Two steaming Afro Funk rollers from Togo .. TIP! Hailing from the capital city, the Togo All Stars display a vigorous rhythm section and three sturdy voices deeply rooted within the afropop traditions stemming from the independence era, be it high-life, afrobeat, funk, reggae or even gospel music. A passionate man with a cause, Serge Amiano has been living in Lomé for a few years now. Thanks to his musical vision, he’s the mastermind behind Togo All Stars’ meeting of two generations. He confronts younger musicians playing in the shadows with older voices long thought to be tarnished under elusive limelight. Tireless talent scout and energy catalyst, Amiano paved the way for the Togo All Stars to happen; in the same manner he did it for Fanga, a celebrated French afrobeat collective in the last decade. Korbo, Fanga’s singer is featured on the Togo All Stars’ first album to be released this spring, under Kindred spirits record label. Nested behind its sea front lined with tentative palm trees, Lomé is an unsung Atlantic Africa city. The city mixes the energy of a restless youth with displays of genuine emotions that were once the soundtrack of the country’s independence, from April 27th 1960 to this day. Set in a country where cultural preservation is almost pointless, Serge Amiano had the idea to bring together rough voices from the past with the supreme rhythms of young lions dedicated to any kind of repertoire they lay their hands on. A true electric shock between generations, the Togo All Stars combine dignified and vintage singers with youthful musicians, exuberant rhythm section, liquid guitars and devastating horns. Genuine Togolese afro funk pioneer, charming Napo de mi Amor brings his solid vocal experience to the front of the orchestra. Aguey Cudjoe is Amiano’s true discovery. He stumbled upon this veteran singer doing high-life numbers in one of Lomé’s rare clubs. He became effortlessly one of the All Stars main voices, also adding sweet percussive touches in the distance. Experienced and mature, Dama Damawuzan learnt his trade within As du Bénin, the great and main Togolese orchestra from the 1970’s. He confronts his vocal prowesses to his own percussions but also to young drummer Gbetoglo Efoevi’s fierce groove. On this album, each of the All Stars’ eight musicians joins in for vocal harmonies. Legendary Otodi Studio was reopened for the sole recording of this first Togo All Stars album, giving exquisite analog warmth to the songs. Unappreciated for the time being, these gathered stars from Togo set bridges between the past, the present and the future of an always moving afro music. Fresh and raw energy combined with vintage singers, the Togo All Stars’s music embodies a true international musical elegance, looming large over the Atlantic and giving Togo its first big band since the 1970’s. More

The debut album by the L.A. based Dexter Story. Featuring many guests artists such as The Life Force Trio, Mark de Clive-Lowe and others ! More

The official release of the 1976 recording 'The Tribe'. Previously only a handful of ultra-rare test pressing copies were floating around of this beauty. Finally after more than 35 years, this essential Spiritual Jazz recording will see its official release. BIG TIP! Long-treasured among jazz fans and record collectors, Hannibal Marvin Peterson's unreleased album The Tribe is a sacred collection of blistering jazz assaults and deep reflective spirituals from Hannibal's ten-piece group. The unreleased album is something of a holy grail among collectors, with only a handful of test presses ever made. Now 36 years later, it is ready to be officially released for the first time, and fans of Black Jazz and Strata East won't have to shell out the $2000+ asking price for what is considered by many to be a lost treasure and one of Hannibal's best works. Originally recorded in a bid for John Hammond to hook them up with a major record deal, The Tribe session wasn't picked up in the end. Unfazed, Hannibal had all but forgotten about it until a friend pointed out that copies were exchanging hands for big bucks on the Internet a few years ago. The towering Texan's primary concern is to always get the music out to the people, and any label should facilitate that. His uncompromising view has lead to a few clashes, notably when his Children Of The Fire album was turned down because of the title, leading him to start his own label Sunrise Records. However, these disagreements also imbue his music with a certain strength, a purity, and a genuine artistic vision. "Once you change one thing, you're changing things your whole life," Hannibal says. "It's like a lie: once you tell one, you have to tell a million more. I'm always looking to make sure that what I play is worthy of the people, and can help them through times of great tribulation." The five tracks on The Tribe fluctuate from propulsive ensemble stampedes supporting Hannibal's wild solos, to peaceful dreamy hymns. 'Now Stand' opens the album, the rest of the group playing catch-up to Hannibal and Billy Hart's trumpet and drum intro. 'A Sacred Multitude' and 'Of Life And Love And God' both tap into the deeper, contemplative side of things, Branice McKenzie's sanctified vocal and Diedre Murray's cello coming to the fore. 'Returning To The Ways' powers along with an uptempo charge not unlike Carlos Garnett's 'Mother Of The Future', but it's The Tribe's title track that steals the show and closes the record. Kicking off in exuberant spirit, the track blends heavy riffs and chants with the kind of bluesy changes that characterize Harry Whitaker's 'Black Renaissance', before ending in a foreboding metallic conclusion. Hannibal's formative years on his grandparents' farm on the banks of the Colorado are partly responsible for his spiritual, humanistic attitude to music. When describing the Tribe sessions, he says "The Tribe is really like a wild river, like untamed stallions that haven't been roped off. It's one of the qualities that I love about it. When you think of stallions running, they build up this high blood. The leader of the stallions stands out alone and looks out on the valley, with a very quiet, stoic look… I love it. I have these images and qualities that I look for when I write a song, that make you feel this instinctive freedom that's in us, that we have to always fight to maintain. That's what the search of the inner world is about, that's an endless search." The music on 'The Tribe' is a direct descendant of Hannibal's grandparents singing in the cotton fields. "They didn't sing to impress a critic or to make a hit record," Hannibal concludes. "They sang to aspire and to stay alive. That's why that music is timeless, and it's as healing today as it was then." Now that The Tribe is finally out in the wider world, it will surely be here to stay.


More

The debut album by the L.A. based Dexter Story. Featuring many guests artists such as The Life Force Trio, Mark de Clive-Lowe and others ! More

Reissue of the classic 1977 Orlandivo album on Kindred Spirits, big TIP! Composer, singer and percussionist Orlann Divo moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1946 where he started out as a promising percussionist in the band of Ed Lincoln. The 1960’s had been of great importance for the artistic development of Orlann Divo as he starts to release some of his solo works ‘Key of the Succes’ (1962) and ‘Samba in Parallel’ (1965). In 1977 he released this self-titled work on Copacobana records. The album mainly remains in the Bossa Nova realm, while at the time of the release the Bossa Nova era was almost at its end. More than a decade ago, this sound reached its peak in popularity, but by the late 70’s the Brasilian disco and rare groove/funk sound was taking over leaving little room for more ‘traditional’ sounding albums. Unfortunately the album gained little notice, but was revived 20 years later by diggers around the world. To many record collectors and Brazilian music lovers around the globe this remains a true classic from the vaults of Brasilian Bossa and downtempo Samba. Now 25 years after its original release Kindred Spirits presents the official reissue of the 1977 self-titled album ‘Orlandivo’. This beautiful bossa / downtempo samba like album contains the sought after tracks such as ‘Onde Anda O Meu Amor’ and ‘Tamanco No Samba’. Apart from Orlandivo, other artists such as João Donato and Azymuth’s drummer Ivan Conti also deliver a solid contribution to the tracks, making this obscure Brasilian classic a must have for Brasilian music lovers!

More

The definitive compilation of Super Biton de Ségou, one of Mali's most important orchestra's during its golden age of music. This album contains the best of the 2 early 70's albums previously released on Mali Kunkan and recorded under the aegis of sound wizard Boubacar Traoré. TIP!
Of all the Malian orchestras, the mighty Super Biton de Ségou stands tall in the history of Malian modern music. Largely forgotten these days, it still remains one of the oldest and probably one of the best orchestras on the African continent. Like most great orchestras from West Africa, Super Biton have always combined a subtle mix of tradition and modernity, instrumental ease and vocal virtuosity along their scattered and scarce discography. Hailing from Orchestre Régional de Kayes, at the other end of the country, guitar player Mama Sissoko joined the Biton in 1972. He quickly became the main soloist of the band, and paved the way for a music which was both lyrical and sober. They triumphed at the 1974 and 1976 Biennales over the Kanaga de Mopti, Sidi Yassa de Kayes, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou, Negro Band de Gao and Kénéstar de Sikasso, Mali’s main regional orchestras. By that time, Super Biton were declared Mali’s first ‘national orchestra’. At the height of their power, the Biton had a repertoire of over 200 songs and counted 19 musicians among their ranks.By 1977, they released two consecutive albums under the name Super Biton National de Ségou, lavishly recorded at the fabled Radio Mali studio under the aegis of sound wizard Boubacar Traoré. Compiled here for the first time in their full glory, these songs belong to Mali’s golden age. They display the true nature of Malian musical genius, mixing traditional and modern instruments, such as Mama Sissoko’s mighty electric guitar, with sheer enthuasism at a time when most of these orchestras had largely overpassed the regional and national status they were given. Just like the Super Biton, still carrying on after many tribulations, they failed to reach a wider audience outside of Mali. Now it’s about time to enjoy the timelessness of Mali’s regional music from Segu.
More

Reissue of the classic 1977 Orlandivo album on Kindred Spirits, big TIP! Composer, singer and percussionist Orlann Divo moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1946 where he started out as a promising percussionist in the band of Ed Lincoln. The 1960’s had been of great importance for the artistic development of Orlann Divo as he starts to release some of his solo works ‘Key of the Succes’ (1962) and ‘Samba in Parallel’ (1965). In 1977 he released this self-titled work on Copacobana records. The album mainly remains in the Bossa Nova realm, while at the time of the release the Bossa Nova era was almost at its end. More than a decade ago, this sound reached its peak in popularity, but by the late 70’s the Brasilian disco and rare groove/funk sound was taking over leaving little room for more ‘traditional’ sounding albums. Unfortunately the album gained little notice, but was revived 20 years later by diggers around the world. To many record collectors and Brazilian music lovers around the globe this remains a true classic from the vaults of Brasilian Bossa and downtempo Samba. Now 25 years after its original release Kindred Spirits presents the official reissue of the 1977 self-titled album ‘Orlandivo’. This beautiful bossa / downtempo samba like album contains the sought after tracks such as ‘Onde Anda O Meu Amor’ and ‘Tamanco No Samba’. Apart from Orlandivo, other artists such as João Donato and Azymuth’s drummer Ivan Conti also deliver a solid contribution to the tracks, making this obscure Brasilian classic a must have for Brasilian music lovers!

More