Sons of Kemet – Your Queen is a Reptile
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sons-kemet-queen-reptile/
“Your Queen is a Reptile” (2018) is Sons of Kemet’s 3rd LP and 1st release on the Impulse! label, that was home to Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, and Pharoah Sanders at their peaks.
The album title refers to the British monarchy and the Reptilian conspiracy theory, with the sleeve notes depicting the […]
Blue Note Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/blue-note-africa/
In 2022, the legendary jazz label Blue Note Records and UMG Africa launched a new brand to promote African Jazz outside of the continent.
The first release, in January 2023, was an album by South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini “In The Spirit Of Ntu.” […]
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Rejoice
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rejoice-tony-allen-hugh-masekela/
When Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela met in the 70s, during Apartheid, they talked about recording together. They had to wait till 2010 to work together in the UK, but the sessions were unfortunately archived.
Finally, Rejoice has been released. After Masekela passed away in 2018, [...]
#FullAlbum #HughMasekela #Jazz #Nigeria #Remixed #SouthAfrica #TonyAllen #Afrobeat #AfroJazz
The Shaolin Afronauts – Follow The Path
https://amf.didiermary.fr/the-shaolin-afronauts-follow-the-path/
The driving force of The Shaolin Afronauts is Ross McHenry, composer, bandleader, producer and bassist based in Adelaide.
2011’s debut album “Flight Of The Ancients” was a critical and commercial success story. The follow up “Quest Under Capricorn” further cemented the bands reputation for forging their own very particular sound. [...]
New music video, hot off the... rendering?
finished listening Mingus Ah Um 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
One of the best recording by Charles Mingus, especially the second track, which Mingus' tribute to Lester Young
Letta MBulu – What Is Wrong With Groovin’?
https://amf.didiermary.fr/letta-mbulu-what-wrong-groovin/
Letta MBulu’s “What Is Wrong With Groovin’?” is a single released in 1967 and written by Hugh Masekela.
Letta is a South African jazz singer who left the country in 1964 to escape apartheid, with her husband Caiphus Semenya.They left South Africa for Los Angeles and worked with many (Jazz) musicians & composers […]
Ami Taf Ra - How I Became A Madman
Feat. Kamasi Washington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkj3kBkcA4c
LA-based Moroccan artist, inspired by Khalil Gibran’s seminal work "The Prophet" https://www.kahlilgibran.com/images/The%20Prophet%20Ebook%20by%20Kahlil%20Gibran.pdf
“I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen.”
From "The Prophet and The Madman," produced by Kamasi Washington.
https://amitafra.bandcamp.com/album/the-prophet-and-the-madman
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nduduzo Makhathini (piano), Mbuso Khoza (vocals) - You Make Me Happy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b6rS5qC5Ik
"Ladysmith Black Mambazo return with a powerful new single that blends their world-renowned harmonies with the soulful touch of Mbuso Khoza and the jazz spirit of Nduduzo Makhathini. A love song delivered in signature Mambazo style – uplifting, heartfelt, and timeless."
From upcoming album "One Voice One World."
Nduduzo Makhathini – Amathambo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nduduzo-makhathini-amathambo-ikhambi/
South-African pianist & healer Nduduzo Makhathini will release his next albums on Blue Note Records.
Award-winning pianist, improvisor, healer and scholar from South Africa. A recipient of prestigious awards such as the Standard Bank Young Artist Award, multiple South African Music Award (SAMA) and AFRIMA among others that have made him an influential figure. [...]
Benjamin Jephta - Homecoming Revisited
Feat. Siya Makuzeni, Marcus Wyatt, Sisonke Xonti, Mthunzi Mvubu, Llewelyn George, Damian Kamineth
https://benjaminjephta.bandcamp.com/album/homecoming-revisited
More on AMF: https://amf.didiermary.fr/benjamin-jephta-quintet-homecoming/
The Ploemies - Africa
Live (extract)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBxtVQ4THlg
Full version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qms6QNkMJgQ
A 4-piece band from Cape Town.
EL MUKI - Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet
Afro-Peruvian Jazz EPK - 20 Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GfYXTfQTsg
"Real music. Made by real human beings. Using real instruments." (a stance against AI in art/music)
El Muki is a guardian figure in Andean culture.
I'm surprised no one has written down the lyrics to Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning. Beautiful fusion of spoken word poetry in the vein of Gil Scott-Heron, chanting, West African music, Southern blues, jazz: https://chiefadjuah.bandcamp.com/track/bark-out-thunder-roar-out-lightning
The Boy’s Doin’ It (1975)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/boys-doin-it-1975-masekela-fela-kuti/
The Boy’s Doin’ It is the 17th studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, recorded in New York City and in Lagos, and released in June 1975.
So many incredible musicians on one album, dedicated to Fela Kuti and the women of the world: Okyerema Asante, Orlando Julius, the rhythm brothers Stanley & Frankie Todd, [...]
#FelaKuti #HughMasekela #Jazz #OrlandoJulius #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Balimaya Project – Wolo So
https://amf.didiermary.fr/balimaya-project-soninka-patronba/
The Balimaya Project is a collective of 16 musicians in UK (including members of Kokoroko and Seed Ensemble), fusing traditional Mandingo music with Jazz.
The Balimaya Project synthesizes and bridges London’s bustling jazz circuit with traditional repertoire and folklore of the Mandé peoples of West Africa.
Thelonious Monk met Dollar Brand
https://amf.didiermary.fr/thelonious-monk-met-dollar-brand/
When Thelonious Monk first met Dollar Brand… By 1964, Dollar Brand (later Abdullah Ibrahim) had already made 3 LP’s as a bandleader. He was living in Switzerland and had just gotten a boost from Duke Ellington.
[Thelonious Monk and his wife, Nellie] were at Kongresshaus in Zurich where Monk gave another successful concert. After […]
#60smusic #AbdullahIbrahim #Apartheid #Jazz #SouthAfrica #TheloniousMonk
Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hugh-masekela-union-south-africa/
Jonas Gwangwa (1937 – 2021) was a genius trombone player from Soweto, South Africa. That’s him in the middle between 2 other South African geniuses, the late Hugh Masekela on the left, and Caiphus Semenya (born 1939), on the right, for their band Union of South Africa.
The album, released in May 1971, is […]
Keletigui Diabate Feat. Habib Koite – Summertime at Bamako
https://amf.didiermary.fr/keletigui-diabate-habib-koite-summertime-bamako/
Summertime at Bamako is a track on Kélétigui Diabaté’s album “Sandiya” with Habib Koité on guitar. The master balafonist revisits American composer George Gershwin’s Summertime from Porgy & Bess (1935).
Tony Allen – Film of Life
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tony-allen-film-life/
“For his tenth album [‘Film Of Life’ in 2014], the human metronome of afrobeat has pulled out all the stops.“
At his side are The Jazzbastards, a trio of producers at the cutting edge of contemporary sound, and fellow world-class musicians, including Damon Albarn, who […]
Nubiyan Twist – Jungle Run
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nubiyan-twist-jungle-run/
Now one of the leading lights in the UK’s new generation of soulful, genre-fluid artists, Nubiyan Twist, the Leeds-born and now London-based 10-piece collective have created their finest recordings to date, effortlessly weaving together elements of jazz, soul, hip hop, African styles, Latin, dub, hip hop and electronics in a flow of thought-provoking and [...]
Wrapped In Rhythm, Vol. II - Tutu Puoane & Metropole Orkest (teaser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUN_jT407GI
Based on poems by Lebo Mashile from "In a Ribbon of Rhythm."
PS: see comment to this post for links to these albums on Bandcamp.
iPhupho L’ka Biko – Azania EP
https://amf.didiermary.fr/iphupho-lka-biko-azania-ep/
iPhupho L’ka Biko describe themselves as “children of Biko” and their music as Afrikanist Experimental Jazz. Azania is their first EP.
In the bustling city of Johannesburg, black classical music comes alive through the sounds of the powerful experimental jazz group, iPhupho L’ka Biko. Emerging from the influential student movements of 2015-2016, this group has […]
The Trance of Seven Colors
https://amf.didiermary.fr/trance-seven-colors/
Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders
#70smusic #Gnawa #Jazz #Morocco #OldAfricanMusic #PharoahSanders
