Amazing work from a legendary Peruvian guitarist – an electric player who works here with a really wonderful sense of groove – and often an echoey tone that's completely sublime! Most numbers have this bouncy, tropical sort of vibe – but the guitar really gives them all an edge,... read more
Manu Dibango —
Kusini ... LP
Delta Sigma Theta,
1975. New Copy (reissue)....
$15.99
A fantastic bit of rare funk from Manu Dibango – originally scored for a film that starred Greg Morris, Ruby Dee, and Ossie Davis – but every bit as funky as Manu's own work of the time! The tunes are all very firmly in the best style of his earliest work of the 70s, with loads of... read more
An excellent album of hard percussion tracks from congolero Guem – recorded in Sao Paulo in 1982, with accompaniment on djembe, bonga, and assorted other percussion instruments. The tracks are spare, but very driving – with tight rhythms on all cuts, which has made the album quite... read more
A definite beast from Ikebe Shakedown – easily one of the group's funkiest tunes ever! The groove on "Beast" is nice and slow – Afro Funk at a laidback pace, which makes the whole thing unfurl with even more drama than usual – and helps make each percussion punch mean... read more
A great little album of percussion grooves – hidden under a package that looks like it's going to be a lot more rootsy, but which ends up sounding like some of the hipper conga-heavy sessions on labels like Liberty or GNP from the late 50s. Jackson plays much of the percussion, but there's... read more
Jazzy B —
Rambo ... CD
Moviebox (India),
2008. Used ....
$3.99
The rare second album from Juju – the avant jazz collective who'd later morph into funk band Oneness Of Juju, but who still sound pretty revolutionary here! There's a bit more focus than before – still energy that's a lot like the best righteous jazz groups coming out of Chicago or St... read more
Although South African vocalist Miriam Makeba had been cracking the American scene for the better part of the 60s, this was the album that really put her on the map – as her hit version of the song "Pata Pata" forever guaranteed that African-tinged grooves would have a place in the... read more
Musa Manzini —
New Reflections ... CD
Giant Steps/BMG (South Africa),
2000. Used ....
$8.99Just Sold Out!
Pure 70s genius from Hugh Masekela – a record that's quite different than his earlier Afro-soul styled albums, but somehow even better! The format here is much more straightly soulful – with larger arrangements and a strong vocal groove on a number of tracks – but Masekela's... read more
Louis Mhlanga —
Tinganekwane ... CD
ZMC/Sheer Sound (Zimbabwe),
2004. Used ....
$9.99Just Sold Out!
Minoru Muraoka & New Dimension Group —
Bamboo ... CD
News/King (Japan),
Late 60s. Used ....
$34.99
60s jazz meets Japanese bamboo flute – all in a session with a great mix of groovy and exotic touches! The record's a unique meeting of jazz and folkloric elements – done in a style that's a bit like some of the late 60s sessions of this nature on MPS, but a fair bit groovier overall... read more
A rare Turkish groove – and a totally cool little tune – really unlike most of the other Turkish work we've heard from the time! "Kiriakos" moves along at a pretty quick kind of pace – fast rhythms leaping around strongly, peppered with fast organ lines too, all driven... read more
Henry Olonga —
Aurelia ... CD
Henry Olonga,
2006. Used ....
$6.99Just Sold Out!
Reebop Kwaku Baah —
Reebop ... LP
Island,
1972. Very Good ....
$14.99Just Sold Out!
One of those British sessions from the early 70s that mix African grooves with British prog rock, in a mode that's similar to some of the Ginger Baker albums from the same time. Percussionist Anthony Reebop Kwaku Baah sings on the whole record, but the real strength comes from the ensemble backing... read more
Sankomota —
Sankomota ... CD
Sheer Sound (South Africa),
1984. Used ....
$13.99
Funky Afro Soul from Oz – the brilliant full length debut of Shaolin Afronauts! Flight Of The Ancients blasts off from the bedrock of 70s West Africa and Ethio funk influences, but their one of the rare few combos who pull it off without it feeling like a retread of past glories. Part of... read more
Wonderfully tripped-out sounds from the Japanese scene at the start of the 70s – a mix of older folkloric elements and more electric fusion modes – coming together in a really unique sound! There's lots of flute at the front of the tracks – played with an airy, spacious quality... read more
Suns Of Arqa —
Animan ... CD
Arka Sound (UK),
1996. Used ....
$9.99
Astralasia Swordfish mix, Phil Kirby Radio, Guy Called Gerald Carnatic mix, Guy Called Gerald Kirk's Garage mix, Graham Massey 808 mix, Guy Called Gerald Jailbit... read more
One of the greatest steel band records ever – and a hip hop sample classic from way back! Sure, there were other hip steel bands back in the 70s – but nobody else ever got as far as 20th Century – ending up on a major label, cutting some key funky covers, and crossing over with... read more
Really wonderful stuff – a collection of totally unique grooves that won't cross over with any of your other African funk compilations! The focus here is on jazz, not funk or soul – and the set features a wealth of great tracks pulled from obscure South African records of the late 70s... read more
Includes tracks by Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi, Louis Mhlanga, the Society Vibes, Pahul Hanmer, Lakim, Ernie Smith, Zim Ngqawana, and more.... read more
Amazing sounds from San Basilio De Palenque – a unique cultural crossroads on the coast of Colombia! The town was the first free slave community in the Americas – a distinction it's held for centuries – and continues to have strong ties to Africa, partly because of its roots,... read more
A tremendous overview of Carribean sounds from the 50s through the 70s – served up with exactly the kind of depth and care we've come to expect from the folks at Soul Jazz Records! The collection goes way past the obvious – and way past any obvious cliches as well – to really dig... read more
A tremendous overview of Carribean sounds from the 50s through the 70s – served up with exactly the kind of depth and care we've come to expect from the folks at Soul Jazz Records! The collection goes way past the obvious – and way past any obvious cliches as well – to really dig... read more