Jazz Hot magazine views about Fela and Afrobeat in 1981

Every year is celebrated a Fela Day (few weeks ago in Paris), proving that Fela Kuti's spirit is still gliding around, despite a very varied comprehension. Good occasion anyway to search in muzzicaltrips archives, and look at how evolves perception of african music along the years. Here's an article about Fela Kuti which reveals part of the perception of a jazz magazine from 1981 (Jazz Hot, first jazz magazine in Europe created in 1935).

Dane Belany - Motivations (Spiritual Afrofreejazz, 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).

Carnaval in Santiago de Cuba (1960s)

(Le Chant du Monde, LDX 4250).

Carnavals tour stops for sure in Cuba, through the release of this LP by french label Le Chant du Monde. Liner notes from the cuban writer Alejo Carpentier remind the historical background of original african and Spanish influences blending in Santiago, the second city founded in Cuba.

Presence Africaine Catalogue (1980)

Here's a particular Muzzicaltrips post for book diggers and african literature lovers... Just to have an idea on what was Presence Africaine catalogue in 1980. This Paris-based editor has been since its creation by Alioune Diop in 1947, a real amplifier for african and diasporic written forms of expression, novels poetry, or essays.

This booklet proposes list of titles, list of 2nd hand books, list of authors, list by theme and list of librairies in Africa where you can find Presence Africaine books. A very interesting document for research and to discover new authors, as many titles have not been reedited.

The book store still exists, and always great books to find.

Discover Ahmadou Kourouma's Suns of Independences here.

Colette Magny - Repression (Jazz&Politics in France, 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.

Meeting with Lansiné Kouyate and David Neerman (Afrojazz, 2012)

Kouyate-Neerman, Palmwine Mandingo Party, Nuits Sonores 2012.

This unique musical experience is based on a duo: Kouyate, balafon player from Kangaba in Mali, and Neerman a french vibraphone player. More than a cultural meeting, the dialogue between this two cousin instruments is here pretext to creative explorations in rhythm and melody. Taking roots in both jazz and mandingo tradition, the created atmosphere is definitely modern: although recorded in an analog studio, the second album integrates the balafon with breaks and vibraphone effects research. The title "Skycrapers and Deities" reflects perfectly the approach, linking up modernism and tradition, concrete and mysticism, human and god. 

Synchro Rythmic Ecclectic Language (Black Atlantic jazz from France, 70s)

(SONG RECORDS SR 04).

This atypical afro-caribean jazzfunk band includes great musicians as George Edouard Nouel (keyboard), Louis Xavier (bass), Jo Maka (sax). A really groovy blend of influences...

African Soul Band - Nande (Obscure afrogroove from France, 70s)

(MD 001).

Rare private production realised in France. It cannot be considered as african music while listening to the  "occidental-sounding" arrangements including violins... but the singer may be from Senegal (he's singing a melody probably inspired by "lale kouma", a senegalese traditional song). Anyway, a really nice funky fusion tune by African Soul Band, which is the same band playing with malian singer  Niama Makalou on another obscure afrodisco 7 inch (here).

Les Espoirs de Coronthie (Tradition and modernity in Guinea, 2010)

I had opportunity to meet Les Espoirs de Coronthie last week as they were having a concert at Satellit Café (Paris).