From the island which gave the world Cesaria Evora comes another wonderful, husky voice in Carmen Souza, accompanied by bassist, composer and producer Theo Pas’cal, who is a hell of an arranger.
African Music
[Video] Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou – Piano Solo (Full Album)
From Éthiopiques 21: Ethiopia Song, this is Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, one truly bluesy nun of the the Ethiopian Orthodox persuasion.
[Video] Duo Ras Dashen – The Wonderful Sounds of Ethiopian Music
Singer and saxophonist Abate Berihun and pianist Yitzhak Yedid form the Duo Ras Dashen. It blends Yedid’s masterful jazz piano with the near liturgical singing style of Berihun. I look forward to hearing recorded product from this pairing soon.
[Video] Kassa Tessema – Na Gedamu
Kassa Tessema was a master of the kirar, an ancient stringed instrument from Ethiopia and Eritrea. He would accompany his playing with a healthy baritone singing voice.
[Sample] Amanar – Alghafiat
[Sample] Verckys et l´Orchestre Vévé – Congolese Funk, Afrobeat & Psychedelic Rumba 1969-1978
The Internet is a treasure trove which never ceases to amaze. Thanks to the enterprising souls over at Analog Africa, a brilliant reissue label from Germany, we get to here these long-forgotten wonders from the country formerly known as Zaïre, now the Democratic Republic of The Congo.
[Video] Franco & O.K. Jazz – On Entre O.K., On Sort K.O.
Welcome back, friends! It’s been a while since I’ve bothered to post anything here due to traveling and work obligations. Time to make this little labor of love a bit more active!
We start out by posting a classic rhumba-and-calypso-influenced tune from what was then the Belgian Congo, then Zaïre (now the Democratic Republic of The Congo). The bank, O.K. Jazz, were one of the finest exporters of this type of sound in South-Central Africa, and they gave the world one of the true giants of African music, the guitarist François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi, know to his legions of admirers simply as Franco.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 