$39.00
Official Mr Bongo Reissue | Highlife & straight up funky Musiq
Extremely hard-to-obtain LP from the Ghanaian master composer, producer and musician. Originally released in 1982 by the WEA International label and then again in Germany in 1985 by Ambolley himself; this is one of his finest albums in our opinion.
’Ambolley’ fuses Highlife, disco and boogie sonics perfectly and features the anthemic club cut, ‘Highlife’, that we have spinning for a while – always does the job! - Mr Bongo
Label: Mr Bongo – MRBLP205 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: UK |
Released: 2019 |
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: African, Boogie, Calypso, Disco, Funk, Highlife |
$45.00
"Many miss the mark with this kind of thing, but Naoito succeeds by running afro beat, spiritual jazz, and soul-funk through the lens of modern beat production - all executed with the lightest of touches. So sick!" - Light In The Attic
Former member of the Kingdom Afrocks band and one of the most talented artists of today’s Japanese music scene, drummer and multi-instrumentalist Naoito creates with “dotA” an explosive and unique mix of spiritual jazz and afro flavors. Sung in Japanese and English and bringing the very best musicians of Tokyo’s underground scene, “dotA” is released in Japan on the legendary Jazzy Sport imprint. 180g is proud to bring to the international audience this essential album of contemporary grooves straight from the far-east!
Manufactured and distributed by 180g under exclusive license from Jazzy Sport, Tokyo, Japan. – Bandcamp
Label: 180g – 180GLP03 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: UK |
Released: 15 Nov 2019 |
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: Afrobeat |
$39.00
The band’s debut album is intent on dismantling the ideas western listeners have about popularized Tuareg music. This new wave of Tuareg musicians sound very different to the desert distortion that accompanies groups like Mdou Moctar or Group Inerane. Instead, it finds a calm and passionate soul, provides sumptuous slow burners, and a complexity of composition that hasn’t been demonstrated by previous music exported from the Saharan people’s musical repertoire.
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Even if the band has a direct DNA link to trail blazers Tinariwen - (Eyadou Ag Leche of Tinawiren is a cousin of frontman Sadam, and guided their evolution and produced and co-wrote several songs on this album), their poetry and flow has a more integrally urban base than the ancestral tamashek poetry and traditional rhythms of their elders, Tinawiren. Instead they offer something much more fresh and intricate; there is a lot of sensitivity and space in these jams, a lot of room for your mind to ponder and drift.
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This intimacy of Imarhan’s sound is no coincidence. In the language of the Kel Tamashek people ‘Imarhan’ means ‘the ones I care about’ - Iyad Moussa Ben Abderahmane aka Sadam, Tahar Khaldi, Hicham Bouhasse, Haiballah Akhamouk and Abdelkader Ourzig all grew up near each other in Tamanrasset, Southern Algeria, in a Tuareg community of Northern Malian descent. The giant divide between their spiritual home and physical home is heard in their tracks: the funkier groove of Western Africa, the emptier, subtle tones of Saharan Traditional folk music and the fire and romance of Algerian Rai music. No other Tuareg release to date has had such a variance of rhythms, tempo and feeling. – City Slang
Label: City Slang – SLANG50094LP, Wedge – WEDGELP00116 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: Germany |
Released: 2016 |
Genre: Folk, World, & Country |
Style: Folk, African |
$48.00
Jake Sollo (Born in Nigeria as Nkem Okonkwo) started his career in the 1960s as a member of The Hykkers, a popular band that drew large audiences across the country (even during the turmoil of the Biafra civil war). After The Hykkers disbanded, Jake joined the Aba-based super-group The Funkees…a musical outfit turned into instant superstars due to the State Broadcasting Service’s heavy rotation of their demo tracks. The Funkees became a phenomenon that spread across the country fast (and eventually to England where they were championed by the legendary John Peel). By 1976, due to creative and personal tensions, The Funkees slowly started disintegrating. Jake Sollo was soon offered the golden opportunity to join the ‘crème de la crème’ of Afro-rock groups: Osibisa. Jake’s distinctive rhythm guitar graced their hits, but his tenure with them was short-lived…in 1977, Sollo and two other members left the band because of financial disagreements.
Jake Sollo quickly moved on and did just fine after his experiences with said bands…he got steady work as a session musician and became a hot producer in the London scene. Eventually, that chapter came to a close as well (with budgets and visas to record in the UK becoming increasingly scarce at this point). Jake returned to Nigeria where he started recording and producing albums, during this period he became the MOST in-demand producer in Nigeria. – Light In The Attic
Label: Tidal Waves Music – TWM48 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: USA & Europe |
Released: 29 May 2020 |
Genre: Reggae, Funk / Soul |
Style: Boogie, Disco, Reggae |
$39.00
Formed in 2002 in Ottawa, Canada, the Souljazz Orchestra have been releasing a series of genre-defying albums and touring throughout the world ever since. The band may mention soul and jazz in its name, but on their new album, Chaos Theories, the Souljazz Orchestra reveal themselves to be well-versed in the sounds of reggae, ska, disco, and punk, along with a little bit of both jazz and soul. The band also continue their tradition of outspoken political commentary throughout the album.
Led by keyboardist/percussion/singer Pierre Chrétien, the Souljazz Orchestra includes Philippe Lafrenière (drums, percussion, vocals); Marielle Rivard (percussion, vocals); Ray Murray (baritone saxophone, percussion, vocals); Steve Patterson (tenor saxophone, percussion, vocals); and Zakari Frantz (alto saxophone, percussion, vocals). – Pop Matters
Label: Strut – STRUT208LP |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo |
Country: UK |
Released: 13 Sep 2019 |
Genre: Jazz |
Style: Afrobeat |
$39.00
Super-funky business from Nigerian-born multi-instrumentalist, Peter King; fuses funk, jazz and highlife vibrations. ‘Omo Lewa’ follows his ‘Miliki Sound’ album, also available on Mr Bongo. Recorded in London, originally released in 1976 by Orbitone, this is one of his finest records.
Released November 8, 2019 Licensed from Clinton Roberts.
Official Mr Bongo reissue. – Mr Bongo
Label: Mr Bongo – MRBLP102 |
Format: Vinyl, LP |
Country: UK |
Released: 2016 |
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Highlife, Jazz-Funk, Afrobeat |
$39.00
If you’ve ever caught Antibalas live over the course of their nearly two-decade existence, you already know what an overwhelming and exhilarating experience their music is in-person, and somehow they’re able to bottle it up and make their studio work groove and climax just as dramatically, like you’re right there in the room with them. It’s been five years since the Brooklyn collective released a record, and now they’re about to return with their sixth, Where The Gods Are In Peace. True to classic Afrobeat’s potential to tackle dire social and political issues via cathartic party music, Antibalas emphasized positivity and hope in their statement about the album:
"We are still very much a political band, but as we mature we present and pay homage to the deep courage of our ancestors, we express a message of peace, harmony, and dance, and we take a hard look into the past while forging a future of solutions." – Stereogum
Label: Daptone Records – DAP-046, Afrosound Records – AS-1004 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: US |
Released: Sep 2017 |
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Afrobeat |
$39.00
Kung Fu Afrobeat!
With a globetrotting 20-year career renowned for being a voice for the people across four decades of political and societal upheaval from the late ‘90s to today, Antibalas celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a stark return to their Williamsburg roots on its latest Daptone Records studio album, Fu Chronicles. Pre-gentrified Williamsburg serves as the backdrop for Fu Chronicles–voyaging back to the early days of when Antibalas and Daptone Records spawned out of lead singer Duke Amayo’s kung fu dojo. A senior master of the Jow Ga Kung FuSchool of martial arts, Duke Amayo along with Antibalas founder/baritone saxophonist Martín Perna guide listeners through an epic journey of where kung fu ingeniously intersects with Afrobeat on Fu Chronicles. - Antibalas on Bandcamp
Label: Daptone Records – DAP060LP |
Format: Vinyl, LP |
Country: US |
Released: 2020 |
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul |
Style: Afrobeat |
$39.00
Ajate is a Japanese band who plays a unique blend of afro-groove dance music mixed with Japanese traditional festival music called "Ohayashi". Formed in 2011 by the band-leader John Imaeda, Ajate consists of 10 Japanese musicians.
Another unique feature of the band is the use of hand-made bamboo instruments as well as traditional Japanese percussion. The "Jahte" is a bamboo-made xylophone or balafon with a piezo pick-up mic attached to each key, connected to a pre-amplifier to obtain a loud sound and to add some touch of dirty distortion to its warm and natural acoustic sonority. The "Piechiku" is also a bamboo-made string instrument inspired by the west-African "Ngoni" or Moroccan "Guembri" instruments. The Piechiku uses strings of the Japanese traditional "Shamisen". This instrument is also played through a pre-amplifier and John sometimes adds some wah-wah effect to it. All these bamboo instruments are designed, made and named by John Imaeda himself.
On Alo you will also be amazed by the exceptional sound of the Japanese Shinofue flute, which was not on the previous Abrada LP.
Now, add to this unique sound some well-crafted Japanese female and male singing and you get a killer mix of Afro-Funk flavored grooves with traditional Japanese music! – Bandcamp
Label: 180g – 180GLP04 |
Format: Vinyl, LP |
Country: France |
Released: 27 Feb 2020 |
Genre: Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: Afrobeat, African |
$45.00
Ghanaian highlife music has never been a single statement of artistic intent. Birthed from the indigenous rhythms of Akan music and incorporating western instrumentation such as electric guitars and horns before being played in the 1920s at exclusive gatherings of the upper colonial class – hence the music’s name – to now fusing American rap motifs in the sub-genre hiplife, Ghana’s most popular musical export is ever-changing. Yet, one of its greatest living exponents, vocalist Pat Thomas, has also been one of its most consistent representatives.
There is a palpable feeling of joyous inclusivity on Obiaa!, one that is harnessed in that necessary exclamation point, as this is active, kinetic music. While Thomas’s lyrics aphoristically tackle the perils of “showing off on social media” on Onfa Nkosi Hwee and the merits of “being patient in life” on Ntobuase, he delivers each line with an unshakeable optimism, his “golden voice” still radiant and full of light.
Amid our penchant for curated archive compilations of far-flung genres, here is the living, breathing testament to a music that is very much still alive and being championed by those who have spent their lives perfecting its craft. Long may it continue in all its world-spanning complexity. – The Guardian
Label: Strut – STRUT201LP |
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album |
Country: UK |
Released: 04 Oct 2019 |
Genre: Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: Afrobeat, Funk, Highlife, African |
$50.00
Solid reissue of this piece of highlife history from Ghana!
Label: Academy LPs – ALP-010, Voodoo Funk – none |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: US |
Released: 2016 |
Genre: Reggae, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: African, Afrobeat, Highlife |
$45.00
Afro-Rock + Funk + Disco + Psychedelia = Sweet Spot
Ofege was formed in the early 1970s by a bunch of teenagers at the St. Gregory’s College in Lagos Nigeria. They were largely influenced by the guitar solos of Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page while closer to home, they were influenced by the music of ‘BLO’ (Berkley Jones, Laolu Akins and Mike Odumosu), ‘Monomono’ (led by Joni Haastrup), The Funkees, and Ofo The Black Company. Due to their vibrant combo of sweet harmonies, hooks & fuzz, Ofege would become one of the most legendary Nigerian groups of all time, with expressive sales and national stardom. At the turn of the century (and because of tracks appearing on various psychedelic music compilations) Ofege would receive international acknowledgment for being the first of their kind and the ultimate West-African psychedelic funk band!
Their debut album (Try And Love, EMI 1973 – also reissued by Tidal Waves Music) was recorded while the band members were still in high school (average age of 16) … their follow up ‘The Last Of The Origins’ (Recorded in 1975 and released on EMI in 1976) took some years to come out because some band members had to finish school first. ‘The Last Of The Origins’ is an exceptional record with a deep psychedelic approach. Complex rhythm sections, African inspirations, huge breaks, wah wah guitars and cosmic synths …it’s all there! Easily one of the best Afro-funk albums recorded in Nigeria in the 70s. – Tidal Waves Music
Label: Tidal Waves Music – TWM24 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue |
Country: US |
Released: 23 Nov 2018 |
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul |
Style: Psychedelic, Funk, Disco |
$39.00
'Extremely hard-to-find Ghanaian LP from legendary musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, originally released in 1980. Tough Highlife, funk and boogie moods with added synthesizer! Ambolley is still actively touring today, keeping these vibes alive – he will be touring Europe throughout 2019.' This is the third Gyedu Blay Ambolley LP that we have reissued on Mr Bongo, following on from his seminal ‘Ambolley’ and ‘Simigwa’ recordings.' - Mr Bongo
Label: Mr Bongo – MRBLP199 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: UK & Europe |
Released: 2019 |
Genre: Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: African, Highlife, Afrobeat, Funk |
$39.00
Hard-to-obtain, vintage highlife from three true giants of the sound; Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas & Uhuru Yenzu. Originally released in 1982. In 'Hitsville Re-Visited', the mighty trio add a dose of uptempo funk into traditional highlife grooves. The legendary Ebo Taylor was involved in many funk and highlife records to emerge from Ghana in the 70's and 80's. He worked with bands such as Apagya Show Band, C.K. Mann as well as Pat Thomas, on this, and several other records. – Mr Bongo | Bandcamp
Label: Mr Bongo – MRBLP177 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: UK & Europe |
Released: 2019 |
Genre: Folk, World, & Country |
Style: African, Highlife |
$39.00
Tough, mid-tempo Ghanaian funk & Highlife grooves from Ebo Taylor Junior, son of the mighty Ebo Taylor. Originally released in 1978; now extremely difficult and expensive to find in its original form. Today Ebo Taylor Jnr plays keys in his fathers band that continues to tour when he is able to. – Light In The Attic
Label: Mr Bongo – MRBLP210 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: UK |
Released: 06 Sep 2019 |
Genre: Reggae, Funk / Soul, Children's, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: Afrobeat, Funk, Highlife, Rocksteady, African |
$45.00
The original band consisted of five members, three from South Africa and two from Nigeria: drummer Louis Moholo, trumpeter/flautist Mongezi Feza, alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, tenor saxophonist Bizo Mngqikana, and guitarist/bassist Fred Coker — the latter, according to Rob Fitzpatrick in The Guardian, "helped guide Assagai into position as the only real West African competition to the super-star firepower of Ghana's Osibisa" before Coker left Assagai to replace Spartacus R in Osibisa. Canterbury scene keyboardist Alan Gowen and King Crimson percussionist Jamie Muir were also briefly members (1971-72). - Wiki
Assagai were one of the few (if any other) black bands signed to the Vertigo label. The band's sound was a mixture of psychedelic rock, Nigerian afro beat, and funk. Their self-titled debut is most widely known for the track "Telephone Girl" which is an infectious uptempo dance floor funk cut. The beginning beat also served as an inspiration to hip hop producers like DJ Premiere. Other tracks like the afro burners "Cocoa" and "Irin Ajolania" show they are no one trick pony, either. – Soul Strut
Label: Prog Temple – PTLP8027 |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue |
Country: UK |
Released: 01 Oct 2016 |
Genre: Electronic, Jazz, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country |
Style: Afrobeat, African, Tribal, Funk |
$39.00
From a self-taught musician exploring his Nubian people’s musical roots to a professional, successfully leading his various bands into new, vibrant, international pop territory – Ali Hassan Kuban became an international star when his music finally went global in the 1980s.
When precisely Ali Hassan Kuban’s legendary recordings, released internationally by Piranha in 1988, were made, nobody knows any more. What we do know, recordings had taken place at Delta Sound S.A. in Cairo – with the orchestra’s entire line-up circled around the only working microphone at hand. The tracks had been travelling in the Arab world on two audio-cassettes afterwards and accompanied his rise from a local superstar to a musical innovator of new, vibrant, international Pop.
Ancient Nubian melodies played on a background of pulsating Western beats and sounds that draw from American jazz and international pop – Ali Hassan Kuban served as one of the founding fathers of the musical breed which crushed the gates between the Global underground and Western pop: the old and the new! The weddings and the concert hall! The Orient and the Occident! - Bandcamp
Label: Piranha – PIR3166-LP |
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 180g |
Country: Europe |
Released: 16 Nov 2018 |
Genre: Folk, World, & Country |
Style: African |