Orchestre G.O. Malebo - Vive Faza DIABIM 4 (Zaire, 70s)

(AFRICAN 90.781).

This band has been created in the 70s by African Jazz sax player Samu Bakula, G. O. meaning "Giant Orchestra" (Geant Orchestre).

This really hypnotic congolese break has been composed and is sung by Menghe Mulyampene. 

Cutlass Dance Band of Ghana - Lassissi vol. 2 (Highlife, 1980)

(Lassissi LS26).

Ghanaian guitarist Osenkafo I.K. Anin (Annin) played within Police Dance Band in Kumasi, or Parrots Band, before creating the Cutlass Dance Band.

Guadafrica Combo - Moin Ce Roi Roi (1975)

(Debs DD 316).

Few recordings came out this formation from Guadeloupe including great names such as Georges Desplan or Edouard Benoit and directed by Freddy Mars. I would have post it just for the great cover art, but it also turns out to be a heavy tropical track... 

Trio Select in Action (Haiti, 1971)

(Marc Records MDVG-219).

Haitian music can be very good setting fire to the dancefloor, but can also be very fresh and sweet to your ears. Here's a beautiful example with a song from Trio Select vol. 2, led by guitarist and popular singer Henry Gesner (1925-1998), very famous under his surname "Coupé Cloué".

Conjunto Papaupa and a brief glimpse on afro-venezuelan culture

(Music With Soul 7").

Actual growing interest for "tropical" music provides a wide variety of projects and vinyl releases. Muzzicaltrips looked into a afro-venezuelan influenced project (Conjunto Papa Upa, from the Netherlands based label Musicwithsoul), a very good actual DJ friendly sound, loaded with interesting traditional elements. This was opportunity to exchange with the father of this project, Alex Figueira, a real music specialist on the (yet little documented) afro-venezuelan culture.

Minguito and Conjunto Merengue - Pensando Conforme o Tempo (Angola 70s)

(Merengue MPA-4056).

Blind accordeon player Domingo Luis Garcia (Minguito) recorded throughout the 70s with various bands  from Angola as Os Kiezos, and here with Conjunto Merengue on this beautiful 7 inch.

Jonah Moyo and Devera Ngwena Jazz Band (Zimbabwe)

(Gramma Afro Soul AS1107).

Take some rumba from Congo, boost it with benga from Kenya and mbaqanga from South Africa, and blend with mbira-influenced rhythms from Rhodesia/Zimbabwe...

Ange Ebogo Emerent (Ozima rhythm from Cameroon, 1976)

(Africana Star AFRI005).

Singer from Cameroon, Ange Ebogo Emerent recorded his first 7inch in 1974 with Orchestre Essian on Sonodisc.

MIX /// Tropical Roundtrip Selection (from Colombia to Africa)

(Muzzicaltrips TRT019).

A real tropical roundrip, beginning in colombia with classy 60s cumbia, guiro y guaracha, merecumbe, maracumba, currulao, afrocolombian...

Carlos Alberto "Katchas" Martins - Broda (Funana pioneer and Bulimundo mentor, 1977)

(DMC 111-101).

One aspect I could not guess when I begun Muzzicaltrips blog, is the number of people around the world it would lead me to meet or to exchange with.  Today's post comes from one of theses interesting exchanges, as it's a contribution from Norway, proposed by Olav Aalberg, great connoisseur of music from Cabo Verde:

Kossou Houechehoun et son Groupe Folklorique Guê (Benin)

(PALP 002).

This folkloric music comes from Mina people (South of Benin and Togo) which have a very rich musical heritage.

Dangerous trips to Angola by Muzzicaltrips (semba, merengue, kizomba selection from Angola 70s)

Muzzicaltrips taking part of various musical projects including radioshows, I'd like to share some "dangerous trips" or "viagens perigosas" in Angola realised recently for Radio Capsao. A special musical selection based on dusty records, archives from golden era from this country culturally influenced by portuguese colonists, by other lusophone colonies, by Cuba and the Caribbean, and for sure by specific african musical  heritage. Wars and instability during the 60s to 80s also influenced a unique musical production : semba, merengue, kizomba, but also political music and struggle songs (or propaganda songs, depending on point of view), reflecting a wide spread imperialist oppression feeling.

Dane Belany - Motivations (1975)

(Sahara 1005).

Here's a unique musical project auto produced by Dane Belany and release in New York by Sahara label. Influences are clear: dedicated to Frantz Fanon, and lyrics from several songs inspired by Aimée Cesaire or David Diop (senegalese pan-africanist poet from the 50s).

Pico Culture #04 - Soundsystem aesthetics (Baranquilla)

Above painted wood piece is an original decoration from the pico "El Solista", carefully conserved by a fanatical pico lover.

From the 70s each pico developed his own aesthetics through colorful paintings and decorations on the speakers and the control tower. This transmits a real identity to each pico, and can be inspired from pure psychedelic figures (El Dragon, El Cobra), or from personal experiences (for example, El Coreano was created by a colombian man who went to fight in Korea war), or from musical artists (El Pijuan), or from revolutionary figures (El Gran Che, El Gran Fidel). The visual identity personifies the pico, and usually transmits a message of power ("indestructible", "la potencia africana", "guerrillero de la salsa").

It really contributes to glorify the soundsystem, as being also considered as a piece of art.

Djali Madi Tounkara & Rail Band du Mali (1979)

(Kosmo KS230).

This tape is a senegalese 1983 reedition of a rare malian LP released in 1979 by Disco Stock (DS7918).

Gansou Nestor et son groupe folklorique de Tchingounme (70s)

(Ets PHILI D'OR AZP003).

Initially a sacred rhythm played to put the curse aside after a death, "Tchinkoumé" became a popular celebratory music from Savalou region (in Benin, just north from the coastal areas when the hills begin).

Uhuru Dance Band - Betu Me O Awow (1970)

(Decca 258.112).

Highlife knew his golden era during the 50s and 60s in Ghana, but this late 1970 "special hi-life numbers" just sounds like in the old good time, when president Kwame Nkrumah used to promote it as a symbol of modern (pan)african expression.

Randy Weston - Tanjah (1973)

(Polydor PD5055).

Entering Randy Weston spiritual world is a long story. Let's just have a glimpse at his special relation with the city of Tangier (Tanjah is local name).

Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Evolution (1975)

(Polydor PD14316).

At 72 years old, Roy Ayers is still playing his vibraphon live. Listening to the disco oriented track "Evolution" he played last weekend, reminded me of this 7", from the album "Mystic Voyage".

Mori River Jazz Band - Harison Oyier (Kenyan benga, 1973)

(RCA Africana FWBO 9305).

Just a fresh and enjoyable benga track (check part2 when the bells enter!)

If you like that kind of tunes, stay around ...

Mori River Jazz Band - Harison Oyier:


Discover some (pretty rare) kenyan sound on LP HERE