Carlos Alberto "Katchas" Martins - Broda (Funana pioneer and Bulimundo mentor, 1977)

(DMC 111-101).

One aspect I could not guess when I begun Muzzicaltrips blog, is the number of people around the world it would lead me to meet or to exchange with.  Today's post comes from one of theses interesting exchanges, as it's a contribution from Norway, proposed by Olav Aalberg, great connoisseur of music from Cabo Verde.

Okoi Seka Athanase L'Empereur du Kete Rock (Ivory Coast, 1977)

(Badmos BLP 50).

Okoi Seka Athanase recorded this wonderfull album in Decca studio (Lagos) with help of Black Santiagos horn section. This goes from deep afro soul to highlife and soukous. The funky "Melokon Membun Ou" cannot be shared via souncloud but many good tracks on this LP, and Mubades may be my favorite, including serious guitar plays and sebene.

Okok Rachar Band (Benga music, 1977)

(JICCO JCLP 017).

I have few information about this band and record, but it's just great music from Kenya (benga music) released on the nigerian label Jicco.

The Natural Seven International - Free Advice (Nigeria, 1977)

(Hasbunalau records HRCL36).

This LP from Nigeria is realized by The Natural 7 International but the label credits The Sea Birds International. Anyway, Eddy Dada delivers an hybrid soukous sung in pidgin english and the following track with reggae-dub flavor.

Ornette Coleman - Midnight sunrise (joujouka jazz, 1977)

(Horizon 722).

This one is for ears looking for free expriments. From his 1959 "Free Jazz" LP, which open great perspectives in US jazz during the 60s, Ornette Coleman did not stop to innovate.  As many free jazz musicians, looking for african roots could take part in the approach. So Dancing In Your Head LP includes an interesting experiment with musicians from Morocco, the Master Musicians of Joujouka, recorded between 1973 and 1975. Being a sufi brotherhood, music from Joujouka aims to reach a trance (a kind of mystic musico-therapy also present in  Gnaoua culture) and naturally allows jazzy experiments. And I guess it's not just by chance that the cover artwork represents 2 faces of the same head.

Oriental Brothers International Band (Guitar Band from Nigeria, 1977)

(Decca DWAPS 2034).

Three brothers from south-east of Nigeria founded the Oriental Brothers band: Godwin Kabaka Opara (who left in 1977 before this LP), C. Ezebuiro Obinna (surnamed "Warrior") and  F. Dansatch Opara. At this time Nigeria was more with Juju and Fuji, but as a major highlife band in the country, Oriental Brothers band remained recording great albums with hypnotic and evolving guitars and percussions. 

Abel Lima e Les Sofas cantam Nos Bida (Afrofunk form Cabo Verde, 1977)

Abel Lima is a singer from Cabo Verde islands, forced to clandestine imigration by boat at age of 13 to escape the totalitarian regime.

JM Tim and Foty - Douala by Night (Afrodisco classic from Cameroon, 1977)

(Disques Esperance ESP 155029).

Duo from Cameroon (playing together from 1977 to 1982) gives here an idea on how funky the nights are in Douala... A disco flavored classic. 

Michel Kingué - Nout'am (Makossa goes Afrofunk, 1977)

(Songhoi SON 822).

Michel Kingue (1933-2007) contributed to introduce makossa to occidental ears in late 60s playing clarinet and saxophone. Among his collaborations with Gilles Sala on Songhoi Records, here is Nout'am from 1977. First part of the track is a folk style song which turns into killer afrofunk... His daughter Weyah is pursuing the family musical tradition and explained me that title of the track might be misspelled as in duala language "ndut'am" means "pain".