Colette Magny - Repression (1972)

(Le Chant du Monde - LDX 74476).

French singer Colette Magny became famous in the 60s thanks to her blues inspired voice and her non-aligned poetry. Her political commitment led her to interesting experiments with free jazz, including french spoken word.

Francois Tusques (piano), Bernard Vitet (trumpet), Beb Guerin (bass) here playing with Colette Magny are three of the main french free-jazz vanguardists with Michel Portal.

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and his international brothers (1972)

(DECCA WAP38).

Juju music takes his roots in Yoruba secular rhythms, adding electric guitar to the talking drum. It became popular in Nigeria from the 50s and is rather related to nigerian christians (in parelel to Fuji music more in muslim environnement). It was performed live in "ariya" (ceremonies to celebrate weddings, birthdays, funerals...) but also for wealthy audiences in the hotels as modernized style of the time. 

Chief Ebenezer Obey is a master of Juju, and in this LP he demonstrates a real "musical wizardry". As often, the cover picture is representative to the music: a stlylish example of tradition and modernity mix (african traditional clothes with brand new electric guitar and big watch).

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey - A

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey - B

Orchestre Lovy du Zaire - Conseil d'Ami (1972)

african 90.598

VICLONG 27

Congolese musicians also took inspiration from the US, playing here a bluesy song which introduction can remind "this is a man's world". Really smooth and deep.

Orchestre Lovy du Zaire - Conseil d'Ami:

dld

Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa original 7" (1972)

AFRICAN 90.571

In 1972 Manu Dibango is ordered to compose the anthem for the 8th African Cup of Nations, taking place in Cameroon. The A face of this 7" is realized for this purpose with Eno Belinga. On the B side, he was free to include one of his personal production, Soul Makossa, a song that allowed him to gain worldwide fame (but also to be savagely sampled by Michael Jackson and recently by Rihanna...)

Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa:

Xango Da Mangueira - O Rei Do Partido Alto (1972)

SOM BLP-80381 Disco E Cultura

Xango Da Mangueira - Que Samba E Esse:

Olivério Ferreira (1923-2009) is a great sambista from from Rio de Janeiro. His artistic name comes from one of the most traditional Samba School, Estação Primeira de Mangueira, created in the 20s.

The album title means "The King of Partido Alto", Partido Alto being a style of samba developped in Rio from the 30s, with influences from the angolan batuques. It had various forms and evolved along the century, but basically it has a specific pandeiro (tambourine with cymbals on the frame) rythm, and it alternate short refrain sang by the choral, and verses subject to solo improvisation. Spontaneity and improvisation abilities of the singer (versador) gave to Partido Alto musicians a respected status of "elite" sambistas.

Choro:

Que samba é esse que acabo de chegar?
E Partido Alto mais e para quem sabe produzar/improvisar
What's this kind of samba that just arrived?
This is Partido Alto but for those who know how to write verses / how to improvisate
When I spin this track I have this chorus playing in my head the whole day long... Esta legal!...