Some oldies but goodies tonight. These recordings are from
1957 and 1958. Being from ’58 myself, I can tell you, good stuff
was produced in those days. ha ha, no serious, it should be
possible to update that old rubbish. Give me a USB gate some-
where and a regular update, wouldn’t that be 2011 ? This album
brings us 6 songs by the grand master and 2 by Vicky. As usual,
it is high class material, did the old man make one bad album ?

tracks;

1 Motema ya lokoso
2 Oyangani ngai ?
3 Oleka tukomane
4 Ngai oyo nazongi
5 Bana ages
6 Oh ! Katharina
7 La mulata rumber
8 Malambo zela
9 Mami majos
10 OK Jazz makila mabe
11 Grupo O.K. Jazz
12 Baboni mboka

It’s been a while since we had Pambou Tchicaya Tchico at the GG,
so when he passed by last week I decided to post this one.
It was waiting because the a-side, tracks1 & 2, is ( are ) quite wobbly
and gets a bit false towards the end. Still a couple of songs
worth having. Message was also on an album called ‘Tam Tam
d’Afrique’, but this version is quite different. All together, perhaps not
his very best but yet another LP to complete Tchico’s discography.

tracks;

1 Message
2 Lucie e now
3 Soucis yamboka

This LP by Nigerian Highlifers ‘Ikenga, Super Stars of Africa’
is on ‘african’. On the front it shows us also the logo of ‘Afrodisia’.
Same time backsleeve is typical ‘RAS’. Distributed by ‘Sonodisc’
and licenced by ‘Decca West Africa’, Lagos Nigeria. All the important
clubs seem involved in this project. Combining forces had a great effect,
the album sounds perfect. I can already hear it blast from the
speakers of some pumping ‘picó’ in Barranquilla,
how ’bout you Fabian ?

tracks;

1 Nwa enwe nne
2 Anyi ga gbalu enu oso

The best saxophones in central Africa, that’s how they call
Jean Serge Essous and Nino Malapet on this fine LP. They
also claim to play the best African interpretation of ‘the Peanut Vender”,
‘el Manicero’, quite an assumption. I don’t know if it’s the best
one but I love the guitars that play the basic melody. So many
versions around. check out Isabelle by Pambou Tchico, golden
voice. On Editions Bakolo Mboka de Brazzaville.

tracks;

1 Pot pourri sur le passe
2 Bongo
3 Na gagner bango
4 El manicero/Mayéya
5 Suzy
6 Isabelle

tracks;

1 Agyata wuo
2 Agyemang dua
3 Mene obiara
4 Mesi wo kon ho
5 Yensua yo
6 Bebome mame nko

They have beautiful names, Dr. Mengo, Dr. Collela, W. Toto,
J. Ambogo or Oxelo Obengo. These are Kenyan musicians
and not the least as I would say. Benga is subtle but jiving
and makes it impossible to stay in your chair. Once the first
notes enter your ears, there’s no stopping to this train. Kick
aside your furniture and let go with this ‘Special African Sound 76’.

tracks;

1 International de Nelly – Ngima piny No.4
2 International de Nelly – Onge wuom mwandu
3 International de Nelly – Otete
4 International de Nelly – Lemuru chom
5 Victoria Jazz Band – Paul Odera
6 Victoria Jazz Band – Ouma jakadianga
7 Kusa Luo Band – Jopiny wuorndi
8 Kusa Luo Band – Hippolitus

I’ve read somewhere on the internet, Laba Sosseh only sang one
year with the Star Band. Logically this one must be from that year, 1964.
Vocals by Laba Sosseh, Doudou Sow and Magatte N’Diaye.
Somehow it feels like it’s not that old, can anyone shine a light
on this matter ? Not that it is all that important,
it’s the sweetness of this music that matters.
Sorry it has a few minor pops, love this.

tracks;

1 Solla
2 Mamaya Ssima
3 Yena Neckla
4 Yadaque
5 Gualletana
6 Vagane
7 Le lolaye
8 Sigala

Some two weeks ago I posted an album by les Kamale
with a cover quite similar to this one.
BTW, I made a little mistake, you’ll have to
change the file name of track #4, it’s now called
track #5, sorry about that.

tracks;

1 Salanga
2 Afida na ngai 1
3 Afida na ngai 2
4 Petits nes

It’s been a while since we had Djo Mpoy. Hearing his voice is
a real treat. On this record we hear him with his friend Diato
Lukoki and their group ‘le Canon du Zaïre’. It’s called ‘Monotonie’.
A title that doesn’t cover the load of great music exposed here.
I am not sure but in Dutch the word has no positive meaning.
Except from the fact he worked with Fanco’s OK Jazz, I can’t
tell you a whole lot more about Djo. I do know this is a very
nice album, beautiful harmonies, the drummer in this band
is a sheer hero, enjoy le Canon du Zaïre, damn fireworks.

tracks;

1 Santa
2 Monotonie
3 Nalelela Nani
4 Cherie Na

I’m so happy to have this crazed hobby. Every time I learn
something new, like here. When my dear fellow blogger
Nauma at Freedomblues posted The Victoria Kings last week
with ‘the Mighty Kings of Benga’, I got excited, I didn’t know them
yet and I just love that Benga sound. Thank you ever so much Nauma.
Then, when I was browsing the fair last friday I found some fantastic
Kenyan stuff. Always nice to be able to return the favor. Here’s the
first volume of ‘Kenya Partout !’, I found it with a couple of others.
It contains some of that 70’s benga by the hottest bands.
Get under this freedom global blues groove,..wow…
Already made it when I found out Africolombia’s blog
posted 4 tracks in october, well,
here’s the whole thing.

tracks;

1 Kit Mikayi Cisco Jazz – Buthwa gi nyigem
2 Victoria Jazz Band – Sister Jack
3 International de Nelly – Ruoth meda teko
4 D.O. 7 Band – Charles Kibeche
5 Victoria Jazz Band – Samwel Otumba
6 Kit Mikayi Cisco Jazz – Taberius gi matha
7 Victoria Jazz Band – Jery Ouma
8 D.O. 7 Band – H.O. Ochiri
9 International de Nelly – Ohon wanyang
10 D.O. 7 Band – Perez Owino