This is Africa is a collaboration between hiplife and ragga musicians
from Ashaiman, Ghana (just outside the capitol, Accra) and a traditional
Kusaasi gonje (one-stringed violin) player from Binaba, far to the
north. The gonje player's name is Alalba Awin, but in his home town and
the surrounding areas, everyone knows him as "Bob Marley."
The
beat was put together by American musician, Luke Bassuener (Asumaya),
who was a Peace Corps volunteer in the town of Zebilla from 2003 - 2005,
and returned in 2008 to found a traditional musician cooperative called
Bawku West Collective. He was back again earlier this summer, when his
former student - and rising hiplife star - Awuni "Judicious" Bismark,
took him to Phayaworks studio in Ashaiman and introduced him to
producer, Mad Beatz. Judicious and frequent collaborator, BB then
recruited ragga artist, Reeload, from the group Spotlyte Reality, and
they wrote the verses that became "This is Africa." Mad Beatz recorded
their vocal tracks and grabbed some of the raw Bawku West Collective
recordings to produce more collaborations of the like in the future.
Solidarity, the new album from The Souljazz Orchestra out September 18, 2012 on Strut Records, is pure fire. While you may know Souljazz for their afrobeat leanings, Solidarity spans a wide variety of styles and sounds with the help of several guest vocalists from different corners of the globe. The album was cut to a temperamental Tascam 8-track tape machine inherited from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at a surplus sale. The album definitely sounds like it's been recorded on a garage sale 8-track machine but not at all in a bad way. The gritty, retro sound quality lends itself to the classic sounds the orchestra is kicking out. It's almost like they put out a record of soulful funky music around the world circa 1974. Solidarity is definitely a fitting theme for this record. All ten tracks have a unique style and sound, but they all have a common soulful theme at the same time.
Listening to this record will definitely get you excited to see these guys live. If you live in the midwest, eastern US or Canada you'll get your shot sometime soon. When they cross the border they'll be touring with Brooklyn afrobeat luminaries Zongo Junction. I can personally attest to these guys' ability to tear up the stage. Check out the Souljazz tour dates starting November 9th in Toronto:
Nov 09 - Toronto, ON - Wrongbar
Nov 10 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion
Nov 15 - Québec, QC - Le Cercle
Nov 16 - Montréal, QC - Le Belmont
Nov 17 - Gatineau, QC - Petit Chicago
Nov 28 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground **
Nov 29 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall **
Nov 30 - New York, NY - Webster Hall **
Dec 01 - Washington, DC - Jammin' Java
Dec 02 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live **
Dec 04 - Buffalo, NY - Nietche's **
Dec 05 - Columbus, OH - Woodlands Tavern **
Dec 06 - Detroit, MI - Pike Room **
Dec 07 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle **
Dec 08 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
** - w/ Zongo Junction
The Easy Star All-Stars are back at it again. This time around it's the legendary Michael Jackson to whom they're paying homage with Thrillah, a dubbed out set of covers of all the MJ hits out today on Easy Star Records. If you've heard Dub Side of the Moon, RadioDread, or Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, then you'll definitely want to hear this. Thrillah puts a natty spin on classic Michael Jackson cuts like PYT, Wanna Be Startin Something, Beat it, Billie Jean and of course Thriller. Tomorrow is MJ's birthday, so amongst all the obligatory spins that all his classic cuts will be getting, throw in some Thrillah along too. You can catch The Easy Star All-Stars live this fall as they'll be touring throughout the US and Canada before crossing the pond to the UK:
US/Canada:
Oct 04 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza – w/The Aggrolites, Passafire
Oct 06 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 07 – Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 09 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 11 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 12 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlight – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 13 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 14 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 16 – Boston, MA @ Paradise – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 17 – Stowe, VT @ Rusty Nail – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 19 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater – w/The Aggrolites
Oct 20 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Blockley – w/The Aggrolites
UK:
Nov 01 – READING @ Sub89
Nov 02 – MANCHESTER @ Band on the Wall
Nov 03 – KENDAL @ Brewery Arts Centre
Nov 04 – NEW BRIGHTON @ Floral Pavilion
Nov 06 – NOTTINGHAM @ Rescue Rooms
Nov 07 – YORK @ The Duches
Nov 08 – BILSTON @ The Robin 2
Nov 09 – FALMOUTH @ Princess Pavilion
Nov 10 – EXETER @ Phoenix
Nov 11 – SOUTHAMPTON @ The Brook
Nov 13 – BRISTOL @ Fleece
Nov 14 – LEEDS @ University
Nov 15 – LONDON @ Garage
Nov 16 – BRIGHTON @ Concorde 2
Nov 17 – FOLKESTONE @ Quarterhouse
Nov 18 – NORWICH @ Waterfront
The Lunchbox Theory is bringing the internationally known Afrobeat For Ya Soul back to Brooklyn August 30th at One Last Shag. Girl Vs. Machine will be on the decks once again. Face painting will be offered free of charge. BBQ will also be served up with drinks in abundance. All for no cover charge. What more could you ask for?
“I
always describe Elikeh’s music as like taking Fela Kuti and mixing him
with Bob Marley. Put in a pot and stir for three minutes and add some
Osibisa and Togolese traditional music to it and let it all boil for two
more minutes. Then you add a sprinkle of rock and you
have Elikeh.” I couldn't have put it better myself. Massama Dogo described his music as perfectly as only the creator of the unique collage of sounds and rhythms that is Elikeh could.
The leader of the D.C. based Afro-funk outfit, hailing from Togo West Africa, puts Togo on the map in an afrobeat community dominated by musicians from Nigeria and Ghana. Take one listen to Between Two Worlds, their new album out tomorrow on Azalea City Records, and you'll hear how Elikeh distinguishes itself from the pack in a very real way.
Afrobeat is a mixture of different styles. Funk, jazz, Latin and traditional African rhythms, all play into the mix. Elikeh picks up where Fela left off, adds in a little reggae, and good chunk of rock. They also incorporate the sounds and language of Massama Dogo's native Toga. The result is a uniquely original brand of funky African music that makes a political statement while also making people dance.
If you're in or around the D.C. area, check out Elikeh for yourself at The Black Cat tomorrow night for their album release party. If you can't make it tomorrow night, definitely cop the album before your next dance party.
Janka Nabay, the undisputed king of Bubu music from Sierra Leone, has teamed up with Pupa Bajah and Luaka Bop Records to create Nar London, an anthem for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. While the traditional Olympic theme most likely won't be replaced anytime soon, Nabay's Olympic Anthem brings a unique perspective from an African Nation participating in the games. The song was created to inspire and support the two athletes representing Salone in London, Ola Sesay and Ibrahim Touray.
Janka Nabay's debut LP, En Yay Sah, was released yesterday on Luaka Bop Records. This is music you're unlikely to hear anywhere else. If you dig the Olympic Anthem, definitely check out the LP.
Antibalas wastes no time kicking things off with an infectiously danceable, politically astute, track that leaves no doubt in listeners' minds: Antibalas is back and better than ever. 5 years was a long time to wait for hardcore fans such as myself, but the wait is over, and I dare say it was worth it. While band-members got involved in a variety of solo projects and collaborations, the music was all-the-while growing and percolating. Creative juices were flowing. Getting a band this big together to record and perform is no small task. When the stars finally aligned, the afrobeat gods smiled once again.
I'll have an in-depth interview with founding member Martin Perna in the coming weeks. I'll also be catching Antibalas live in Brooklyn on August 18th. They'll be touring across the US and Canada, so don't waste an opportunity to catch this world-class act live.
Antibalas 2012 Tour Dates:
Fri Aug 10 — San Francisco, CA — Outside Lands
Sat Aug 11 — San Luis Obispo, CA — SLO Brewing Co
Sun Aug 12 — Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Tue Aug 14 — Los Angeles, CA — The Echoplex
Wed Aug 15 — Pomona, CA — Fox Theater
Sat Aug 18 — Brooklyn, NY — Williamsburg Park
Tue Sep 11 — Minneapolis, MN — First Avenue
Wed Sep 12 — Milwaukee, WI — Turner Hall
Thu Sep 13 — Chicago, IL — Lincoln Hall
Fri Sep 14 — Detroit, MI — Majestic Theatre
Sat Sep 15 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre
Tue Sep 18 — Toronto, ON — Lee’s Palace
Wed Sep 19 — Montreal, QC — Corona Theatre
Thu Sep 20 — Boston, MA — Paradise
Tue Sep 25 — Washington, DC — Black Catt
Wed Sep 26 — Richmond, VA — Capital Ale House
Thu Sep 27 — Carborro, NC — Cat’s Cradle
Fri Sep 28 — Charlotte, NC — Visulite
Sat Sep 29 — Asheville, NC — Grey Eagle
Mon Oct 1 — Knoxville, TN — Cider House
Tue Oct 2 — Nashville, TN — Mercy Lounge
Wed Oct 3 — Louisville, KY — Bomhard Theater
Fri Oct 5 — Atlanta, GA — Goat Farm
Sat Oct 6 — Athens, GA — 40 Watt
Sun Oct 7 — Birmingham, AL — Bottletree
Tue Oct 9 — New Orleans, LA — Tipitina’s
Wed Oct 10 — Houston, TX — Warehouse Live
Thu Oct 11 — Dallas, TX — Kessler Theater
Sat Oct 13 — Austin, TX — Austin City Limits Festival
Anyone familiar with the New York African music scene will surely have heard the Mandingo Ambassadors display their gracefully artistic sound to the delight of listeners and dancers. For those unfamiliar with the African musical stylings of this virtuosic ensemble, now is the time for your introduction. Their new album, Tougna, out July 24, 2012 on 1-2-3-4-GO Records, will transport you into another world of dancing and pure musical bliss.
Guitarist, bandleader, and griot, Mamady Kouyate, represents a lineage of musicians stretching back through generations spanning hundreds of years in his native Guinea. He was raised on the traditional music of his people but bridged the gap to the modern music of the times, transposing the traditional music to the electric guitar. He was in the middle of the movement led by President Sekou Toure to form a new national identity for newly independent Guinea, made famous by bands like Bembeya Jazz, of which Mamady is a veteran.
In 2004, Mamady moved to the USA as a political refugee. It was there, in Brooklyn, NY where he started the Mandingo Ambassadors. Composed of African musicians from his native Guinea, as well as Europeans and Americans, he continued the legacy and spread of African music to new generations. The ambassadors' new album, Tougna, is a beautiful collection of songs highlighting Mamady's virtuosic guitar playing with the backing of a lively rhythm section, sailing horns, and the majestic vocals of Bebe Camara.
The Mandingo Ambassadors perform regularly around New York. They were the first African musical act I saw live in person when I was 22 and visiting the city. I saw them in a packed room in Barbes in Park Slope. My mind was completely blown at the beauty of their compositions and their ability to turn the room into a complete dancing frenzy. I've seen them live several times since, and they've never disappointed me in the least. Check out their new album, and if you like what your hear, absolutely see them live in person to experience the real thing.
Dig the interview I conducted with John Brown's Body Drummer Tommy Benedetti in advance of the 2010 GrassRoots Fest:
MGA: I've seen many
labels attached to your music, Future Roots Music, the most commonly
used. How would you describe your sound in your own words?
TB: I
think the term "Future Roots" does describe our music pretty well. We
all love and respect Jamaican reggae/dub from the 70s and 80s. So our
songs are generally built from a heavy dub influence. But we have many
other influences that go into our sound as well. And I think its our
job to keep our sound progressing and keep things as fresh as possible.
JBB is a thick sound. A big, loud machine.
MGA: How were you first introduced to reggae and who were the artists that made the biggest impact on your musical development?
TB:
I was introduced to reggae as I was finishing up at Berklee College of
Music in Boston. I took the gig with The Tribulations and went on a
crash course of reggae and dub. Kevin Kinsella and Elliot Martin
dropped some heavy stuff on me to check out. The Gladiators, Burning
Spear, Black Uhuru, Alpha Blondy. It was a whole new world for me to
dive into. Sly and Robbie had a huge influence on my approach to
playing dub, and still do to this day.
MGA: The personnel in JBB
has changed a lot over the years. How would you describe what the most
recent changes have brought to the band?
TB: We've been lucky,
that everytime we've lost someone, we've brought in a musician thats
really helped JBB progress and get to where we are today. We are very
much like a family. There's a lot more involved in being a member of JBB
than just being a killer player. This current lineup has been traveling
the planet together for over 4 years, which is pretty good for our
business.
MGA: How would you describe the evolution of Reggae
music over the last twenty years and where it fits in the global music
scene?
TB: Reggae is a very far reaching genre. I see a lot of
kids all over the country that are being inspired by reggae; a lot of
times on tour we will have a local act open the show ,so it's cool to
see everyone's unique approach to playing the music. Some of my
favorite reggae these days comes from all over the globe. Black Seeds
from New Zealand and, Dubmatix from Toronto, Midnite from St
Croix...there are a lot of hard working bands doing some real good things
these days.
MGA: You guys have played all over the world. How does the reception vary in different places and cultures?
TB:
Generally, people come to our shows and are very appreciative I think.
We bring something different to the table so not everyone gets it. But
we've had some great shows in France, Hawaii, New Zealand, there's
always gonna be some places that are better than others, just like in
the states, but when we come to town we're gonna throw down, no matter
where we are.
MGA: JBB has been playing grassroots for several
years. Could you describe the vibe and energy of the festival for those
who haven't been there before?
TB: I think I can speak for most
of the guys and say that Grassroots is one of, if not our favorite
summer fest to play. I always have a great time and the caliber of
music is really off the charts. This is probably around our 10th one,
so we play to a real big crowd and its an incredible feeling. I
recommend it to all of my friends.
MGA: One band I'm especially
looking forward to seeing is The Black Seeds, a band with a similar
sound to JBB who you guys have toured with extensively. Could you
describe their sound and how you feel about it?
TB: They have
more of a soul/funk vibe than JBB does maybe, but we share many common
influences. I am a huge fan. We had them open a US tour for us last
year and they returned the favor by bringing us to New Zealand for 3
weeks of shows. It was a real life changer. To me,they have it
all..they're amazing musicians, great songs, and a sound that's all their
own..and you know I have to say their drummer Jarney is one of my
favorites!
MGA: Who are some of the other acts to which you're especially looking forward to seeing this year at G-Roots?
TB:
Unfortunately this year we have to leave Saturday to play a big outdoor
show in Boston, so I won't be able to catch as much music as I usually
do, but I would be psyched to see Oliver Mutukudzi and Railroad
Earth..we did the jam cruise with them back in January..they are a great
band..and I think The Black Seeds are playing the same night we are, so I can not wait to see them and party with them
MGA: JBB has
evolved and changed quite a bit over the years. Where would you like to
see JBB go from here on out musically and otherwise?
TB: I want us to be happy continuing doing what we do..further crafting our sound and bringing it to the people.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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, 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.
The Afrobeat Blog is a global music forum dedicated to the legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the founder of Afrobeat and international protest figure. This blog is dedicated to publicizing those spreading Fela's legacy of cross-cultural exchange and international musical consciousness.
