New Sofrito Compilation

Sofrito is at it again.  The international coalition of dj's and producers committed to making people dance across several continents are set to release their second compilation, International Soundclash, July 24th in conjunction with Strut Records.  Sofrito take an approach that I love: taking the best danceable music from all over the world and mixing it together to create a consistent, funky vibe.  Funk is universal, and Sofrito is your interpreter.  Dig a free track in advance of the album's release next month.  For those across the pond in the UK, check out their record release party in London July 20th.

Afrobeat for Ya Soul BK Edition

Afrobeat for Ya Soul, D.C.'s hottest Afrocentric dance party is coming to Planet Brooklyn June 28th courtesy of The Lunchbox Theory.  Mickey Perez will be on the 1's and 2's along with Girl vs. Machine at One Last Shag starting at 8pm.  Best of all, admission is free.  Just bring your positivity and energy to share.

New Afro Disco Track

Many of you know, I have a deep love for all musics afro-disco associated.  This remix of The Bank's track from Frank Agrario touches my afro-disco soul. Dig it.

New Video from SL Refugee All-Stars

The World Food Program USA and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars have joined forces to bring attention to the urgent issue of global hunger. Their new video Big Fat Dog, off their seriously nasty new album Radio Salone (produced by Ticklah) was filmed in Freetown, Sierra Leone and addresses an issue that's all too familiar to Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars: the divide between those who have plenty and those who have little. 

For the third time in a decade, drought in the Sahel region of Africa is threatening millions of people with hunger. Meanwhile, conflict in Mali has forced at least 300,000 people to flee their homes, adding to the hunger crisis both in Mali and neighboring countries. The UN World Food Program and its partners have launched a regional response to bring food assistance to more than 9 million people in eight countries.  Dig the album, join the fight against global hunger and support World Food Program USA. Text AID to 27722 to make a $10 donation. 

Catch The All-Stars in Concert on their World Tour:

Thu Jun 21   Chameleon Club, Lancaster PA

Fri Jun 22   Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square PA  
Sat Jun 23   Iron Horse, Northampton MA  
Sun Jun 24   Brighton Music Hall, Boston MA  
Tue Jun 26   The Hamilton, Washington DC  
Thu Jun 28   Bearsville Theater, Woodstock NY  
Fri Jun 29   Highline Ballroom, New York NY  
Sat Jun 30   Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester NY  
Sun Jul 01   TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto ON   
Tue Jul 03   The Beachcomber, Wellfleet MA  
Thu Jul 05   Bridge Street Live, Collinsville CT  
Fri Jul 06   West Kortright Centre, East Meredith NY  
Sat Jul 07   Higher Ground, South Burlington VT  
Sun Jul 08   RBC Royal Bank Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa ON   
Tue Jul 10   Festival Nuits d'Afrique, Montreal QC   
Wed Jul 11   Festival D'été International De Quebec, Quebec QC   
Fri Jul 13   Masala Festival, Hannover Germany  
Mon Jul 23   Mar de Musicas, Cartagena Spain  
Sun Jul 29   Festival Du Labyrinthe De La Voix, Saint-Junien France  
Thu Aug 02   Pickathon, Happy Valley OR   

New Dopeness from Nickodemus

One of the dopest dj's NY has ever seen is spinning this weekend in BK.  Nickodemus will be on the 1's and 2's this Sunday at the DeKalb Market (for free!) to celebrate the release of his new album Moon People, out June 19th on ESL Records.  Dig the link to a live mix from the master blaster below to get a taste of what he's all about.  

Nickodemus LIVE @ theLIFT / 1 year anniversary Jan. 2011
 

New Single to Benefit AIDS Research

Red Hot is back at it again.  The first single featuring ?uestlove, Angelique Kidjo, tUnE-yArDs, and Akua Naru from their forthcoming album, (RED) Hot + Fela, out this fall on Knitting Factory Records, is out today via Itunes and Soundcloud.  All proceeds from the album go towards AIDS research via (RED) and The Red Hot Organization.  Dig the track below, buy it for a good cause, and keep an ear out for the full album later this year.

Help Akoya Put Out a New LP!

 
Of all the afrobeat I've ever heard, live or recorded, Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble ranks as some of the very best (and coming from me, that means a lot, if I do say so myself).  They're currently raising money via kickstarter for their new album, which if they raise the requisite funds, they'll press on vinyl!!!  I can't put into words how excited I am at the prospect of owning a new Akoya record.  These guys are some of the best musicians in the world carrying the afrobeat flag today.  Not only do they call themselves an afrobeat band, they're the real thing.  They play the music the way it's intended to be played.  If I had enough money, I would give them all the money for which they're asking and fund the record myself.  Unfortunately, I have very little money and have no prospect of making any in my near future.  Don't feel bad for me, just give Akoya some support.  Help make the world a funkier place.

The Nazarenes to Drop Meditation Next Week

The Nazarenes are a reggae band out of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Their new album, Meditation, set to be released April 24, 2012 on I Grade Records, is a spiritual journey into the beliefs of two Rastafarian brothers born and raised in the Rasta holyland.  Noah and Medhane Tewolde make up the Nazarenes, and they tell the story of how reggae connects disparate worlds, from the Caribbean to Africa to Europe (where the brothers now live) and beyond.  If you're a hardcore reggae fan, this album is a must-have.  Preview the title track below, and cop the album when it drops next week.

New Album from Maga Bo

Quilombo do Futuro, the new album from Maga Bo out May 22, 2012 on Post World Industries, is one of the most inventive, unique sounding albums I've heard in a while.  Dig the video for No Balanço da Canoa below, and if you dig the sound, cop the mp3 at your leisure. 

KonKoma to Release Debut Album on Soundway

KonKoma, a hot new afro-funk band based in London, are set to release their debut album June 25, 2012 on Soundway Records.  If you happen to live across the pond and are free June 1st, they'll be performing live on a ridiculously nasty bill with Pax Nicholas, The FOKN Bois, and Yaaba Funk at Rich Mix.  To get a taste of what they're all about, dig their teaser video below.

 

Flavour - Tuesday Nights @ Bamboo

Looking for some extra afro-flavour?  If you're in or around the E. Village, check out the new Tuesday Night jam at Bamboo, Flavour.  Live afropop will be performed by Makane Kouyate's Denbaya.  Afrobeat, salsa, tropical disco and other danceable jams will be doled out by dj's Bryant K and No Comprendo in abundance.
 

We Will Never Stop - Music is the Weapon

 
Afrobeat will never stop.  That message is sent loud and clear from Music is a Weapon, an afro-collective out of Stockholm, Sweden.  Dig their video for their latest single, We Will Never Stop.

Elikeh Needs Your Help!

 
Elikeh, an afro-funk ensemble based out of Washington D.C. that fuses Togolese traditional rhythms and melodies with afrobeat, reggae, and rock sounds, is raising money via kickstarter to distribute their next album, Between 2 Worlds, featuring Vieux Farka Toure.  I reviewed Elikeh's last album, Adje! Adje! and was totally blown away by the ingenuity of their sound.  I'm excited to hear what these guys have in store for their next release.  Donate what you can and help these artists' spread their message to the world.

Fela Live in Detroit

Just when you thought the world had heard all that Fela had to offer...  Live in Detroit, the first new Fela material to be released since 1992, will be made available to the world on May 8, 2012 via Knitting Factory Records.  The album features four classic Egypt 80 cuts: 1. Just Like That, 2. Confusion Break Bones, 3. Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, and 4. Beasts of No Nation.  Any afrobeat head fiending for "new" Fela sounds will waste no time copping this live album.  Preview a track below, pre-order it from KFR here.
 

Jungle Fire

Need a litle fire in your life?  Check out this slammin two-song EP from L.A. based Afro-funk ensemble Jungle Fire.  Be careful, you might get burned...

New Afrolicious EP-Pleasuretime

With a name like Afrolicious, it's gotta be good. Dig this track off the Bay Area collective's new EP Pleasuretime, out now on ESL Records.

Free Track off of Ebo Taylor's New Album

Ebo Taylor just keeps on keeping on. The African musical legend is set to release his new album, Appia Kwa Bridge, April 16, 2012 on Strut Records. In the meantime, dig this free track to keep you satiated until the album drops later this month.

Ebo Taylor - Yaa Amponsah by Strut

The Black Seeds Return to North America

If you haven't heard of The Black Seeds, it's about time you have. They're one of New Zealand's preeminent musical acts combining a soulful, funky vibe with a reggae sound, and they're about to embark on a North American tour in support of their new album, Dust and Dirt. I had the pleasure of catching them live two summers ago at the Grassroots Festival, while they were touring with John Brown's Body in support of their last album, Solid Ground. If you dig laid back reggae grooves with soulful horn lines, definitely check these guys out when they come your way. Dig their tour dates and the video for their latest single, Pippy Pip, below:

April 05 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
April 06 – San Diego, CA – Winstons
April 07 – Santa Barbara, CA - Soho
April 08 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
April 10 – Victoria, BC – Club 9one9
April 11 – Vancouver, BC – Fortune Sound
April 12 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
April 13 – Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
April 14 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
April 15 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
April 17 – Ithaca, NY – Castaways

Afrobeat For Ya Soul Turns 3 + New Afro-Mixtape

Afrobeat for Ya Soul is D.C.'s dopest monthly afro-celebration. Resident beat scientist Underdog the DJ keeps a close watch over the dance party curated by The Lunchbox Theory. The party will have been going strong for 3 years this Thursday night, so to celebrate, Underdog has donated a mix for lovers of booty-shaking music. Dig the mix below, check out the party Thursday night.

Wan Fambul-Benefit Album for Sierra Leone

It's a beautiful thing when music brings people together. It's even more beautiful when that sense of community forms a movement to make a positive difference in the world. Wan Fambul, or One Family, is a benefit album for the people of Sierra Leone afflicted by the civil war that raged there for several years. Artists like Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew, Vieux Farka Toure, and Vusi Mahlasela are all featured on the project spearheaded by Catalyst, a U.S. based non-for-profit dedicated to making the world a more peaceful place. Catalyst released Fambul Tok last year, an award-winning film about the reconciliation process in Sierra Leone. Dig the album here when it drops March 23, 2012. Good music for a good cause--what more could you ask for?