Afrobeat in Action--Seun Kuti at The 9:30 Club in Washington DC!!!

By Kenny Eaton

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 will be playing at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on Monday July 7th at 7:00PM. Seun is of course the son of of the late, great Fela Kuti, who started the genre of Afrobeat-- mixing West African funk and American jazz into an unmistakable collage of dance, melody, and culture. Seun Kuti,follows in the trailblazing aspirations of his father--developing Afrobeat musically, culturally, and politically. He's reassembled key members of Fela's earth-shaking band and is making a powerful impact by updating a classic sound in his own innovative way.

For those dedicated readers of the Afrofunk Music Forum, you might have read a blog I wrote a while back on Seun and Fela Kuti. It gives a nice perspective into the Kuti family's history of music making and its lasting effects on the world.

Do not miss this incredible opportunity to witness the Kuti heritage in action. Check out Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on July 7th. It's an all ages show. The 9:30 Club is located at 815 V St, and tickets can be purchased for $25 at the 9:30 Club, or via tickets.com. Yeah Yeah!

Grupo Fantasma Album Release

By Kenny Eaton


The Latin funk powerhouse Grupo Fantasma just dropped their new album, Sonidos Gold, yesterday. Riding on a wave of high-profile support from the likes of Prince and pounding out a massive list of tour dates, it seems Grupo Fantasma is on a mission to take over the world.

The collective combines cumbia, salsa, mambo and any other Latin style they deem fit to create an eclectic, modern take on an already vibrant genre of music. Billboard Magazine raves, "They blast off in their own funktified, genre breaking directions."

Sonidos Gold continues in this vein, pushing the limits of groove to make a delicious salad of Latin, funk, and dance. Grupo Fantasma’s raucous horn section is compounded by the rhythmic assault of the band’s slew of drummers. If you listen to Sonidos Gold and your foot doesn’t immediately start tapping, you need to see a doctor. These grooves are infectious and undeniable. Check this album out… and bring your dance partner!

The new album is officially out in North America so run out to your favorite record shop, order from their online store, or jump on iTunes to download.

Classic Judy Mowatt Footage

By Robert Fox

Wow--check out this casually brilliant performance by Judy Mowatt, back in the day. One of Jamaica's greatest vocalists as well as a critical element in Bob Marley's vocal backing group the I-Threes, she is known for her perfect voice and huge stage presence. This is one of my favorite tunes of hers, and the video setting is illustrative of the community and working class roots of reggae. Word:

Stayin' Bulletproof

By Kenny Eaton


The Brooklyn-based group Antibalas kicked off a swarming new brand of afrobeat and experimental funk with their 2007 album Security. The dozen-strong members of Antibalas (which is spanish for 'bulletproof') have teamed up with the prolific indie-producer John McEntire (Tortoise, Stereolab, Tom Ze) to capture the new direction of the group’s music. Anti- Records describes the relationship the group has with their new producer:

"Enticed by McEntire to explore and unleash sides not previously mined on earlier recordings, the seven original compositions presented here illustrate perhaps a darker, more dynamic approach that's guaranteed to shock and dazzle new and old fans alike. This is music that was made to linger long after the party's over."

The raw size and technical complexity of Antibalas’ new album immediately lends credence to McEntire’s work with other nu-jazz heavyweights, Tortoise. Antibalas even had a review of the album from industry heavyweights at Rolling Stone.

I was overwhelmed by Security. Antibalas has sufficiently mastered Fela’s approach to jazz and African music, but crosses genres even further to infuse experimentation and jazz in this already eclectic sound. Security alludes to the experimentation of late John Coltrane and the controlled chaos of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew while staying in the realm of afrobeat and funk.

Security is just plain kickin’. I like to be challenged when listening to music, but I also like to stay on terra firma and retain some groove-sensibilities. Antibalas captures all of this on their new album. I can’t ask for much more. The instrumental nature of the album reflects the group’s mastery of their instruments and their brand of music. Even after all this, the vocal work continues in the style of Fela and embraces the energy of afrobeat. The raw intensity of their live show is reflected in this new album. If you have a list of albums to check out, Security should be placed near the top.

"How does it feel when someone calls you the best drummer in the world?"

By Robert Fox

Reuters published a rare interview with Afrobeat icon Tony Allen last week. Fela's original music director and musical dynamo is still going strong. In a conversation with Tom Pfeiffer of Reuters, Tony comes out swinging, telling young musicians not to "run away from their roots," and denouncing the Nigerian government for "every time putting the wrong person in place." Check it out:

RABAT, Morocco (Reuters) - Legend has it that when Nigerian drummer Tony Allen quit the band of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, it took four percussionists to replace him.

Brian Eno called Allen, 67, "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived." Kuti said that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat."

Allen recorded over 30 albums with Kuti and his group, Africa '70, which fused jazz, funk and African traditional singing. The songs were usually more than 10 minutes long, and Kuti's lyrics were often angry diatribes against corrupt African dictators and Nigeria's military regimes.

Allen, who made an album in 2006 with Damon Albarn of English rock band Blur, was speaking at Morocco's Mawazine (World Rhythms) music festival in the capital Rabat.

Q: Is your success due only to talent or did luck also help?

A: I would say I was born with it. I would say it's in the blood. My father took up music as a hobby -- when he came home from work he played to amuse us, my brothers and my friends. I didn't know I was going to end up playing music. I studied electronics... I just went in the evening to practice the drums. I heard a new band was going to be formed and I said to myself: 'It's now or never'.

Q: Are talented young musicians appearing to replace your generation?

A: There are many young talents coming up now who only need the exposure. The only problem is that they are running away from their own thing, their roots. They are stuck into stuff borrowed from abroad and that's something I really detest.

Q: Is it easy these days to make it as a professional musician?

A: No, no no -- It's harder now, it's too commercial in this modern age where everyone can manipulate the computer. You can make music without even being a musician. And with online piracy you can't sell enough records.

Q: Your home country is still troubled by corruption, poverty and unemployment. What needs to change in Nigeria?

A: The government. Every time, they put the wrong person in place. I don't see Nigerians benefiting from all the oil they have. This government needs to create a social movement. Maybe it must go to the poor areas, check it out, ask people what are their needs. The people in power say if you are complaining too much it is because you are poor. The anger is reflected in the music. But if the music is too militant, the media won't touch it. So how do you send this message?

Q: How does it feel when someone calls you the best drummer in the world?

A: I know I've done my homework properly, but of course it doesn't get to my head. Call me anything -- I don't give a shit. I just want to move forward, I've kept on doing what I wanted to do. I kept on exploring and learning more.

Q: What are your plans for the future -- is it getting harder to play and to tour?

A: As for my playing, I am in control. My new album is recording now between Paris and Lagos, I finished recording now and it's just mixing. It's called "Celebration." Just wait -- it's going to be a surprise.

Balla Et Ses Balladin- "The Intellectuals of Guinean Music"

By Kenny Eaton

I recently checked out the album “The Syliphone Years” by the Guinean-based group, Balla Et Ses Balladin. This expansive collection of two CD’s documents one of Guinea’s most influential groups at a time when the country was at the center of African music. The 2 CD’s were compiled by a team of collectors around the world and includes some of the group’s rarest recordings along with their greatest hits. “The Syliphone Years” documents an incredible era of African music.

Balla Et Ses Balladin infuses their distinct African sound with Latin and jazz flavors with virtuosic efficiency. World renowned for their mastery of multiple different styles of music, the group raised the bar for African musicians and compelled listeners to explore the possibilities within African music. Songs like “Moi Ca Ma Fout” and “Nyo” exhibit Balla Et Ses Balladin’s instrumental and vocal complexities while maintaining the danceable grooves and catchy melodies of Afrobeat and Highlife. “Sakhodougou” shows a glimpse at Latin music’s influence on the group and creates new colors within an already explosive collection of music.

“The Syliphone Years” is an incredible product for African music enthusiasts. Balla Et Ses Balladin stood at the forefront of Guinean music at an important time for African music and this CD collection has captured the magic of the era. Definitely check it out!

Lost Photos of Sly Stone Surface

By Robert Fox

The New York Times had an interesting piece this week about Sony BMG Music realizing that they were sitting on a treasure trove of old musician photographs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Shot by photographers working for the label, the archive apparently includes never seen images of Miles Davis, Count Basie, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen and many others, including a young Cassius Clay recording his spoken word album "I Am The Greatest." They're now making prints available for sale--and priced to move at prices of up to $1,700 each.

But you can check this one out for free: Sly in all his 1973 glory, the year his album "Fresh" was released. Yes I! Dig the reel-to-reel, the groovy wallpaper, the giant 'fro. Or this group shot of the Family Stone when funk was fresh and the fashions were...um....creative!

You can see a slideshow of 14 other images from the archive here. In mid-July the Morrison Hotel Gallery will mount an exhibit of the images at 124 Prince Street in New York City. In August, there will be a separate exhibit of Miles Davis images from the archive. Maybe you should check your closets too---who knows what you'll find in there?