Tress-Cun-Deo-La

With my first-time trip to New Orleans coming up, I thought I would post a track by one of my all-time favorite jazz artists Joe Henderson, titled "Tress-Cun-Deo-La". This funky jazz gem was featured on the tenor saxophonist's album Multiple, which was released back in 1973. This track represents just one of the many mind-blowing compositions recorded and released by Henderson during his lifetime. For those that enjoy "Tress-Cun-Deo-La", I highly recommend checking out a few of Henderson's seventies-era albums including In Pursuit of Blackness, Black is The Color, Canyon Lady, the 1970 live album At The Lighthouse …" and the record that he did with Alice Coltrane titled Elements. Absolutely brilliant work from one of jazz musics most prolific saxophone players. Enjoy!

Joe Henderson - Tress-Cun-Deo-La

Benin Boogie

Here is the funky Afro-flavored cut "Vimado Wingnan" by Benin's own El Rego (also released under the alais El Rego Et Ses Commandos). This soulful gem was recently reissued as a 7" release by Daptone Records after Frank Gossner of Voodoo Funk hunt down the original release. The track also appears on the superb Analog Africa compilation Legends of Benin and will be featured on a full-length El Rego album to be released on Daptone later this year. Overall, El Rego recorded a number of amazing records during the sixties and seventies, however "Vimado Wingnan" might be the greatest of the bunch. Enjoy!

El Rego - Vimado Wingnan

Sol Clap On The Hudson

Here is great new track "Sol Clap" by Quantic off of this year's Wonderwheel Recordings' EP compilation release Turntables On The Hudson Vol. 8: Reflecting Cielo. For those have been completely in the dark for the past decade, Quantic is a project by UK-born, producer Will Holland who now resides in California. Under the Quantic alias, Holland has released a number of quality releases that blend together various genres including soul, jazz, house, Latin, reggae, and cumbia. Some of my favorite releases from Quantic have come out in the past three years as he has worked with the multicultural band Combo Bárbaro. As a group, they have released a number of solid singles within the past two years including "Un Canto a Mi Tierra", "Caliventura Remixes EP", and the superb album Tradition in Transition. Overall, Quantic has proven with each and every release that he is one of the top and most creative producers releasing tropical-flavored dance records today. Enjoy!

Quantic - Sol Clap

Voodoo Blues

Here is a great version of Marvin Gaye's soulful 1971 classic "Inner City Blues" by the German band leader and musician James Last. This funky and interesting rendition of the song was included on James Last's album Voodoo-Party, which was also released in 1971. The Voodoo-Party record represents one of Last's more obscure and funkier records. On this rendition of "Inner City Blues", Last does a nice job here giving the song a bit more of a laid back vibe led by the song's choir-style vocals that are very reminiscent of The Joubert Singers' Paradise Garage classic "Stand On The Word". James Last deserves much credit here for successfully taking an all-time Marvin Gaye classic and making it his own. Enjoy!

James Last - Inner City Blues

The Sound of a New Day

About a year ago I posted Letta Mbulu's 1981 African Boogie classic "Kilimanjaro" (See Kilimandjaro Take Us Higher). Here is the 1980 version of the track, titled "Kilimandjaro Take Us Higher", that appeared on Mbulu's 1980 album Sound of a Rainbow. This track, even though very similar in arrangement, has a more soulful backing groove. I honestly don't prefer one version over the other, as I feel that both are solid tracks. I will be interested to hear which version everyone who visits this site prefers more. Enjoy!

Letta Mbulu - Kilimandjaro Take Us Higher

From Mighty Africa With Fury

This week, Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80 are releasing a great new record titled From Mighty Africa With Fury: Rise. This album, which follows the 2008 critically praised debut Many Things, features a number of heavy-hitting politically driven Afrobeat cuts including the high-energy gems "African Soldier", "You Can Run", "Mr. Big Thief", and the funky single "Rise". The record, which was produced by Brian Eno, is solid from start to finish, capturing the intensity and energy that was so present in all of his father, Fela Kuti's great recordings. I think anyone who listen's to this album will agree that this is easily one of the top records of 2011. Another great masterpiece that helps continue the Kuti family legacy. Enjoy!

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Rise



Click Here to purchase Seun Kuti & Egypt 80's new album From Mighty Africa With Fury: Rise.

Sofrito's "Jungle Magic" Now Available!

The funky tropical crew Sofrito just released another great twelve-inch titled "Jungle Magic" (Previously discussed on this blog. See Jungle Magic). Click Here to purchase the new amazing 12" single. Definitely one of the year's best twelves!

Sofrito Super Singles 003 - Jungle Magic EP by sofrito

Afro Shakedown

Much like last year, 2011 has been a great year for not only good African compilations, however a remarkable year for new Afro-centric releases. It seems like there are a lot of new groups popping up from all over the world that are carrying on the torch that artists like Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Tony Allen, and once held when ity came to funky African music . One of the best new Afro funk albums of the year is easily Ikebe Shakedown's debut self-titled LP. It's honestly hard to get better than this new album by the Brooklyn-based group. The record, which came out on Ubiquity Records, features some amazing uptempo gems like Tame The Beats, Don't Contradict, and the incredible single "Tujunga", as well as a heavy dose of some superb downtempo cuts like "Kumasi Walk", "The Viking", and "The Hold Up". Do yourself a favor and go purchase Ikebe Shakedown's new album, which is truly one of the true gems of 2011. Enjoy!

Ikebe Shakedown - Tujunga

Caribbean Cruise Music

Here is the funky tropical gem "Voodoo" by Cyril Diaz & His Orchestra. This late fifties track, is just one the four amazing instrumental calypso songs found on this retrospective 10" record that was recently released by Soundway Records. This limited edition release features some of the best tracks from the Trinidad based band's two full-length records Calypso Carnival 1958 Vol. 1 and Caribbean Cruise With The Cyril Diaz Orchestra. I imagine this 10" release won't last long in record shops, therefore I highly recommend snatching up a copy soon. Enjoy!

Cyril Diaz & His Orchestra - Voodoo

Alchemy Of The Blues

Here is the amazing instrumental version of the title track off Sarah Webster Fabio's 1976 album Jujus/Alchemy Of The Blues. This funky gem is one of the few instrumental tracks from the rare mid seventies record. That being said, this track is easily one of the funkiest songs I've ever come across. Brilliant work from the poet's solid back-up group, which featured a number of Febio's family members. Enjoy!

Sarah Webster Fabio - Alchemy Of The Blues (Instrumental)

Nightflight to Trinidad

Here is the final track, titled "Nightflight to Trinidad", off of my recently released Cabana Disco Vol.05 12". The re-edit is an instrumental reworking of a rare Caribbean boogie gem that came out in 1981 (maybe the photo above will give you a hint).

For those that still haven't picked up a copy of Cabana Disco Vol.05, I wouldn't wait too much longer as the record is selling quickly in stores and there is no plans for a repressing at this time. That being said, I would still love to know what everyone thinks about the new release, so please fill free to leave your thoughts in the comments section. Enjoy!

Pat Les Stache - Nightflight to Trinidad



Purchase Cabana Disco Vol.05:
Juno Records (Sold Out!)
Piccadilly Records
Phonica Records
Fat City Records
Rough Trade Shops

Africa 2000

Here's a great African disco gem in Bolo Bolo by the Cameroon singer, musicians, and arranger Kemayo (aka Elvis Kemayo). This funky track was featured on Kemayo's 1976 hard-to-find album Africa L'an 2000. Simply put, this is another great African disco track and full-length LP that is well worth being at the top of anybody's wishlist. Enjoy!

Kemayo - Bolo Bolo

African Zombie

Here is Ephraim Uzomechina Nzeka's funky rendition of Fela Kuti's "Zombie". This African disco gem was originally released on Nzeka's very rare 1980 album Brother To Brother. The track was also more recently included on Comet Records' incredible compilation Bilongo - A Third Collection Of Modern Afro Rhythms, which is easily one of my favorite comps of all-time. Overall, Nzeka's does a nice job with the Afrobeat classic, speeding up the tempo a bit and giving the song a more disco feel. Simply a true African disco gem!

Ephraim Uzomechina Nzeka - Zombie

Merengues!

With the summer pretty much in full effect, I thought I would post a tropical Cumbia-flavored cut titled "Maria" by Juan Campolargo. This track came from Campolargo's 1973 album Merengues! Merengues! Merengues! off the label Sounds of the Caribbean, a record I picked up about six months ago. I had very little knowledge about this release when I bought the record, however it turned out to be a nice find. With that being said, you can probably make an argument that the sleeve artwork itself makes the record worth owning. Regardless, it's nice complimentary track to go along with all the upcoming warm summer nights. Enjoy!

Juan Campolargo - Maria

The Future of African Music

One of the most original and standout releases of 2011 comes from the 7-piece London based band Owiny Sigoma Band's, who have just recently released their debut full-length album on Gilles Peterson's label Brownswood Recordings. This project came together when Jess Hackett aka Elmore Judd, who is also the live keyboardists in the Gorillaz, traveled to Nairobi in Kenya and hooked up with Joseph Nyamungu, a traditional nyatiti player, and Charles Owoko, a heavy-backbeat percussionist. The group came together and produced a demo that eventually made it's way to Peterson, and the rest is history. The band's debut record combines traditional African music with funky dancefloor rhythms, that has an overall original feel. Peterson calls the album "a phat, wayward dance record with African leanings (that feels) completely right." Definitely one of the year's best releases. Enjoy!

Owiny Sigoma Band - Margaret Okudo - Dub

West Indie Funk

Here is the tropical gem "Funky Stuff" by the group Dutch Rhythm, Steel & Show Band. This soulful cut was originally released back in 1975 off of the group's Soul, Steel & Show album and most recently included on the superb Trans Air Records compilation West Indie Funk, which features a number of rare funky Caribbean gems. For those that enjoyed Trans Air's first compilation release Disc'o'Lypso, I highly recommend checking out West Indie Funk. Some of the other highlights from the record include Syd Jones & The Troubadours' "Cardova", East Side Symphony's "Hot Pants Road", The Esso Trinidad Steel Band's steel drum-infused cover of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" and The Troubadours' heavy-hitting psychedelic gem "No Names Bar". Overall, West Indie Funk is a great release that brings together some of the most rare and obscure tropical-flavored titles from the Caribbean region. Enjoy!

Dutch Rhythm, Steel & Show Band - Funky Stuff