Africa music reviews

Amazing Tunes, and they are also soothing. Nice to dance to also. Putumayo does it again

This Album is definetly a winner, the combination of traditional afro beats mixed with Electronica is such a refreshing sound from the current trend of monotonous sounds in the dance music scene today. Pick up this album and check out any globally influenced, Dance, Electronica, House, Lounge Groove, Hip Hop, Soul music liek Euro Lounge, Sahara Lounge and World Groove.

I bought this CD over a month ago and I haven't listened to anything else since. As a former African resident and lover of reggae this music does feel like coming home. Though modernized and more electronic the music definitely captures the essence of Africa, the mixed cultures and languages - I never tire of it. You will not be disappointed.

Joyous rhythms and wonderful voices threaded with African tradition and youthful innovation... Let these queens take you where no woman has taken you before :)

You might remember this song from 1986 when it was first released. It was stunning then and it still is now. A true classic.

Yesterday,June 27,2003,was one of the most beautiful nights of my life.I saw Dollar Brand,or Abdullah Ibrahim,on stage,playing solo acoustic piano for two hours.I told many peaople in town to come to this concert,because it would surely be one of the most essential dates we had in some twenty years,with Randy Weston,Chet Baker,Tommy Flanagan,George Adams/Don Pullen,Shepp,Benny Carter/Harry Edison and David Murray;and I was right.And if they didn't believe me,too bad for them.We had two hours of pure magic.Abdullah played the first hour and a quarter without a stop,creating some kind of Ellingtonian suite,including only his own compositions;haunting ballads and african tunes;then he played two shorter parts ,twenty minutes each,and the first one included several Dukish tunes.There was an irreal moment at the end of the concert,when everybody was standind up applausing the Master for minutes and minutes,while he sent kisses to the audience.
This 69 years old king of piano,who was discovered by Duke Ellington (who organized Dollar's first recording session for Frank Sinatra's Reprise label),is one of the last great masters of jazz piano, with Hank Jones,Randy Weston and Ahmad Jamal.
This record is one of Abdullah's earliest ones;it was made in London,March 16,1965.He pays tributes to his main influences: Fats Waller(1904-1943),with an incredible version of the magnificent "Honeysuckle rose";Randy Weston,7 years older than him,with a beautiful song by Randy,dedicated to his son,"Little Niles";Thelonious Monk(1917-1982),with the sublime "Reflections" and "Monk's mood";and of course,his main influence,Duke Ellington (1899-1974) with an extremely beautiful medley including "mood indigo"(one of the most beautiful tunes ever written),"don't get around much anymore" and "take the A train".
Abdullah was 32 at this time,and already was one of the major piano players.He's the man who never played two notes if one was enough.He's the man who,when he plays his african,very swinging and rhythmical tunes,gives me as much pleasure as the old stride piano players,Fats Waller,James P.Johnson or Willie Smith.He's one of the few immense jazz artists still alive and playing.And this solo piano effort is essential.Just as many of his recordings: "african piano","anatomy of a south african village","live at Sweet Basil with Carlos Ward","Duke Ellington presents","Autobiography","african magic","cape town revisited","memories","ode to Duke Ellington","anthem for the new nations".You'll have troubles to find some of these in America (maybe most of these).It's a pity,because here are some of the most necessary records by this master.So,good luck.I wish you could find these records,but what I wish the most,is that you could see Abdullah Ibrahim in concert;you'll never forget this moment.

Even if you don't mind dancehall and all the other manifestations of modern Jamaican popular music (as I don't) you might still be wondering what exactly happened to good old-fashioned *reggae*. A partial answer provided by this album is that it is alive and well and living in Africa. This collection (mainly focussing on South Africa, Mali, and the Ivory Coast) is brimming with excellent examples of many long-lost reggae styles. Harley and the Rasta Family hark back to the classic golden age of the rootsy early 70's, Koko Dembele calls to mind the more clinical and compressed (but still slammin'!) early 80's (think "Night Nurse"), while Senzo is reminiscent of the later Jimmy Cliff.

All round a refreshing and highly listenable set guaranteed to appeal to neophytes and connoisseurs alike.

It's raw and beautiful acoustic, a lot of percussion.
Heartfelt, stunning, very pure roots, these guys can play!!!
A delight to listen to. Etc..etc..

This is one of the earlier recordings of genre-crunching musical explorations on the Barbarity label. Revolt Against reason is a fun world fusion record with elements of reggae, dub, techno, Rai, hip-hop as well as drums, string instruments, electric guitar and melodic sing-alongs that will impress many fans of rock. Despite the wide umbrella of influences, all the tracks are settled into an original sound that has a distinctive feel to it. Above it all, running throughout the umbrella lay a powerful message "The revolt against reason is the fight against scientists in the need of proving material existence through facts or terrestrial value. The Revolt against reason is a non-violent intifada. One highlight El Qouds (track #6) with the grungy electric guitar and haunting wailing vocals. That song is meant to be a call for peace between Arabs and Jews. The concept of world fusion is quite prevalent here being the idea to combine cultural influences because the world is getting figuratively smaller and humanity should working toward creating a global community dissolving ethnic prejudices. This music may seem strange on the first few listens but you will soon catch onto the rhythm. Recommended for those with adventurous musical tastes who enjoy funky mid-tempo beats.

This is one of the earlier recordings of genre-crunching musical explorations on the Barbarity label. Revolt Against reason is a fun world fusion record with elements of reggae, dub, techno, Rai, hip-hop as well as drums, string instruments, electric guitar and melodic sing-alongs that will impress many fans of rock. Despite the wide umbrella of influences, all the tracks are settled into an original sound that has a distinctive feel to it. Above it all, running throughout the umbrella lay a powerful message "The revolt against reason is the fight against scientists in the need of proving material existence through facts or terrestrial value. The Revolt against reason is a non-violent intifada. One highlight El Qouds (track #6) with the grungy electric guitar and haunting wailing vocals. That song is meant to be a call for peace between Arabs and Jews. The concept of world fusion is quite prevalent here being the idea to combine cultural influences because the world is getting figuratively smaller and humanity should working toward creating a global community dissolving ethic prejudices. This music may seem strange on the first few listens but you will soon catch onto the rhythm. Recommended for those with adventurous musical tastes who enjoy funky mid-tempo beats.

this is excellent stuff.by the end of the song your feet are tapping to the rhythm.a must for all afro-jazz lovers.

this is excellent stuff.by the end of the song your feet are tapping to the rhythm.a must for all afro-jazz lovers.

This is the excellent soundtrack to the 1970s documentary of the same name about South African music. An excellent introduction to S/A Music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo contributes two really nice tunes (their second selection is a real toe-tapper) acapella. There is a lovely instrumental featuring just guitars and congas and an equally sweet gospel song. But the highlights are the live selections from the S/A counterpart to the Apollo Theater from the documentary. The tune that features the Mahotella Queens will get you hooked even if you don't have a clue of what's being said. You feel it, though. This is hard to find, but WELL worth the effort.