tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29273356174075335542024-03-15T23:21:47.938-08:00Rhythm ConnectionRhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-66902740082022983202023-01-05T20:49:00.003-09:002023-01-06T10:48:56.481-09:00Sunny Ade & His Green Spot Band – The Master Guitarist Vol. 1 (1970)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUZl45dvsE77uRVnG1w0XVaNAREPE7GKT7KUOQpDBkGlIJaqNwgfdq2nWaTc5dspcIR4uIapXobhSc3MrxlXJ3RvPYFusV3ur_llGehaaLmzRwXSjLptgdaBMr2UBpljq_PkgRhX1GgLYKnIbfjgij33CLdBAC-oKs66XlTnYl2JKoGzaMV38FvA0/s3024/Sunny%20MG1%20front.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUZl45dvsE77uRVnG1w0XVaNAREPE7GKT7KUOQpDBkGlIJaqNwgfdq2nWaTc5dspcIR4uIapXobhSc3MrxlXJ3RvPYFusV3ur_llGehaaLmzRwXSjLptgdaBMr2UBpljq_PkgRhX1GgLYKnIbfjgij33CLdBAC-oKs66XlTnYl2JKoGzaMV38FvA0/s320/Sunny%20MG1%20front.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>After a prince, how about a king? Long before <span style="color: #e06666;">Sunny Ade</span> became the music industry hope for a successor to Bob Marley, he was constructing his iconic lyrical guitar style and <i>juju</i> magic. <p></p><p>This first <span style="color: #e06666;">Master Guitarist</span> album from 1970 sounds fresh, half a century since release, even if the sound quality is not equal to later studio releases made with more sophisticated equipment. Most of the songs are tributes to people, perhaps benefactors underwriting the band. Percussion percolates as Ade's voice and guitar weave throughout.</p><p>Very tasty!</p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://www110.zippyshare.com/v/RzzrvWCq/file.html" target="_blank">Truly enjoy!</a></p>Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-80545690495775346182023-01-03T09:39:00.004-09:002023-01-05T20:52:48.226-09:00Prince Thony Adex And His Sedico System – Sunny Ade Judgement Special (1986)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqxpqxrKhd7bh4GpdsFcAh5cwGocfoJ4MNRE6kEuahmPwyOyDioV-yQdDjvP8cphpx7agpj4mj84CLnKH8Y7bbOhcMsxORpBW_gm_Jnr3cajPrwOFNI7DJSxgh0AOxEM6u-XgsFootqhVk9pGsCfdqYKQPUCIP0TFpHDb4qQG6LXXctLEB-CTcmAu/s2941/Thony%20Adex%20front.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2941" data-original-width="2910" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqxpqxrKhd7bh4GpdsFcAh5cwGocfoJ4MNRE6kEuahmPwyOyDioV-yQdDjvP8cphpx7agpj4mj84CLnKH8Y7bbOhcMsxORpBW_gm_Jnr3cajPrwOFNI7DJSxgh0AOxEM6u-XgsFootqhVk9pGsCfdqYKQPUCIP0TFpHDb4qQG6LXXctLEB-CTcmAu/s320/Thony%20Adex%20front.jpeg" width="317" /></a></div><p></p><span style="color: #e06666;">Sunny Ade Judgement Special</span> was nearly the last record released by NYC-based Makossa International Records, a reissue of a Nigerian 1976 release. I'm not sure what the first side title track concerns, not understanding Yoruba. Is it complementary, or a swipe at his contemporary and ascendant <i>juju</i> star competitor? As can be seen on one of his earlier albums (available at the invaluable <a href="http://www.globalgroovers.com/" target="_blank">Global Groovers</a> treasure chest), <span style="color: #e06666;">Thony Adex</span> certainly had some interest/obsession with <span style="color: #e06666;">Sunny Ade</span>.<div><br /></div><div>Regardless of motive, this record is a sweet slice of <i>juju</i> from this unheralded musical prince that will please anyone who grooved to <span style="color: #e06666;">Sunny Ade, King</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Happy 2023!</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.mediafire.com/file/d81nndo5uk14ny9/Sunny_Ade_Judgement_Special.zip/file" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-9417964023706469662022-12-23T10:28:00.003-09:002022-12-24T08:18:52.093-09:00Ismaël Lô – Natt (1987)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKGiCuLT1xxovdoZLwKN0gNs_oQ8Q9mlxmBMuX4ho-06NB8cQytX20Ad4T9L8jHqPuYG4ur8vjHGe5E2ojs4aqPc2IYjwY0mr_I5ajBGNZVpBboiikuZU6jnwYCUzprbvR0SGFgp90R1bjx9OmVMMFxoUNfj6umN2QMO93RXwvsrIXA7kpxgeRME1/s2676/Natt%20-%20front.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="2676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKGiCuLT1xxovdoZLwKN0gNs_oQ8Q9mlxmBMuX4ho-06NB8cQytX20Ad4T9L8jHqPuYG4ur8vjHGe5E2ojs4aqPc2IYjwY0mr_I5ajBGNZVpBboiikuZU6jnwYCUzprbvR0SGFgp90R1bjx9OmVMMFxoUNfj6umN2QMO93RXwvsrIXA7kpxgeRME1/s320/Natt%20-%20front.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Well, friends, here we are. It turns out life does not settle down, but gets crazier by the day. Yet music is central in my life, and I continue to digitize records for my radio show. When I can grab some time, I'll try to post them here.<p></p><p>I chose to reenter with this album from <span style="color: #e06666;">Ismaël Lô</span> because a reader, years ago, pleaded for it (and <i>Xiif</i>, which shall follow soon). This is the third album <span style="caret-color: rgb(224, 102, 102); color: #e06666;">Lô </span>recorded after leaving <a href="https://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2012/08/super-jamono-de-dakar-ndaxami-1984.html" target="_blank">Super Diamono</a>, and it is a lush bridge between <i>mbalax</i> and the more global singer-songwriter style he evolved. </p><p>While <span style="color: #e06666;">Natt</span> was rereleased as a compilation CD in 2004, easily available for almost nothing at Discogs, I think the sound of this pristine LP is better. New link.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Happy Holidays!</span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/file/pw9cs9ke0jm398o/Ismael_Lo_-_Natt.zip/file" target="_blank"> </a></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www118.zippyshare.com/v/Za7CPJV6/file.html" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></p></blockquote>Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-68531326210135505902021-01-01T11:10:00.001-09:002021-01-01T11:10:51.251-09:002021 - New Year Teaser<p>I am alive, and this blog is very dormant. Since I last posted I moved thousands of miles and built a new life, despite challenges including the near consolidation of fascism in the U$ and the pandemic. </p><p>So no promises, but I think my life will settle down later this year, allowing me to begin posting the many wonderful recordings I have digitized.</p><p>Stay safe, and sane, and here's to the hope that one day we may embrace, and not virtually.</p><p>Cheers.</p>Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-25521858573241625532014-07-28T22:07:00.000-08:002014-07-28T22:08:03.037-08:00Akendengue – Sarraounia (1986)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIW69UNUxZXwGZ1jW3sYBl4v1jrBfVELMWhpjrIuOuoxdpWntIrTEWkfvNtmsasxnbXtIGRHV4Iatv981DvMqBV57zKe00o5j-rpS1jWRl0WzZDHIyGJx7r4KkFne4UdHwWetGSrMN0U/s1600/Sarraounia+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIW69UNUxZXwGZ1jW3sYBl4v1jrBfVELMWhpjrIuOuoxdpWntIrTEWkfvNtmsasxnbXtIGRHV4Iatv981DvMqBV57zKe00o5j-rpS1jWRl0WzZDHIyGJx7r4KkFne4UdHwWetGSrMN0U/s1600/Sarraounia+front.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
Reflecting on the nearly thirty years that have passed since this record was issued, it is shocking to realize how profoundly the world has changed. While we endeavor to preserve forgotten music from that era, I fear we have been less successful conserving the spirit of the day, when the culture of rebellion and revolution was vibrant. Indeed, even in the (many) months since I have been able to contribute here, the state of the world has altered dramatically.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e06666;">Sarraounia</span> is the seminal anti-colonial movie from the great Mauritanian director, <span style="color: #e06666;">Med Hondo</span>. Who better to provide the music for a liberation movie than <span style="color: #e06666;">Pierre Akendengue</span>, whose entire repertoire is filled with liberty?<br />
<br />
Like most soundtracks, there is some repetition with versions for different scenes. This is a short album, and it will be a short introduction to it as well, for my time is still considerably limited. If you have not seen the movie, too bad, for it truly may be virtually lost, but at least here you can listen to its voice. Akendengue's beautiful music gives me hope, and that is a good thing.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/kg870cxmct8h5aw/Akendengue-Sarraounia.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-25941143401868527592013-12-11T14:36:00.000-09:002013-12-11T14:36:56.601-09:00Clifford Sylvain — Rara Machine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW5Xs36zVMD5mWp-B8Uv3QUrS3tz7fLpsSfQr9jT1XTfGkAiSDSARi8vKQBqWlSZs-q2eHsrksRa7c8gVU2yfsvtL5beeTMKMFDt21Q30QTOg-VJP7s-av1eveALBwLg4e1y4kVP3pig/s1600/Sylvain+-+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW5Xs36zVMD5mWp-B8Uv3QUrS3tz7fLpsSfQr9jT1XTfGkAiSDSARi8vKQBqWlSZs-q2eHsrksRa7c8gVU2yfsvtL5beeTMKMFDt21Q30QTOg-VJP7s-av1eveALBwLg4e1y4kVP3pig/s320/Sylvain+-+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The first Haitian record I posted remains one of the most popular grooves on this site, and I expect this dynamic record to equally excite. This first album from what would become the band <span style="color: #e06666;">Rara Machine</span>, this record begins with a bang. Keyboards and percussion sets it up before the bass drops, and then <span style="color: #e06666;">Clifford Sylvain</span> rides the rhythms with his fine singing. Not all the six songs on this album are as irresistible as "Palé Avem," but it is a very solid <i>rara</i> workout from a prodigious musical family.<br />
<br />
My posts are destined to be sporadic for an indeterminate while, as I am in a transition, one that requires my entire focus. Until the next time, then:<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/22j4mrseqyq8frr/Clifford%20Sylvain.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-47052756537722834672013-08-28T11:43:00.000-08:002013-08-28T11:43:47.548-08:00Mahlathini — Ejerusalem Siyakhona (1988)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_xmgeClSQjUeZV56ENT2ZCwKnUApcMuWTL7CDIdYAlGWeAvptb80OJ5NQX6rREF71NkZ5mE5HEszwr1ir7n3AmoO2y1oc_QHivTb6ifp7PQqDM59o8PuVgx2S6c11x8PWZAbL-sqGbM/s1600/Mahlathini+Ejerusalem+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_xmgeClSQjUeZV56ENT2ZCwKnUApcMuWTL7CDIdYAlGWeAvptb80OJ5NQX6rREF71NkZ5mE5HEszwr1ir7n3AmoO2y1oc_QHivTb6ifp7PQqDM59o8PuVgx2S6c11x8PWZAbL-sqGbM/s320/Mahlathini+Ejerusalem+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The confluence of popular music and religion has been a fecund terrain around the world, but nowhere as danceable as in African music, and in South African gospel in particular (consider <a href="http://www.sternsmusic.com/disk_info/CDBMG3000" target="_blank">Pure Gold</a>, for example). This relatively obscure record from <span style="color: #e06666;">Mahlathini</span> reveals its holy intent on the cover, and the fervent singing on the vinyl is right in line. Recorded before his reunion with the original <span style="color: #e06666;">Mahotella Queens</span> for the massively popular <i><span style="color: #e06666;">Thokozile</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #e06666;">Paris-Soweto</span></i> albums, the dogma on this record is delivered over the characteristic thumping <i>mbaqanga</i> produced by <span style="color: #e06666;">West Nkosi</span>. Produced in 1986 by Gallo Records, this 1988 pressing was released on Celluloid in the U$ to capitalize on the success of the Mahlathini/ Mahotella Queens records. Immune to the Christian messages because of my ignorance of the Zulu language, I am content to immerse myself in the upbeat music and the wonderful singing.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/24ao5fo1f9ymdbo/Mahlathini-Ejerusalem.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-78685757607996972152013-08-23T00:30:00.000-08:002013-08-23T00:30:01.843-08:00Al Lirvat et son Trio Antillais Wabap - Biguine Wabap (1977)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DXVaw9l2OcY9y514pEogMew0Z0aSMJH2gzcGddza9LSboAI9sKCrfO5k9KK8uJ0RucpdJ5tpB1kZzzQsgtthSve4pme9z5X32knTP37V5u1V9Q4OWfqLqKUN53L4fshn2tHeZ-g3KvI/s1600/Beguine+Wabap+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DXVaw9l2OcY9y514pEogMew0Z0aSMJH2gzcGddza9LSboAI9sKCrfO5k9KK8uJ0RucpdJ5tpB1kZzzQsgtthSve4pme9z5X32knTP37V5u1V9Q4OWfqLqKUN53L4fshn2tHeZ-g3KvI/s320/Beguine+Wabap+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The talented trombone player and band leader <span style="color: #e06666;">Al Lirvat</span> was born in Guadeloupe in 1916, but spent most of his life in France. Immersed in the rich jazz culture of Paris, he became a fixture in the nightclub scene. Inspired by seeing Dizzy Gillespie in the 1950s, as he explained in <a href="http://www.rfimusique.com/musiquefr/articles/060/article_14594.asp" target="_blank">this 2003 interview</a> at the age of 87, he decided to fuse the traditional beguine of his homeland with bebop. The result was <i>beguine wabap</i>, and this album serves as a perfect definition.<br />
<br />
Rich in percussion and suffused with jazz improvisation, listening with headphones can place you in a cabaret. Lirvat lamented that his invention did not become massively popular as dance music, like zouk, but it is just fine music from a bygone age. I think I bought this record for its wonderful cover photo. I was not disappointed.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/29m9i63fz7frlds/Al_Lirvat_-_Biguine_Wabap.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-4197231538522095152013-08-19T12:41:00.001-08:002013-08-27T15:41:39.793-08:00Review: Afrobeating Myself Sensible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">Last May I had the luck and privilege to be in Seattle to see the wonderful musical <a href="http://www.felaonbroadway.com/" target="_blank">Fela!</a>, during its short run there and, indeed and alas, one of its last performances. I was reminded that despite personality traits like egoism and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">misogyny, which many people find repugnant, Fela was rebellion incarnate. He used his creative genius to attack repressive forces at every opportunity, using words to beat the oppressors and beats to animate the oppressed. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">During the show I thought about the universality of Fela's messages, and how once it was easy to decry injustices and despotism in <i>other </i>countries, and struggle <i>in solidarity</i> with people elsewhere. Now with an income distribution in the U$ described by a mainstream economics radio program as like those typically found in "third world dictatorships," with urban police forces equipped, trained and deployed as paramilitaries to crack down on peaceful dissent, with unbridled surveillance</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">of every communication that you or I make,</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> by countless cloistered technicians, with municipal and commercial jails filled with pot smokers while corrupt politicians and criminal financiers smoke pot on their yachts, I realize that Fela's many songs apply to </span><i style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">us</i><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S6QyhJuXW5XICxttg45aBwlX18EZqG-VtswzJMJ3Y3pWXToEaNCFlHnpahShfPHnOWbosV5huD9iHS5BZoc7eWHaRZCMLgPoJ0_CcNC0OHTRuNoWkGK33FkFng6-Bwwihyphenhyphen0DBZljsvY/s1600/9591_623291577686587_1788330960_n_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S6QyhJuXW5XICxttg45aBwlX18EZqG-VtswzJMJ3Y3pWXToEaNCFlHnpahShfPHnOWbosV5huD9iHS5BZoc7eWHaRZCMLgPoJ0_CcNC0OHTRuNoWkGK33FkFng6-Bwwihyphenhyphen0DBZljsvY/s320/9591_623291577686587_1788330960_n_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">Imagine my interest upon homecoming to find </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">Femi Kuti's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> angry new release </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><i>No Place Like My Dream</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> waiting for me. Songs like the opening </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">"Nothing to Show for It"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> begin a series of songs that describe how the world's masses are crushed under the weight of corruption, theft and poverty, with little hope for a better life. "When you see what is going on in the world today, you will agree that poverty is winning the day," begins </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">"The World is Changing."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">Femi's </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">dream is for peace and prosperity, as it is for most of humanity, but there is no place for his dream in a world where "</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">great men" keep that dream for themselves only, through "corruption and oppression."</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">The outrage is clothed in urgent Afrobeat, packaged into radio friendly chunks that are easily distributed. Lovely, authentic Afrobeat that seems to channel Fela's challenge to authority. There are no long, symphonic songs — Femi wants his message to be immediate and concise. Yet with unity of theme and varied textures, the whole album is effectively a suite, though not at all sweet. One of the most satisfying songs musically is </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"One Man Show,"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> which is like a </span></span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">mini-Fela composition that urges revolution. Take any three or four Fela albums and distill them, and you would have something approximating this tough, important release. Perhaps this is Femi Kuti's clearest statement and musical vision, but it, like his visage, is uncannily reminiscent of his father.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWxxfIB4YFryRBj7xyYtYOAaOHnrRCYMpMgbEayvh_zlbT0yDNPWEtDOz9PKratP9VAFgPGW1BTHCXC2l7aaghgC126oIPX1secwb3m9Tk7Y8XVSopRvkrLHVspl9yLQ65DhdTdHoUnA/s1600/SEUN_KUTI-mini400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWxxfIB4YFryRBj7xyYtYOAaOHnrRCYMpMgbEayvh_zlbT0yDNPWEtDOz9PKratP9VAFgPGW1BTHCXC2l7aaghgC126oIPX1secwb3m9Tk7Y8XVSopRvkrLHVspl9yLQ65DhdTdHoUnA/s320/SEUN_KUTI-mini400x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">Much as the National Security Agency (NSA) uses one email or text message or whatever to begin tracing the infinity of connections that are obliquely linked to it, I used my monitored internet connection to order a genetically related album from </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Seun Kuti</span><span style="color: #999999;">, released a couple of years ago. Femi's younger brother is leading the venerable </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Egypt 80</span><span style="color: #999999;"> band on his excellent </span><span style="color: #e06666;"><i>From Africa With Fury: Rise</i></span><span style="color: #999999;">, on the Knitting Factory label like his brother's new one.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">The album opens with spare instrumentation that establishes a furious rhythm until robust horns enter, along with sirens. </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"African Soldier"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is an indictment of self-perpetuating militaries that use their armed power to secure economic and political control. </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"You Can Run"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> incorporates a wonderful funky beat and its own fury. One great song follows another, including the powerful title track </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Rise."</span><span style="color: #999999;"> This track begins with a slower rhythm and a lament similar to Femi's, "Our ear don full for your words, Our stomach all empty," before settling into an instrumental introduction that gives Seun space for a dreamy sax solo. It develops into a plea to rise up against the multinational companies extracting resources and leaving poverty, and "all of the African rulers."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">While </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">From Africa With Fury: Rise </i><span style="font-size: 14px;">is available on vinyl, I am glad to have the digital version because I already would have worn out the grooves on a recording I have listened to so many times in two weeks. The tenor of this album is a bit different than Femi's; both decry an unjust world, but Femi's reflects anger and despair while Seun's exhorts rebellion. Perhaps that is the difference between generations that I can feel personally. My only regret with </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">Fury</i><span style="font-size: 14px;"> is that the songs could be longer. Sometimes they just seem to be hitting the groove when they end, though maybe I am just subconsciously expecting a Fela epic.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM6ky0xH2dSlgo6ZT39GEBaJzjYBERXwTeI98tkIqltOGWBFmyll3UxCbWO4qEgmuqsOCX0x775rmAVBhECjj1cgwB103l8CT-dAYGvW1MXdLKpj3Dz6D4XEstV2gcO4tstdhuRcFFUU/s1600/Allen+Afro-Disco+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLM6ky0xH2dSlgo6ZT39GEBaJzjYBERXwTeI98tkIqltOGWBFmyll3UxCbWO4qEgmuqsOCX0x775rmAVBhECjj1cgwB103l8CT-dAYGvW1MXdLKpj3Dz6D4XEstV2gcO4tstdhuRcFFUU/s320/Allen+Afro-Disco+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">So to satisfy my need I queue </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Afro Disco Beat</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">, and let it roll. For a number of reasons I have thought about <a href="http://www.byebyebeat.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Beat</a> magazine frequently lately, and while I miss writing for it, I realize that I depended on it to find essential music, and that nothing has taken its place since it stopped publishing. Or perhaps it was just my life at the time that caused me to miss this great 2007 release. </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Tony Allen</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is, of course, the drumming genius who helped Fela give shape to Afrobeat, and this compilation of recordings from the 1970s demonstrates not only unity with contemporary Fela albums, but also Allen's individual vision that he has continued to develop over four succeeding decades.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 14px;">This lavish, two-disc set from VampiSoul is full of extended instrumentals that give Allen lots of room for drum solos, and while many tracks feature his soulful vocal improvisations, it is the beat that is crucial. The album compiles four Tony Allen records from 1975-1979, the first three, and in my opinion strongest, were made with Fela's </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: 14px;">Africa 70</span><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 14px;"> band led by the master himself. </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: 14px;">"Afro-Disco Beat"</span><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 14px;"> is a wonderful, twelve-minute instrumental featuring Fela on sax, but my favorite is the splendid </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: 14px;">"No Accommodation For Lagos."</span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> Beginning with a soft conversation, it ramps up the percussion and the horns kick in, and then a discordant keyboard chop punctuates the Afrobeat, providing an irresistible hook. This essential album is full of hooks and some groovy wisdom, but it appears to be deleted from the VampiSoul catalog. So if you do not own it </span></span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">already (and you should), hurry because there do not seem to be many copies available.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51GX4ehaBGdOCLDxR7eh-0FVAHFGXhgArY5hCY8ewgXwtvdbD35IJ44n0GlZuiK9LnVR1gZFqQJyBxdPXxBAUB9PfYNQn4U1gdsPV2EApxQGE1I1rlPb_f0D5Z5NEPLdpc1Fi7nApKkw/s1600/RH_FELA_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51GX4ehaBGdOCLDxR7eh-0FVAHFGXhgArY5hCY8ewgXwtvdbD35IJ44n0GlZuiK9LnVR1gZFqQJyBxdPXxBAUB9PfYNQn4U1gdsPV2EApxQGE1I1rlPb_f0D5Z5NEPLdpc1Fi7nApKkw/s320/RH_FELA_cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">Remixing classic recordings is not a new concept, and Fela has been remixed more than many artists. When </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Red Hot + Fela</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was announced, I was curious because one of my most-played albums is another Red Hot charity Fela remix, 2002's </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Red Hot + Riot</span><span style="color: #999999;">. A new remix for a new generation? Perhaps. Certainly rap is much more in the forefront of this collection, and for long stretches it can be hard to find Fela, apart from words. Another remix of a master came my way this week, the son's remix of Bob Marley's <i>Legend</i> album, and it left me cold. Too often the subject gets lost in remixes, buried beneath the musical egos that pay token homage while strutting their stuff.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">This Red Hot begins promisingly with </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Baloji & L'Orchestre de la Katuba</span><span style="color: #999999;"> taking a stab at </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Buy Africa,"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> but after the following </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Lady"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> I began to lose interest as electronics took over and I forgot there was any Fela there. The version of </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Sorrow Tears and Blood"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was so </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">somnolent that I almost had to stop driving: Who would entrust that searing song of outrage to the </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Kronos Quartet</span><span style="color: #999999;">? It's not all bad, though; I liked several songs like the creative version of </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"ITT", </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">the sultry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">and, well. . . maybe that is it. Maybe you would be better off searching for a used copy of the original Red Hot Fela remix, which is long out-of-print, for that is a true masterpiece worthy of the "African original," as Fela dubs himself in </span><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Gentleman."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-66845953599037008582013-07-04T11:58:00.000-08:002013-07-06T08:05:08.276-08:00Alhaji Bai Konte — Kora Melodies from the Republic of The Gambia, West Africa (1973)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXeh_8bPv-mVUNVdKveWYl3bWs3F5Ng3ZBAcorgnER6Ktf3PKzzy-R8-w0OtvisKIMSpEb2wd5wiDLWLvQomXtD07Np4efySQ93bX2d3lGmUsoP1R6a5CBJwM5FZrj5flMJkeylw_aaQ/s1280/Bai+Konte+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXeh_8bPv-mVUNVdKveWYl3bWs3F5Ng3ZBAcorgnER6Ktf3PKzzy-R8-w0OtvisKIMSpEb2wd5wiDLWLvQomXtD07Np4efySQ93bX2d3lGmUsoP1R6a5CBJwM5FZrj5flMJkeylw_aaQ/s320/Bai+Konte+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Rounder Records first foray into African music came with this record, released in 1973 to coincide with <span style="color: #e06666;">Bai Konte</span>'s concert tour, thought to be the premier solo <i>kora</i> performances in North America. A respected kora master in his own country, this recording, made by Marc Pevar, caught Konte at the peak of his career, a short decade before his death.<br />
<br />
Most of the songs on the album draw from the traditional repertoire, but there also are a couple of short Konte originals. Though the sleeve notes give few details about the recordings, they appear to have been made primarily in a home setting; crickets can be heard on a few tracks. One praise song is performed by the Konte family for a benefactor, possibly in that person's compound. Reading the sleeve notes, which I recommend (included in the download folder), makes one realize how tentative its release was: Song notes try to relate the music to other, more familiar music already available in record shops, like flamenco and blues, foreshadowing the "world music" marketing push that occurred a decade later.<br />
<br />
I present this historic and enjoyable album to offer some peace, in contrast with the patriotic hype that permeates this weekend (and era).<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/c2getolykq5oga3/Alhaji_Bai_Konte.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Here is a lovely tribute film, also done by Marc Pevar, which gives much information about this seminal musician and his culture. If you go to the actual <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IJbeeckNdk&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">YouTube page</a>, Pevar discusses Konte's time in the U$ in detail.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9IJbeeckNdk" width="600"></iframe></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-18853360900406228312013-06-20T00:00:00.000-08:002013-06-20T00:00:06.541-08:00Big Youth – The Chanting Dread Inna Fine Style (1982)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFlWLCO4PULHFBKusyR2A_P5ZXPcJ8JAZkeeFdUgrKQqL-9SGZ8MvOTDErdZ3LxU5dAXWfwwbbjDaY5b0tA33C-MSfCisa5Bwhyphenhyphen_g0qb9xQw9C4cxMUUh8k1znTgO7B8hIlFyLpt1An4/s1600/Big+Youth+Chanting+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFlWLCO4PULHFBKusyR2A_P5ZXPcJ8JAZkeeFdUgrKQqL-9SGZ8MvOTDErdZ3LxU5dAXWfwwbbjDaY5b0tA33C-MSfCisa5Bwhyphenhyphen_g0qb9xQw9C4cxMUUh8k1znTgO7B8hIlFyLpt1An4/s320/Big+Youth+Chanting+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the most distinctive voices in roots reggae was that of iconoclastic deejay <span style="color: #e06666;">Big Youth</span>. Before its deep submergence in Studio One material, Heartbeat Records drew on Big Youth for several of its first releases. Chanting Dread is the second, and like the others, it benefits from the participation of the cream of reggae musicians. The sometimes spare and always crucial rhythms are masterfully ridden by the vocal improviser.<br />
<br />
This collection compiles singles recorded in the 1970s by Big Youth's Negusa Negast Records, but it was released at a time when his popularity had waned significantly in Jamaica. Thirty years later, it's great to step back into the "golden jubilee" of reggae.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/qsr82nolwq4ccm8/Big_Youth_-_Chanting_Inna_Fine_Style.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-47669159152523721502013-06-17T00:00:00.000-08:002013-06-17T00:00:05.201-08:00José "Zeca" Afonso – Cantigas do Maio (1971)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfvd8uq09-PEb_VdBv5yVJDrvglJYZfRwa-ZC8q2UAyNktYJD8EbE7J78Vom2YZe0qBNVg0NehVoaUCHTMe6vI_hvOrU-6zXxd052LcAjdXAdNXO5IyO0s1btFplVxUGdS8h-BhIzH_k/s1600/Jose+Afonso+Cantigas+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfvd8uq09-PEb_VdBv5yVJDrvglJYZfRwa-ZC8q2UAyNktYJD8EbE7J78Vom2YZe0qBNVg0NehVoaUCHTMe6vI_hvOrU-6zXxd052LcAjdXAdNXO5IyO0s1btFplVxUGdS8h-BhIzH_k/s320/Jose+Afonso+Cantigas+front.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Zeca Afonso</span> continues as one of the most beloved Portuguese singers, decades after his death in 1987. During his long career, Zeca's music was the poetic expression of his revolutionary politics. Beginning his career as a <i>fado</i> singer, his music benefited from years living in both Angola and Mozambique, both Portuguese colonies at the time. Zeca's politics, already forged by involvement in both student and workers movements in Portugal, evolved with his observations of brutal colonial rule in Mozambique, as well as the incipient armed rebellion led by FRELIMO.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><i>Cantigas do Maio</i></span> is considered Zeca's best record, and it arguably is his most important. The B-side begins with "<span style="color: #e06666;">Grândola, Vila Morena</span>," the song that became the anthem of the revolutionary movement to overthrow the fascist, Salizarian dictatorship that had ruled Portugal for decades. It also was used in April 1974 to coordinate the revolutionary military forces that overthrew the fascist government, in a practically bloodless coup popularly known as the Carnation Revolution: the song was broadcast on the national radio to signal the beginning of action.<br />
<br />
While "Grândola, Vila Morena" is iconic, all of the songs on this album are powerful and memorable. Zeca's unique voice was perfectly suited for his activist role. It's a voice desperately needed now, in every language, to contend with pan-global repressive forces.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/5mzlpclels1e19i/Jose_Afonso_-_Cantigas_do_Maio.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a> Then act.</div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-23781341372953253712013-06-14T19:56:00.000-08:002013-06-14T19:59:17.527-08:00Le Commandant Tchico - Full Steam Ahead! (1985)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJkOnQ1-q5sRLvnPSg7rVG7SmGVdP1bz0_8TE9IxaxyYrahewM6AYPbSldQAODPz2ok08BEhSkxG14HWU4Hxi2_Co8CGlVIsH8A17ei_zKe1qMtsJTjuBc6F5iB9KzEa01482v0bCNBQ/s1600/Tchico+Full+Steam+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJkOnQ1-q5sRLvnPSg7rVG7SmGVdP1bz0_8TE9IxaxyYrahewM6AYPbSldQAODPz2ok08BEhSkxG14HWU4Hxi2_Co8CGlVIsH8A17ei_zKe1qMtsJTjuBc6F5iB9KzEa01482v0bCNBQ/s320/Tchico+Full+Steam+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e06666;"><i>Full Steam Ahead!</i></span> describes my life pretty well at the moment, and this album from <span style="color: #e06666;">Tchico</span> is one that fits the rhythm of activity that has kept me offline, most of the time. Straight-ahead <i>soukous</i> at the right time is the perfect music to get you off your butt and doing things. Dancing would be good, but that will have to wait for me.<br />
<br />
I'm at a brief pause in what has been and will be an enormous undertaking to relocate after many years in Alaska. So over the next few days I hope to post a couple more choice albums-in-waiting. I'll also be reviewing the new, important album from <span style="color: #e06666;">Femi Kuti</span>. I received it just days after seeing the fantastic performance <span style="color: #cc0000;">Fela!</span> in Seattle. Google "Fela on Broadway" and if the performance is within hundreds of miles, go see it: Brilliance. In the meanwhile, rock to this fine album that helped ignite the worldwide "world music" market in the mid-80s.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/nwb4hwqq4u7r6or/Tchico_-_Full_Steam_Ahead.zip" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-42440658328828319992013-05-01T14:31:00.000-08:002013-05-01T14:34:10.214-08:00Review: Orchestra Super Mazembe – Mazembe @45RPM Vol. 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6EsoICE2NhI4oLVaAzBFqwrKS_PB5SCN_XfXzPsSum3MliDYB1jvMj9YLFasWMsZvLbYE_HL_-S3e2r0levjP5gBBvuzA1u93jS9uyllg4wa-ImZOG11qeyNik_Zk3x3bEH0eCx4nlk/s1600/Mazembe+@45rpm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6EsoICE2NhI4oLVaAzBFqwrKS_PB5SCN_XfXzPsSum3MliDYB1jvMj9YLFasWMsZvLbYE_HL_-S3e2r0levjP5gBBvuzA1u93jS9uyllg4wa-ImZOG11qeyNik_Zk3x3bEH0eCx4nlk/s320/Mazembe+@45rpm.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #999999;">My knowledge and appreciation of African music has been tremendously enriched over the past few years by comrades in the blogosphere who tirelessly search for elusive treasures that appeared only on 45 rpm singles. Singles were much more affordable for consumers than albums, in Africa as elsewhere, and they also were a way for a band to quickly record and release hot new songs to waiting fans. Some really great music </span><i style="color: #999999;">only</i><span style="color: #999999;"> appeared on 45s, and much of that has disappeared.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;">As rich and valuable a reservoir for lost, important music as the dispersed internet library is, it is a great pleasure when a passionate music expert collects a bunch of pristine sound and publishes it. Doug Paterson has had a fruitful relationship with Stern's for years, having produced many wonderful albums including one I reviewed <a href="http://rhythmconnection.org/?p=519" target="_blank">on this site</a> nearly three years ago, as well as last year's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana;">Vijana Jazz</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"> release <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2012/01/review-vijana-jazz-band-koka-koka-sex.html" target="_blank">here</a>. This new </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana;">Orchestra Super Mazembe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"> release is, in a word, spectacular. Check this first track:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<iframe frameborder="no" height="140" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F78080011&color=5800ff&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false" width="100%"></iframe>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #999999;">One of the premiere Congolese bands operating in Kenya during the '70s and '80s, Super Mazembe was immensely popular. A dozen years ago Earthworks issued a compilation called </span><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Giants of East Africa</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">, which remarkably is still in print and available. Continued access to that recording reflects continuing demand; it's easily explained: There is something quite magical about how Congolese rumba evolved in Kenya, and also in Tanzania, to include new nuances. Guitars influenced by <i>benga</i> and other Kenyan styles, </span></span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">different </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">rhythms: there is a certain lightness to this rumba that makes it extremely infectious.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">The nine songs (over 77.5 minutes) collected on this album come from 45s recorded in the late '70s and the early '80s; as the liner notes describe, each song has a four-part structure allowing for revving up the dance rhythms, and for various solos. These tracks, which originally spanned the A and B sides of a 45, are happily spliced together, allowing the majesty of each composition to flow freely. I have no trouble recommending this release wholeheartedly; in fact, I have been playing it frequently since it graced my mailbox.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">You can find inferior digital copies available at the usual music download stores, iTunes and Amazon, but actual CDs, with all the important liner notes, are available in Europe or from Europe. Not, to date, in the U$A. I also noticed that there is a Volume 2 on the way. I can't wait!!</span></div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-43831852982447573162013-04-26T08:48:00.000-08:002013-04-26T09:11:20.015-08:00Comrade Chinx – Ngorimba (1988)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kBAcqYVAKEbeWMar_pPDaVRMqHxGDVRkcUUOPxyganA9Ya10wSCt1QHu_hYSsC6wblHEvsjH5Bl-C0faVha-R4l_15guDDnRkJQFFE34EtB9XXql85dttO1N7EmMShqrLyt8QvVAjfA/s1600/Chinx+Ngorimba+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kBAcqYVAKEbeWMar_pPDaVRMqHxGDVRkcUUOPxyganA9Ya10wSCt1QHu_hYSsC6wblHEvsjH5Bl-C0faVha-R4l_15guDDnRkJQFFE34EtB9XXql85dttO1N7EmMShqrLyt8QvVAjfA/s320/Chinx+Ngorimba+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After fronting the successful band Ilanga, <span style="color: #ea9999;">Comrade Chinx</span> went solo for a short time before fading out of Zimbabwe's music scene, as I wrote about when I posted his <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2011/03/comrade-chinx-early-hits-1990.html" target="_blank"><i>Early Hits</i> lp</a> a couple of years ago. <span style="color: #ea9999;"><i>Ngorimba</i></span> is powered by dual <i>mbiras</i>, played by Robert and Thomas Ndadziira, as well as a thumping bass line. The title track was a hit, and it is indeed one of the nicest <i>chimurenga</i> songs I have heard. Chinx was motivated by zest for the revolution, and his choral roots and political fervor give every song earnest energy. I think the whole album is great, and I hope it positively powers your weekend.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?57pq3odoqt5qj8w" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-19283866184470357682013-04-23T16:51:00.000-08:002013-04-23T16:51:15.232-08:00Zao – Ancien Combattant (1984)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zk5hNjXqJBwk7wCAdH8txcNTSXL8xQKe3I4AP4w_BlwXiNmzhJ9sCdml8uCDRIwK1v8LyL0uOxKVL2uNUq0S081PURtRaqs4I0nunlcQHlmqASy2taFX78udahYwCnu8OPbBKe1B9O8/s1600/Zao+Ancien+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zk5hNjXqJBwk7wCAdH8txcNTSXL8xQKe3I4AP4w_BlwXiNmzhJ9sCdml8uCDRIwK1v8LyL0uOxKVL2uNUq0S081PURtRaqs4I0nunlcQHlmqASy2taFX78udahYwCnu8OPbBKe1B9O8/s320/Zao+Ancien+front.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
At a time when revved up <i>soukous</i> was the Congolese component of the burgeoning "world music" marketing phenomenon, and when two generations of rumba bands were battling for popular hegemony in the Congo, <span style="color: #ea9999;">Casimir "Zao" Zoba</span> released this album that opens with a musical call-to-arms parody. More folkloric than soukous, the anti-war title track "Ancien Combattant" nevertheless became a hit.<br />
<br />
Zao's songs addressed social issues with humor, and the music reminds me slightly of Gabon's Akendengue, at least in the sense that it is not formulaic, relying on pop norms. Zao charts his own path, and I am happy to follow it. We'll meet again, down this path, for another installment.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?kic1tk4awj2nks2" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-84772875086888770522013-04-18T09:44:00.003-08:002013-04-18T09:45:12.649-08:00Ismael Lô - Xalat (1984)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf9tK1YfWktn3aP1YUhTSSrYNFKCHtOIdYROOMw-I1_eS_LNFbsqS5CkP8DLCNNfKUDOu6dPrZyB74_4uv2H-XpwSwUmcm4Ty10-msn3f_avm7Kl0izqBAAvWCl1hIeUVk2Knrcn9jaU/s1600/Ismael+Lo+Xalat+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf9tK1YfWktn3aP1YUhTSSrYNFKCHtOIdYROOMw-I1_eS_LNFbsqS5CkP8DLCNNfKUDOu6dPrZyB74_4uv2H-XpwSwUmcm4Ty10-msn3f_avm7Kl0izqBAAvWCl1hIeUVk2Knrcn9jaU/s320/Ismael+Lo+Xalat+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After leaving Super Diamono, <span style="color: #e06666;">Ismael Lô</span> recorded a series of excellent albums that demonstrate his strength as a songwriter and arranger. They also exhibit both his prowess with <i>mbalax</i>, as well as his wonderful, soulful singing. <span style="color: #e06666;">Xalat</span> is the first of those albums, and the cover photo reveals another unique aspect of Lô's contribution to Senegalese pop, one that augments the soulfulness: his harmonica.<br />
<br />
Today's post reflects the breaking of a record-cleaning bottleneck that has limited my digitizing recently. This is a good way to resume.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?jw9xc4ljjjr7mj9" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-89011111394292864822013-04-02T11:53:00.000-08:002013-04-02T11:53:28.968-08:00Kasongo Band - Gejo (1990)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BlcjehV1mYkVeO1ps7Ws4j8r6QDKqLv6qbtkMaYu4XJCZsEi-ruLqOXJJgHZgBKQY6IZe4qoKEfHcI_8xGI-gHAW15h0hyEPaSAm631zBg7LjVZgcJ2EJTDkNE-1pk8Vgtg7N5Qhglc/s1600/Kasongo+Band+Gejo+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BlcjehV1mYkVeO1ps7Ws4j8r6QDKqLv6qbtkMaYu4XJCZsEi-ruLqOXJJgHZgBKQY6IZe4qoKEfHcI_8xGI-gHAW15h0hyEPaSAm631zBg7LjVZgcJ2EJTDkNE-1pk8Vgtg7N5Qhglc/s320/Kasongo+Band+Gejo+front.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
Here is another splendid recording of <i>chimurenga</i> from Zimbabwe's golden treasure chest. The <span style="color: #e06666;">Kasongo Band</span> formed in exile in Tanzania during the liberation war, where other East and Central African music styles influenced their music. During an extended guitar break in the last song, for example, a band member invokes the Congolese animation "<i>kwassa kwassa</i>." While the harmonious singing is solid throughout this album, it's the intertwined guitars that propel the music at breakneck speed, making it impossible <i>not to</i> kwassa kwassa.<br />
<br />
The band name on the back of the sleeve is <span style="color: #e06666;">Knowledge Kunenyathi and Kassongo Band</span>, highlighting a leader of the band who struck out on his own shortly after this record was cut. I suggest putting it into your library, turning it up loud, and then going to the useful <a href="http://www.embargo.ca/zim/artists/bios/kasongo/" target="_blank">Music of Zimbabwe site</a> for a little more information about the band.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?16lz0h5e1wh8mae" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-38750188246687588612013-03-27T15:26:00.003-08:002013-03-27T15:26:59.497-08:00Bonga - Kualuka Kuetu (1983)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo0xwQaqAjtRoJBOJcs7kLgjFZmLlu9m8TCvK-PsJ33nKwgCThSKlczuJHL8lly51NLOME-O7M01ZlmG2kc5mOInM0b6_utWM6cNC8rk5g5kx9bu82-QuiLnk-n0MDbo_pVkZaMEfVCE/s1600/Bonga-Kualuka+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPo0xwQaqAjtRoJBOJcs7kLgjFZmLlu9m8TCvK-PsJ33nKwgCThSKlczuJHL8lly51NLOME-O7M01ZlmG2kc5mOInM0b6_utWM6cNC8rk5g5kx9bu82-QuiLnk-n0MDbo_pVkZaMEfVCE/s320/Bonga-Kualuka+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The sun is flooding through the windows, and one might imagine that the palm trees behind <span style="color: #e06666;">Bonga</span> on the album sleeve are just in reach. Spring is indeed here, though the two feet of snow over the weekend and this morning's -18° F thermometer reading have dampened any enthusiasm for its arrival. Still, the fluffy white stuff, the work in moving it out of the way, and the abrupt cold have kept me off my bike, letting me focus on music and a few other important things.<br />
<br />
Listening to <span style="color: #e06666;">Bonga</span> is always such a pleasure. Weaving Angolan folk music with influences from other lusophone countries' cultures. Threads from Cape Verde, Brazil and Portugal abound, but where do they originate? There has been such coevolution of music that those threads are found in the music of each of those countries.<br />
<br />
This album, from relatively early in Bonga's long career, alternates between ballads and dance-oriented <i>sembas</i>, with a few surprises. The <i>birimbau</i> in "Pió-Pió" is delicious. Listening to this great, uplifting album as I write, I realize it might not be THAT cold outside. Time to ride!<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?gr46u6xb54al2g9" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
PS. This is the third Bonga album I have had the pleasure to digitize. The others can be found <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/search/label/Angola" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-31163859249519153952013-03-10T15:00:00.002-08:002013-03-10T15:00:43.247-08:00Oku & AK7 - Pressure Drop (1984)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL-vdTaKMfSz1RJODwWA8wHoCivMc6fbCXL0xnezes1KR5jViPt92SWPTrkXDiJlKe8_QuokHQOIk5rh-xKbL18HA8aSrQR70Y-QkeeHYTnyzXZLUcSAwgoMuOClsw2__rWY7_R-aoao/s1600/Oku+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL-vdTaKMfSz1RJODwWA8wHoCivMc6fbCXL0xnezes1KR5jViPt92SWPTrkXDiJlKe8_QuokHQOIk5rh-xKbL18HA8aSrQR70Y-QkeeHYTnyzXZLUcSAwgoMuOClsw2__rWY7_R-aoao/s320/Oku+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When I read <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://wrldsrv.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">WorldService's</a></span> eloquent, <a href="http://wrldsrv.blogspot.com/2013/02/lios.html" target="_blank">recent post</a> describing the surreal politics in Italy, without even mentioning the sublime and sordid fiasco in the clerical state-within-a-state, and depicting corruption in the Netherlands, where politicians in bed with financiers are fleecing the ordinary taxpayer, it made me think of this country, the U$A. How normal, how absolutely mundane, in comparison. Here our enlightened government has a very hard time deciding whether it has the right to murder its own citizens on our own soil. Whether or not it is okay to have a drone bomb a cafe to kill a U$ citizen who may be reading something objectionable online, or chatting with relatives in Pakistan via Skype. You know, those imminent-threat characters. Collateral deaths (deaths of the innocent) are regrettable, of course. Executing people anywhere else in the world is fine, naturally, so be careful who you are sitting next too! Our eminent president already has assumed authority to kill anyone he deems to be a threat to the U$, theoretically even someone who may have voted for him, believing he would bring a more humanitarian approach to the world's most powerful office. What gives him this right? Legal arguments that are classified and therefore hidden from the citizenry.<br />
<br />
As I contemplated the gloomy state of reality, I happened to digitize this record of scorching dub poetry by the "grandfather" of the art, <span style="color: #e06666;">Oku Onuora</span>. His first poem "A Slum Dweller Declares," written from prison, begins:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We wan fi free, free from misery, we want to live like human beings.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That powerful poem is followed by ten more uncompromising ones, mostly set to tough riddims and tight instrumentals. Anyone familiar with the music of Linton Kwesi Johnson will feel at home in this rich, provocative environment. A hard life informs Oku's cry for justice, and passion drips from his voice. In these days of callous, imperial governments around the world, and exquisitely manufactured apathy among entire populations of consumers, this music has never seemed more essential. Where are today's militants? Not the ones motivated by delusional belief systems, but those seeking justice?</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?jwpk924kdttnx2p" target="_blank">Listen!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-7377039137284643432013-03-06T10:06:00.001-09:002013-03-06T10:06:26.590-09:00Pepe Kalle & Empire Bakuba - Le Tube De Vos Vacances (1990)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEjhzlNsLDwap_rdyn-R4apnC4AMnTrQzRaFLm0qQ8xR4yWmOpC0qYuhvN3tvIX0SXDMLzsZHCMDtaLwzG-e7nGpeSv9C7XV_MbzCHDpH5DbSQ-bCvmfkYz10dgpECIM1GupLfREhr90/s1600/Pepe+Kalle+&+Bakuba+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEjhzlNsLDwap_rdyn-R4apnC4AMnTrQzRaFLm0qQ8xR4yWmOpC0qYuhvN3tvIX0SXDMLzsZHCMDtaLwzG-e7nGpeSv9C7XV_MbzCHDpH5DbSQ-bCvmfkYz10dgpECIM1GupLfREhr90/s320/Pepe+Kalle+&+Bakuba+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Are you sitting around, bored? Have some work to do and need something with a kick to get you through it? Or how about music to move your body without thought, which considering the state of the world, is something we all need occasionally?<br />
<br />
Here is a high-octane blast of soukous from one of the style's most dynamic and popular bands, <span style="color: #e06666;">Empire Bakuba</span>, with its great, large-as-life singer <span style="color: #e06666;">Pepe Kalle</span>. The tepid ink was practically wet when I picked this record up in Zimbabwe; it was quite a hit at the time in Bulawayo. If you would prefer the graphics from the Paris release, you can find them at VibesDafrique <a href="http://vibesdafrique.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=3&action=display&thread=1496" target="_blank">here</a> (though the track listing order is different and possibly incorrect on the Paris sleeve).<br />
<br />
I previously posted two other Pepe Kalle albums <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2012/01/pepe-kalle-pon-moun-paka-bouge-1989.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2011/07/pepe-kalle-chante-le-poete-simaro.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but I know, you are after something fresh. Well here it is!<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?w87b5633wuuhg8p" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-13580228343330487062013-02-23T14:09:00.001-09:002013-03-01T13:14:55.754-09:00Jonah Moyo & Devera Nqwena - Taxi Driver (1987)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwf2UZBrQuNf71-H4fy7-29bzBONQeExotGm_E8fgoyTqkc3i6vrsvzU9P4KnxIcUM_bBVAIpwkD0d_LF6fhfuW3sxDwkfHmaiNYV4KDs9WevpjlrOTrXhx8ZPdeFLSOjJkz_psQkkdg/s1600/Taxi+Driver+front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwf2UZBrQuNf71-H4fy7-29bzBONQeExotGm_E8fgoyTqkc3i6vrsvzU9P4KnxIcUM_bBVAIpwkD0d_LF6fhfuW3sxDwkfHmaiNYV4KDs9WevpjlrOTrXhx8ZPdeFLSOjJkz_psQkkdg/s320/Taxi+Driver+front.jpeg" width="317" /></a></div>
During the peak popularity of the <span style="color: #ea9999;">Bhundu Boys</span>, and a few years before the band and his own personal delamination began, <span style="color: #ea9999;">Biggie Tembo</span> lent his endorsement to this British production of <span style="color: #ea9999;">Jonah Moyo & Devera Ngwena</span>. "If there was any group to be where we the Bhundus are, then I would look no further than Devera Ngwena," Biggie proclaims on the back of this album. Unfortunately the band did not achieve the ephemeral international fame of the Bhundus, but its prolific output of infectious dance music made it very popular in Zimbabwe. In 2011 I posted one of Devera Ngwena's later records <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2011/06/jonah-moyo-devera-nqwena-ndabvezera.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hgQXvAmtE3pINDF8XuF2w5ARgGJPPuhQ8RHF6delDNJa7FlAbBu9-T796oC3BluBl4scrYhPEW2PHltjPvE8698U2LeoXgVyeQK6MYGZX3cajzKIfQyuiqSdZw9ArVfWBDOIN2Qbdwk/s1600/TaxiDriver+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hgQXvAmtE3pINDF8XuF2w5ARgGJPPuhQ8RHF6delDNJa7FlAbBu9-T796oC3BluBl4scrYhPEW2PHltjPvE8698U2LeoXgVyeQK6MYGZX3cajzKIfQyuiqSdZw9ArVfWBDOIN2Qbdwk/s320/TaxiDriver+label.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm not sure if this record is a reissue of a 1985 Zimbabwe release, or if it also collects various hits like "Too Cheap" from earlier records. In any case this was a blistering international release, and if you missed it then, you can <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?877ci3rhe17vc6u" target="_blank">enjoy</a> it now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. I processed this sound file on the road and attached the front and back record sleeve images from discogs. If you would like higher resolution scans, <a href="mailto:rhythmconnexion@gmail.com" target="_blank">email</a> me.</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-53012732100515868992013-02-18T10:37:00.000-09:002013-02-24T09:34:22.060-09:00Oliver Mtukudzi - Zvauya Sei? (1986)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSncvqR9ecjGGqoGEPhmlmxqqhKU97guU8ILUBa5gTI38OUnrb61BQy0MLMkpNho6ZMq8lKOtQO05qkbPW9iYzM61uaKY9gtHpOznaTlCVMjzaGg6OQIBp2-pmxUjpVfp51lp1N6-VGYc/s1600/Tuku+Zvauya+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSncvqR9ecjGGqoGEPhmlmxqqhKU97guU8ILUBa5gTI38OUnrb61BQy0MLMkpNho6ZMq8lKOtQO05qkbPW9iYzM61uaKY9gtHpOznaTlCVMjzaGg6OQIBp2-pmxUjpVfp51lp1N6-VGYc/s320/Tuku+Zvauya+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e06666;">Oliver Mtukudzi's</span> rich voice and unique musical style have made him popular throughout the world. "Tuku Music" draws from Shona, Ndebele and South African roots that made it broadly accessible. Wikipedia lists fifty-five albums in Mtukudzi's discography, and many of those from the second half of his career were international CD releases. With his tireless touring and prolific song writing, he became a darling of the world music industry. For awhile the CDs came so frequently that each one seemed routine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEcnIeAQyKz0XxGhh1kbvStQw7FhWvcSNhfbfpy1HGpExUBSKPf8FxGDljn9d-7Kjk9po9Fq1B01QMjzerQEAKXnMjgQoS79imbwebnhS3MYEn5m33YfuJQUVpmMUPjHuHIJOGb19QS0/s1600/Tuku+Zvaiya+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEcnIeAQyKz0XxGhh1kbvStQw7FhWvcSNhfbfpy1HGpExUBSKPf8FxGDljn9d-7Kjk9po9Fq1B01QMjzerQEAKXnMjgQoS79imbwebnhS3MYEn5m33YfuJQUVpmMUPjHuHIJOGb19QS0/s320/Tuku+Zvaiya+label.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This record is from relatively early in Tuku's career, when his popularity in Zimbabwe was ascendant. I prefer it to some of the later, slicker releases, though the intimately familiar sound is essentially the same. By the way, earlier I posted a great live set from Tuka <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2927335617407533554#editor/target=post;postID=5755605726728751557;onPublishedMenu=overviewstats;onClosedMenu=overviewstats;postNum=34;src=postname" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?8ioea2b7n520bed" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-54115115807081913392013-02-04T14:40:00.002-09:002013-02-24T09:01:32.638-09:00Zvishavane Sounds - Mutongi Gava (1987)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmyK4lXyNtsvhqDGkK_5EUCFThG6iwzu2vA2Ep1t00XErLZHhyCrD5EWPRAv0-A-HSPgn5dV3Fbw6p2JvPKPPQsJbBWbHRbpm9PLllWF_AksfRPd9Jqy1YqOwjqGDNvt58o02cxeCHMk/s1600/Zvishavane+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmyK4lXyNtsvhqDGkK_5EUCFThG6iwzu2vA2Ep1t00XErLZHhyCrD5EWPRAv0-A-HSPgn5dV3Fbw6p2JvPKPPQsJbBWbHRbpm9PLllWF_AksfRPd9Jqy1YqOwjqGDNvt58o02cxeCHMk/s320/Zvishavane+back.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
One of the many ephemeral Zimbabwean bands, <span style="color: #e06666;">Zvishavane Sounds</span> sprouted in a mining community with this powerful album featuring the title track hit. Led by <span style="color: #e06666;">Joseph Mutero</span>, this band is a great example of the high energy guitar music paired with great singing that characterized Zimbabwean pop music of the era. This is one of a pile of records I collected in Zimbabwe in early 1991, one of my favorites. I could discover little about this band apart from an interesting insight, including the names of the musicians, <a href="http://intimatemomentswithzimmusicians.blogspot.com/2011/09/mutongi-gava-joseph-mutero-and-gift.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?aqecqd6j2a56atz" target="_blank">Enjoy!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7N6DaAkR5QXISg3PklCdQ0qBj3KMghc2q_9xRuKa-HVLC1ebnKGPH5Ns8XD5XP232Nfb7kYmzDDa5Fm9gGgn22-WKBQHaGcMHCH1ty0uUUPvXN4Fu7ur0OiQNSj1DVPzQaBGz1YyEDs/s1600/Zvi+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7N6DaAkR5QXISg3PklCdQ0qBj3KMghc2q_9xRuKa-HVLC1ebnKGPH5Ns8XD5XP232Nfb7kYmzDDa5Fm9gGgn22-WKBQHaGcMHCH1ty0uUUPvXN4Fu7ur0OiQNSj1DVPzQaBGz1YyEDs/s320/Zvi+label.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
P.S. Sorry for the absence. After being away from home for a while unexpectedly, we'll get back on track with a few from Zimbabwe. And thanks to Tony, for giving me a more focussed date! I confirmed it with the record label when I dug it out.</div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927335617407533554.post-42080085895288177552013-01-02T16:19:00.000-09:002013-02-24T09:31:25.202-09:00Franco et le T.P. O.K. Jazz - 20eme Anniversaire (1976)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqywwLmJJuvCeSVaP1rLsnPgufUBTluq8AJyPeuOdVIo7TEpviAsqoChZ43O0HiKZxWODrtraUSrOYAuSdEKU1blxE-1UCkLP3X7iuQb8tFtF-OvVCRwWy3WT5u4yYdQIdRd_ZE-6A5A/s1600/Franco+-+20eme+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqywwLmJJuvCeSVaP1rLsnPgufUBTluq8AJyPeuOdVIo7TEpviAsqoChZ43O0HiKZxWODrtraUSrOYAuSdEKU1blxE-1UCkLP3X7iuQb8tFtF-OvVCRwWy3WT5u4yYdQIdRd_ZE-6A5A/s320/Franco+-+20eme+front.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
This magnificent double album was rereleased in the late '80s on two individual CDs; I have the first, and it has become as familiar to me as any recording in my collection. I love it! From the first notes of "Liberté," I was enchanted. Now that I've digitized the double set, I have double the pleasure!<br />
<br />
While intending to post this treasure before Xmas or New Year's or Kwanza or whatever holiday you may observe, ordinary life thwarted my goal. I did refer to the wonderful <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AboubacarSiddikh?feature=watch" target="_blank">Aboubacar Siddikh YouTube channel</a> to supplement the metadata on these tracks. I encourage you to read more informed analysis of this recording <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjfFDmSbclg" target="_blank">there</a>, where you may also stream the songs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Enjoy <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?205wigr7e86xhzo" target="_blank">LP1</a> and <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?cw9a3mityom19cy" target="_blank">LP2</a>!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
You may have noticed that I love the music created by Franco and the incredibly talented host of musicians who participated in T.P. O.K. Jazz. In case you missed them, I have other Franco posts with some of his greatest records <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2012/01/franco-et-le-tp-ok-jazz.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2011/07/le-gran-maitre-franco-et-tpok-jazz.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2011/10/franco-and-his-all-powerful-ok-jazz.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2012/03/le-grand-maitre-franco-attention-na.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://rhythmconnection.blogspot.com/2012/10/le-grande-maitre-franco-et-son-tout.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
</div>
</div>
Rhythm Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06945589532553100784noreply@blogger.com8