and film editor Tomas Brickhil, visually encompasses the broad spectrum of Sauti za Busara and brings to life the musical diversity and culture experienced.

Yusuf Mahmoud, director of Busara Promotions (who organise the festival) first arrived in Zanzibar from the United Kingdom in 1998 to help organise the first edition of Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF). This later evolved into the annual Festival of the Dhow Countries, taking place in Zanzibar around the beginning of July each year. Whilst spending five years organising the music and performing arts programme of ZIFF, he realised that there was room on the island for another annual festival, and the need for an event which would focus in particular on showcasing the broad spectrum of music that is created in East Africa. Hence the birth of Sauti za Busara.

Pitch Black Afro

Been listening to the new Gnarls Barkley and it reminded me in a strange way of these guys. Enjoy this fun video from Jozi.

That Leap Year Feeling

Tracks that have been doing the rotations at matsuli headquarters over the past month, and including:
1. Kwa Kungasa (feat. Simphiwe Dana):: Aaron Jerome
2. Mother Africa:: Hal Singer & Jeff Gilson
3. Go up Moses:: Roberta Flack
4. Heal Yourself:: Ruthie Foster
5. Right As Rain:: Adele
6. More News From Nowhere:: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
7. Rockferry:: Duffy
8. Oya Ka Jojo (edit):: Les Volcans De La Capital
9. I Got That Feeling:: Chollo
10. Reine Nyepou:: Les Amazones De Guinee
11. Yelema Yelemaso:: Bembeya Jazz National
12. Elyne Road :: Toumani Diabate
13. Shine:: Laura Marling
14. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me:: Shelby Lynne
15. Do What You're Doin':: Rising Sun
100 DOWNLOADS ONLY/now deleted

EDIT (3 March 08): Sendspace have deleted the file due to copyright holder complaints. All the free publicity and promotion for labels...and they don't get it.

Shout it out!

“I travel to Africa to meet the artists, to ask for permission to use their music, pay for the rights and to ask them to share their story - that to me is fundamental. I also spend a huge amount of time searching for pictures, old posters, documents and obviously for original vinyl, reel tapes, matrices, acetates and so on. To get a better picture of the general music scene during the 70s, I try to locate the people who worked in the music industry at the time, sound engineers, sales managers, club owners, label founders. All this is Analog Africa’s DNA if you like” -
Samy Ben Redjeb

We can thank intrepid modern explorer Samy, founder of Analog Africa, along with fellow excavators Miles Cleret (Soundway Records), Duncan Brooker (Kona Records), Quinton Scott (Strut), Mark Ainley (Honest Jons) and others who continue to rescue music and hidden histories from seventies Africa and elsewhere.

The latest release from Analog Africa is African Scream Contest - Raw and Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin and Togo 70s. I'm not sure how Samy sifted through more than 3000 tracks to select just 14. Maybe it was his stint as a DJ at a hotel south of Dakar in the 90s. Whatever the case he is on the right track with the right tunes.

Ouinsou Corneille & Black Santiagos
And the music is only half the story - I get as much joy from reading the detailed notes on making connections with the original musicians and background to the music scene in Benin and Togo.

Roger Damawuzan
But in case you're wondering here are some samples:
El Rego et ses commandos - SeNa Min
Gabo Brown & Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo - It´s a Vanity
Les Volcans de la Capital - Oya Ka Jojo


Its out in stores by mid March on CD and a little later on vinyl. Pre-orders are already available from Sounds of the Universe and other online stores.

Samy, Miles and others make it seem so effortless when these fantastic reissues hit the stores in glorious colour with highly detailed notes and background information. I know it's not. Add to that the pressures of downloading and online blogs providing out of print material and reducing demand for reissues its remarkable that labels like Analog Africa and Soundway continue to survive on the niche markets they have. So whatever you do, do make the effort to buy their products and keep them digging. They are doing a fantastic job.


For further adventures in African musical excavation check out Duncan Booker's story over at the Guardian:
"If I didn't save it no-one else would"

Happy Happy Make It Snappy

Some time back I used this cassette-only compilation as the basis for an African Serenades volume, adding in a few extra tracks.
Someone really should put together a decent compilation of these early rock and roll and marabi jive 78s to CD for official release. (Jon Ward are you listening?).

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