photo op: It’s at the shop.
December 7, 2008, 9:15 pm(Click on the image for a high resolution version.)
—Steve | 3 comments
(posted in the Random, Images, Arts & Culture, Humor, Cool, The world we live in, Life, The Internet, photo op, Photography category)
musical link: Kelenkye Band, Orchestre Elegance-Jazz and DO Misiani & Shirati Band
November 24, 2008, 10:47 pmSome tracks that I have been listening to over the last couple of days ..
From Africa Serenades 29 ( thanks again Cheeku! ), here is Orchestra Elegance Jazz with Ngalula Marthe. This has appeared in another couple of interesting places including mix #6 in the Kinshasa-Nairobi Express series at World Passport.
Some luck soul recently picked up this single on eBay for a mere $8 …
Kelenkye Band in Jungle Music pulled off African Serenades 28 ( thank you Cheeku and Matt!) . While there are lots of comments about them on the internets, there is no real content. Can anyone help?
I wish that this had managed to be preserved at a better bit rate in stereo so that all the high hats and suchlike like were not lost.
That is one catchy chorus line.
Fred Okello asked
“I am looking for any one who can upload Ogolla kadir by Tony Omondi/Musa Juma.”
I do not have this, can anyone help? I do have Bebina Siaya Kababa that I posted back in July of 2007 that has Musa Juma and Tony Omondi. Hope it helps.
Musa Juma & Orchestra Limpopo International feat. Tony Omondi - Bebina Siaya Kababa
I am sorry but some of these tracks are in mp4 format. I come from the “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade” school of thought.
If you have trouble with your player of choice, try VLC or WinAmp.
—Steve | 106 comments
(posted in the Africa, Music, Life, The Internet, pre-1990 East African music, pre-1990 African music, African Music, Artists category)
musical link: Moji & The Tropicals, Double M Sound
November 17, 2008, 11:37 pmSome of you may remember that way back in August, I posted a track from Moji and the Tropicals and later went on to pick up the disc on eBay thanks to a tip from Doug. Well, I finally got around to digitizing the 2nd track on the disk.
Not sure what to make of it.
“Duniani Mateso”, the B side of the desk, is certainly worth the price of admission.
The title track on the A-side of the disk, “Let’s live together”, confuses me a little though. It has this nationalistic thing going on that simply does not go down well with James Brown in my book. I was left feeling a little dirty actually - not sure if I should be dancing in the streets or up in rage aganist the colonial / imperial powers … or something.
Could be me though.
Anyway, enjoy.
.
.
Moji & The Tropicals - Lets live together
Moji & The Tropicals - Duniani Mateso
new rip:
older rip:
In closing, just picked up a bunch of new tunes. I am currently really enjoying Double M Sound from Tanzania. This group in my estimation is a bit of an anomaly. I think that their sound is entirely Koffi Olomide-esque and I find that pretty strange considering that they are neither (to the best of my knowledge) Congolese nor Paris-based (I think that they are based on Dodoma).
But, as always, these details do not detract from the appeal of the sound.
Jeff of Bongo Celebrity posted a track off this same album a while back that Kilio cha yatima (Cry of the orphan) you can find here
—Steve | 1 comment
(posted in the Kenya, Arts & Culture, Africa, Cool, Life, The Internet, pre-1990 East African music, pre-1990 African music, African Music, Artists, Congo, pre-1990 Congolese music, Moji and the Tropicals category)
Farewell Mama, Miriam Makeba dead at 76
November 11, 2008, 4:11 pmMiriam Makeba, Mama Afrika, died November 9th 2008.
She will be missed.
—Steve | 11 comments
(posted in the The Internet category)
44 presidents
November 9, 2008, 3:18 pm
![](http://www.patrickmoberg.com/november-4-2008.jpg" "November 4th 2008")
From Patrick Moberg’s website.
—Steve | 1 comment
(posted in the Images, Arts & Culture, Life, The Internet, Obama category)
musical link: Orchestra Les Mangelepa & Classic Grooves
October 30, 2008, 8:57 amLife is moving fast: the blog is not abandoned, it is just …
I will let you know what it is when I figure it out.
In the meantime, a couple of quick notes.
I just picked up Orchestra Les Mangelepa’s 1985 pre-deportation album, Madina.
Not sure who the producer was on this but this particular album is the work of a production maestro. ‘Maestro’ is a word that I rarely use people so take me seriously.
For your listening pleasure, one track off the 12′, Madina, the title track which is 8 minutes of sound roller coaster.
This track has 2 alternating rhythm sections, a “High-life” feel to it with a complex guitar/drum/trumpet/sax interplay and an interlude that starts at about 3:03 that my friend Joe told me “absolutely requires seat belts”.
And the kicker.
They sing in English so (almost) everyone can enjoy the vocals on this.
Next up, this little gem.
Doonesbury: On Obama and his Kenyan following
And, currently on heavy rotation at Casa Ntwiga
Classic Grooves #6 from Spirit of House. A track listing can be found here.
Pick it up here.
An important note: don’t let the name of the website fool you. This is what Kenyans of my generation call “Soul” - if you are a fan of Atlantic Star, Mac Band, Cameo and groups who played that type of sound, this is exactly it.
The mix is DEFINITELY worth the download and listen.
—Steve | 19 comments
(posted in the Kenya, Africa, Music, Cool, Life, The Internet, pre-1990 East African music, pre-1990 African music, Artists, Orchestra Les Mangelepa, pre-1990 Congolese music, Obama category)
Photo Op: Sweet
October 20, 2008, 6:53 pm(Click on the image for a high resolution version.)
—Steve | 12 comments
(posted in the Random, Images, Arts & Culture, Cool, The world we live in, Blogging, Life, The Internet, Links category)
musical link: Samba sings for Obama, an update.
October 13, 2008, 9:19 pmThere is a new version of the track by Samba Mapangala, Obama Ubarikiwe, that I wrote about about a week ago available.
The new remix is a vocal version that has Jonal Buya Lutete on harmony vocals. Jonal was formerly with OK Jazz.
Here is the release notification.
10/10/08 - Samba Sings for Obama
New video and vocal remix — Free MP3 downloadsSamba Mapangala, East Africa’s most beloved singer, recognizing how much Africans love Barack Obama and how proud Kenyans are of Obama’s Presidential candidacy, has released a song in his honor: “Obama Ubarikiwe.”
The title translates as “Obama Be Blessed.” The new Swahili lyrics say: There’s a new leader in America. Let’s applaud him. We wish you long life. Do a good job for us. Viva Obama! The song continues: Obama, leadership is a gift from God, and you have it. Please help to bring peace, change and hope to all Americans and all the world. We love you!The video features 14-year-old Kenyan rapper Fanaka Ndege and portrays how Obama’s candidacy brings people of different generations and backgrounds together. It was produced and directed by Jose Shalita and Robin Berry, assisted by George Ndege.
Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk3_7nQ4wiMThe original recording was made in Chicago in September at Delmark’s Riverside Studio and produced by Nathaniel Braddock of the Occidental Brothers and Old Town School of Folk Music. The vocal remix adds harmony vocals by Jonal Buya Lutete, formerly with OK Jazz.
Free MP3 downloads of the original song and remixes are available at http://drop.io/sambasingsforobama
Please circulate this music to everyone — the election is just 24 days away!
Musicians on the session were members of Virunga and the Occidental Brothers:
Siama Matuzungidi, Nathaniel Braddock, Jose Shalita, guitars
Rap written and performed by Fanaka Ndege
Voices: Samba Mapangala, Cheryl Kramer, Jose Shalita, D Boudreaux
Saxophone: Greg Ward
Trumpet: Marques Carrol
Bass: Ali Msafiri Mgawe
Drums: Paul Steuber
Percussion: D Boudreaux
Engineer: Eric ButkusSamba Mapangala’s latest album, African Classics, was released in June 2008 by Sheer Sounds. For more information on Samba, go to www.myspace.com/sambamapangala
– CC Smith
Virunga Management
You can download both versions of the track at the links below
Samba Mapangala - Obama ubarikiwe ( Vocal Mix )
Samba Mapangala - Obama ubarikiwe
You can also find a complete mix tape of various tracks created by artists for Obama at drop.io. You can find these specific tracks at this link and the complete mix tape at this link.
You can also find a video of the original track with the rap by Fanaka Ndege on YouTube at this link.
In other unrelated news:
For those of you who may be deep house fans, I have to let you know that I just found out that Frankie Knuckles, one of the fathers of the sound, just had his foot amputated due to medical complications from a break that happened 10 years ago. A little more on the story at bodytonic.com
And, the boys over at deeper.co.za have done it again with another double-bad mix by guest DJ Niall - Deep Disco.
Go and give it a listen.
—Steve | 1 comment
(posted in the Kenya, Africa, Blogging, The Internet, Links, Artists, Obama category)
feed the addiction: for the naysayers.
October 13, 2008, 12:41 pmcaveat emptor for those of you who are trying to buy new music to grow your music collections who may be reading this.
I am not and have never advocated stealing music.
If you read my comments and posts, you will find that I frequently link to Stearns, Amazon, Calabash and other music sales sites where you can buy DRM-free music.
iTunes and Audible force you to buy music that is locked to play only on certain devices or computers and force you to manage your collection using their software.
I believe that once you buy music, you should be able to play it however you like on any gadget that you own .
—Steve | 3 comments
(posted in the Random, Music, Humor, Cool, Life, The Internet, Broken, Payback is a ... category)
musical link: who is this ? ( Maya )
October 9, 2008, 4:03 pmJust heard this track and I cannot get the funky beat in there out of my mind. Can anyone tell me who it is?
I initially thought that is might be African Stars of Twange Pepeta fame but I cannot find this track in their discography.
Some clues as to the artists do exist: in spite of the Lingala singing, the phraseology used on the lyrics almost certainly identifies the tune as being from a Tanzania-based group. In the closing riffs on the track, the singer mentions “African Beat”, a phrase that surely tells us something but unfortunately also comes with a guarantee to throw up a couple of bazillion Google hits.
Another interesting clue is in the melody: this is almost certainly based on an Koffi Olomide beat from some time in the 90s but I cannot remember which particular track it might be. Anyway, my thinking is that between the Koffi-esque lead guitar chords and the Lingala storytelling at the start and the Kwassa Kwassa chant later on just before the guitar solo, it might be that this track is a group with members from classic Soukous linage.
And how many tracks do you hear these days with as nice a sax solo as the one that starts at 5:30.
I have to let you know though, trying to dissect this track has been tough - it is just too enjoyable.
I’m sorry but this rip has some serious stutter from 6:30 to 7:50 which unfortunately is also where the track has an AWESOME in-your-face lead guitar and vocals solo.
Anyway, all things aside, a very nice hybrid track that lies squarely in the domain of music I really really dig.
As an aside, if you want to hear the classic funky rumba sound of artists like Bopol Mansiamina or even Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga style sound with an infusion of the “Bongo” beat that my friend Jeff is an authority on, African Stars Band are the group to listen to. Their sound can only be described on stupefyingly (sp?) authentic.
And you can quote me on that.
See ya.
If you are new to the site or trying to figure out how to do something, please read this.
—Steve | 10 comments
(posted in the Kenya, Africa, Music, Cool, The Internet, African Music, Artists, post-1990 Congolese music category)
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