Yusef Lateef in Nigeria (1983)

(Landmark LLP-502).

Flute and tenor sax player Yusef Lateef (1920-2013) just passed away, so here's a post dedicated to this real sound explorer (before being a jazzman), who integrated eastern or african influences in many of his recordings. Famous for his deep, free and spiritual music all along the 60's and 70's in the US, he also directly enriched his open-minded approach spending years in Nigeria in the early 80's.

Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Barrister - Erin Goke (Fuji music, 1987)

(Omo Aje, OLPS1338).

Fuji is a kind of smooth transe music...

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