Crosstown Traffic

Here is a great new Afrobeat rendition of Jimi Hendrix's 1968 "Crosstown Traffic" classic by the group Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra. This funky Afro cut was released as a 7" single about a year ago on the Leeds based label First Word Records. The 7" single represents the first release from the group, which in November went on to put out their debut self-titled full-length album. Certainly a new school Afrobeat group worth checking out. Enjoy!

Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Crosstown Traffic



You can purchase Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra's 7" release of "Crosstown Traffic" by clicking here

Jungle Magic

About a week ago, Hugo Mendez from the Sofrito crew kindly shared with me their newest single titled the Jungle Magic EP. This new 12" release, which will be out in a couple of weeks, features two superb new Nigerian disco edits. The A-side track is a reworking of Benis Cletin's rare 1979 Afro synth gem "Jungle Magic", while the B-side cut "Money Makes Man Mad" is a funky slice of Afro disco that is primed perfectly for the dancefloor. With any of the Sofrito releases, I assume this new twelve won't last long in record shops once it drops, therefore I highly recommend snatching this new release up as soon as it comes out. Just as the weather begins to warm up, Sofrito drops another dose of tropical heat! Enjoy!

Sofrito Super Singles 003 - Jungle Magic EP by sofrito

Afro-Colombian Funk

As long as we are talking about trombone led groups, here is funky cut by the Colombian group La Tromba titled "Calaba Calabao". This track was originally featured on the group's 1982 hard-to-find self-titled album and more recently included on Soundway Records' superb compilation Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots In Colombia 1975-91, which I highly recommend checking out. Overall, "Calaba Calabao" is a great track that nicely blends together elements of seventies era sounding Latin and African funk . Enjoy!

La Tromba - Calaba Calabao

Freedom Train

Here is the funky Afro jazz gem "Freedom Train" by Feso Trombone (aka Fesobi Olawaiye). This uptempo cut was the title track to the trombonist's 1980 rare full-length album. This is one of the record's Feso cut after he left Nigeria and moved to Belguim to pursue a solo career. Before moving to Belguim, Feso got his start by playing with Fela Kuti. Overall, "Freedom Train" is a solid track that nicely blends together Afro funk with some nice instrumental trombone-led melodies. Enjoy!

Feso Trombone - Freedom Train

Move Up

Here is the funky Afro gem "Move Up" by the group BLO. This soulful cut was featured on the group's classic 1976 albym Phase IV which features a number of great tracks including "Trace Of Suicide", "Scandi Boogie", and the classic breakdance gem "Number One". On a side note, I originally posted this song about a week ago, however due to recent technical issue, the post was removed because of a "roll-back" by Blogger. The track had only been up on the blog for about a day, therefore I thought it would be worth re-posting. As a special bonus, I also included the funky "Number One". Enjoy!

BLO - Move Up



BLO - Number One

I Thought It Was You

I thought I would keep it simple today and post an all-time boogie gem in "I Thought It Was You" by Herbie Hancock. This funky classic was featured on Herbie's 1978 album Sunlight. There is no argument that Herbie Hancock is a true legend that throughout his remarkable career has proven that he is always a step ahead of just about everyone else out there. His pre-boogie masterpiece "I Thought It Was You" is just another example of doing just this, writing a track that other producers and musicians could even dream of coming up with until about five years later during the early eighties. Regardless, just another classic from one of the greatest musicians to probably walk this earth. Enjoy!

Herbie Hancock - I Thought It Was You

Roots of Life

Here is the funky Afro-flavored cut "Ma Do Nar" by the production tag-team Los Chicharrons. I just recently heard this group, which is led by Ramon Santana and Morten Varano, a few months ago for the first time and was completely blown away by their newest full-length release Roots Of Life. This new album, which was released by Tummy Touch Records, came to light when Morten traveled to Bamako in Mali and hooked up with a number of local musicians to help lay the foundation for the album's overall instrumental sound. The finishing touches to the full-length release were later applied in some production sessions in Copenhagen and London. Overall, the new Los Chicharrons album is a superb new release that nicely brings together elements of Afro funk, house, and disco while not losing the albums traditional Mali inspiration. I highly recommend checking out this new release!

Los Chicharrons - Ma Do Nar



Listen to more tracks from Los Chicharrons' Roots of Life album and more by Clicking Here.

More Cabana Disco

As the fifth volume of Cabana Disco continues to make it's way to record stores worldwide, I thought I would feature the A-side re-edit off the new twelve, titled "African Olé". This edit comes from one of my favorite African disco records of all-time which I picked up when I was in Paris last summer. I tried to add a "summer-beach" feel to the funky Afro cut. I look forward to hearing everyone's feedback. Enjoy!

Pat Les Stache - African Olé



Purchase Cabana Disco vol.05 here:
Juno Records
Piccadilly Records
Phonica Records
Fat City Records
Rough Trade Shops

Sweet Music

This week Strut released the third volume to their pioneering Nigeria 70 series with a funky batch of seventies Afro funk, Highlife, and Juju gems in this new compilation titled Sweet Music. This compilation, which was compiled by series curator Duncan Brooker, continues in the same great spirit as the past two releases in the series by digging deep into Nigeria's forgotten label archives and highlighting some of the regions lost treasures. Each song is very different from the next, as group's across the region at this time began to experiment with fusing many different sounds which crossed over into many sub-genres. Some of the records best cuts include Tunde Mabadu's "Viva Disco", Admiral Dele Abiodun & His Top Hitters International's "It's Time For Juju Music", Eji Oyewole's "Unity In Africa", Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His International Brothers' "Ajoyio", and my personal favorite Moneyman And The Super 5 International's "Life". Overall, Sweet Music is a solid new compilation and great new addition to the always superbly crafted Nigeria 70 series. Enjoy!

Moneyman And The Super 5 International - Life



Purchase Nigeria 70: Sweet Music by Clicking Here.

More from the Tiger Orchestra

Over the past year, the funky Ethio jazz band Imperial Tiger Orchestra has quickly become one of my favorite new groups. This Switzerland band quickly caught my attention with last year's superb Addis-Abeba EP. Fresh off that critically acclaimed record, the group has just released their debut full-length titled Mercato. This solid new album begins where the last EP left us, with a heavy dose of Ethio jazz and funk that is in the same vein as some of music written by the genres greatest artists like Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed, and others. Some of my favorite tracks off this new album include "Yedao", "Anchi Bale Game", "Demamaye" and the uptempo groove gem "Lale Lale". Overall, Imperial Tiger Orchestra has followed up last year's ep with another brilliant release that helps pay homage to Ethio jazz's golden age.

Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Lale Lale

Cabana Disco Vol.05 - Now in Stores!

I'm excited to announce that my new twelve-inch re-edit record Cabana Disco vol.05 has finally made it's way to record shops worldwide. This new twelve follows in the same footsteps of the rest of the Cabana Disco series, featuring three new funky edits that include the seventies Afro disco cut "African Ole, the heavy-hitting Italian funk gem "Funk Suprema", and the Caribbean boogie track "Nightflight to Trinidad". An interesting side note to this release is that songs re-edited on this release were taken from a selection of rare material that I found during my trip last summer to Paris. Just like the rest of the volumes in the series, this record is limited to only 300 copies, therefore I recommend snatching up a copy while they still last. I look forward to hearing everyone's thought and comments about this new release.

Here's Preview
A1 - African Olé
B2 - Funk Suprema (full audio mp3)
B3 - Nightlife to Trinidad

Purchase Cabana Disco vol.05 here:
Juno Records
Piccadilly Records
Phonica Records
Fat City Records
Rough Trade Shops

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I apologize that I don't have any authentic Mexican tracks to share, however here is a number of funky Latin gems that should go nicely with the rest of your celebratory festivities. What is your favorite Latin track of the bunch?

Seguida - Mambo Rock



Nico Gomez & His Afro Percussion Inc. - La Lupita



The Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble - The Opener



Melvyn Price - Behind Kungsträdgarden



Ocho - Hot Pants Road



Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers - Inside The Corn

Man on the Banks

Here is a funky track from German violinist Hannes Beckmann's group Sinto titled "Man On The Banks". This Latin flavored cut was released back in 1978 off the group's album Sonho Negro, and recently re-issued as a seven-inch single by Tramp Records. The song itself, is kind of interesting as it basically sounds like two songs mixed together with the beginning of the track starting off with laid back funk groove only to move into a full scale uptempo Latin jam. I can certainly see a good edit coming out of the re-working of the song's more laid back introduction. Until then, it's safe to say that most of us will be just fine with the uniquely arranged original. Enjoy!

Sinto - Man on the Banks

Jungle by Night

This month Amsterdam's Afro-funk band Jungle by Night is releasing their highly anticipated debut self-titled album off of the label Kindred Spirits. This record features a number of great tracks including funky Afro-flavored gems like "Hot Mama Hot", "Termite", "Camel" and Mongo Santamaria's Latin jazz classic "Afro Blue". Many people have anticipated this full length release ever since the group released their debut 7" single ET. The group certainly didn't disappoint, hence releasing one of the year's best albums to date. Enjoy!

Jungle by Night - Afro Blue

OSAMA BIN LADEN KILLED

With this breathtaking news of the killing of Osama Bin Laden, I think it would be appropriate to bypass today's music post and spend the day remembering those that died on 9/11/2001, as well as all the military service members who have given their lives to help fight terrorism around the world.

"Justice has been done." - United States President Barack Obama

UPDATED: I removed the comments and the ability to add comments to this post. This is a music blog and I don't want a heated conversation to break out on this site unless it's to discuss Arthur Russell's greatest recording :) That being said, I thought it was appropriate to recognize this monumental moment in history.

Tomorrow it's back to music, so please check back then!