An album of Manu Dibango's that was released after his big hit "Soul Makossa", but which was actually recorded before, in a very heavy Afro Funk mode! Manu plays organ and piano, as well as his usual soprano sax, and the tracks include "Weya", "Tom Tom", "Pepe Soup", "Senga", "Moni", "Essimo", and "Mwasa Makossa". LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty compelling batch of tracks, featuring the guitar, trumpet, and vocals of Olu Dara – a rootsy player who'd first come to fame in the avant scene of the 80s, but who also has undergone an incredible transformation over the past few years. Although the album is only the 2nd to be released under Dara's own name, he's had over 20 years of experience in the music business – as you'll clearly hear in the record's unique blend of New Orleans funk, delta blues, and African rhythms. It's hard to pinpoint this one exactly – but it's sure to be a favorite with the world music crossover scene. Guests include Dr John and Cassandra Wilson – and titles include "Massamba", "I See The Light", "Out On The Rolling Sea", "Strange Things Happen Every Day", and "Bell & Ponce". CD

A fantastic treasure from the South African jazz scene of the 60s – a record that's full of soul and spirit, and which draws enough from the piano of leader Chris Schilder as it does from the tenor of Winston Mankuku Ngozi! Nogzi's a player who's very much in the John Coltrane camp, but with a spirit that's all his own – a rich tone that reaches back to late 50s hardbop styles, but which gets a more fluid, modal expression here – alongside well-crafted lines from Schilder on piano, in a quintet with guitar from Garry Kriel, bass from Phillip Schilder, and drums from Gilbert Matthews. There's certainly a South African spirit in some of the rhythms, but the music itself is more in the righteous territory of late 60s Blue Note – like the most creative work from Lee Morgan or Hank Mobley – on titles that include "The Birds", "Look Up", "Before The Rain & After", "Spring", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". (Jazz, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unusual albums to ever come from the legendary Black Ark studios of Lee Scratch Perry – a set by a duo of Congolese singers, Seke Molenga and Kalo Kawongolo – who are also not to be confused with The Congos, another group that Perry was producing at the time! The album definitely has some reggae elements, but also echoes with a sound that's much more African than most of Lee's other music of the time – a great mixing of the vocals, guitars, and percussion of Molenga and Kawongolo with some of the trippier, dubbier styles of Scratch's production – at a level that seems bent on building a musical bridge across the Atlantic! Titles include "Moto Ya Motema", "Bad Food", "African Roots", "Mengieb", and "Guipimbu Gienu". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing work from South African jazz legend Dudu Pukwana – a rare album from 1969, plus a never-issued set of tracks done for Atlantic Records at the same time! The core album, titled Dudu Pukwana & The Spears, features Dudu on alto, in the company of a lot of familiar players from his roots – Chris McGregor on piano, Mongezi Feza on trumpet, Louis Moholo on drums, Harry Miller on bass, and Jonas Gwangwa on trombone – plus great organ from Bob Stucky, who'd recorded with Pukwana a bit on the London scene of the 60s – and wholes presence really brings in a nice soul jazz vibe! The style is much straighter than the more avant 70s material of all players involved – and definitely has some of that upbeat South African sense of rhythm going on – nicely rollicking, and starting somewhere in the territory of a Hugh Masekela record, then moving into more of a Prestige 60s vibe. Titles include "Kwa Thula", "Joe's Jika", "Pho La", "Yima Mjalo", "Pezulu", "Thulula", and "Half Moon". The second batch of material is presented as an Atlantic Records acetate reproduction – a session produced by Joe Boyd, with more work from McGregor, Miller, Feza, and Moholo – plus the very unusual presence of Richard Thompson on guitar! Bob Stuckey plays organ again on a few numbers, and things are much more complex – stretching out on tunes that include "Pezulu", "Izulu Liyaduduma", "Church Mouse", "Sibuyile", and an "Untitled" number. (Jazz, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

The Stormers are a group who rose from the ashes of the legendary Lagos funk combo Aktion – and they step out here with a really storming sound that definitely earns them their name! The groove is funk of the tightest form possible – especially for the start of the 80s – and the four piece combo seem to take all the best elements from the bigger American funk ensembles, then fuse them down to a wickedly sharp core – with basslines, guitar, and keyboards all working with an amazing edge – and none of the too-commercial elements that might have been showing up on the US scene at the time! Vocals are in English – which should have made this record a crossover international funk hit – and the whole thing can kick the ass of just about any early 80s funk album on the planet. Titles include "Sexy Woman", "Atlantic Breeze", "Be A Lover", "Super D Jay", and "Love Or Money". CD

A fantastic look at the groundbreaking sounds of the Disques Debs label – one of the most important companies producing music in the French Caribbean – and an imprint whose impact was strongly felt on the other side of the Atlantic as well! The core of these grooves is that compelling biguine rhythm that flowed from Guadeloupe – almost a mix of Latin and jazz, but with a different sort of vibe of its own – which was then interwoven with elements from Cuban, European, and African styles amidst the initial decade or so of recordings on this set! Debs had strong ties with Paris, and a bit with the West African scene – and their recorded legacy almost follows old colonial paths, but in reverse – creating this wonderful criss-crossing of cultures amidst their grooves. The package is wonderful – loads of vintage photos and great notes in the best Strut Records way – and titles include "Douce Kombass" by Henri Debs Quintet, "Mr Morin" by Joseph Lacides, "Lan Mise" by Geno Exilie, "Feeling Happy" by Cyril Dias Et Son Orchestre, "Ces P'Tits Je T'Aime" by Daniel Forestal Et Sa Guitare, "Assez Fait Cancan" by Guy Conquette, "Stanislas" by Eric Virgal, "Meringue Mondey" by Remy Mondey, "Si I Bon Di I Bon" by Le Ry-Co Jazz, "Salvana" by Dolor Et Les Diables Du Rhythme, and "Van Van" by Henri Guedon Et Les Contesta. CD