Rough Guide To Afrobeat Revolution

Afrobeat Revolution

Lekan Babalola is a Nigerian master percussionist who has played with everyone from Fela to Ernest Ranglin, Roy Ayers and Tony Allen. Songs Of Icon is a unique album consisting of Yoruba orisa/Santería-inspired instrumental jazz-funk, and a set of remixes from a diverse selection of DJs from the brokenbeat/leftfield scene. Recording Lagos No Shaking,Tony Allen incorporated more traditional elements, like talking drums and juju sounds. Benin-born composer, vocalist, percussionist and guitarist Leon 'Kaleta' Ligan-Majek played an important role recording and touring with both Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 orchestra and King Sunny Adé's African Beats in the 1980s. His group Zozo Afrobeat take the dance floor to the highest level - that stateless state of enlightenment.

The Afrorockerz is an ensemble led by guitarist Julien 'Juju' Raulet of the group Fanga. Their debut Holy Warriors brings in new flavours to the scene with acoustic guitar, talking drum, electronics and spaced-out atmospherics. The project was born from the 'longing for breaking off the rules, starting with those who create musical genres&;hellip' Vocalist Ruth Tafebe is originally from Abidjan, C&;ocircte d'Ivoire, and grew up in France, where she hooked up with Julien.

Afrodizz hails from Francophone Montreal, Canada, though their soulful lead vocalist, Vance Payne, sings in English. Afrodizz creates a trance-like state of being akin to the original Kalakuta Shrine experience, but with a raw power informed by garage rock and the kick-ass attitude of classic punk. 'Bombé' comes from their album Froots. Payne sings of social bombing, ecological bombing, military bombing, economic bombing, while people are struggling to earn enough to survive. Led by guitarist Gabriel Aldama, Afrodizz have been making a name for themselves on the live circuit.

Chicago-based drummer Ted Sirotaand his Rebel Souls are an inspired bunch, working in the field of 'Modern Creative' music, and informed by the worldly sounds of the late folk-jazz nomad Don Cherry, as well as avant-garde concepts, dub reggae and Afrobeat. The rebellious spirit of Fela resides in the quintet's album Breeding Resistance, especially in the tribute to Nigerian martyr Ken Saro-Wiwa. Saro-Wiwa was an acclaimed author and activist who as a warrior for social justice, railed against Shell Oil's pipeline construction project. The driving intensity of the rhythm is tempered by a catchy melody that lingers on like the bittersweet memory of a martyred soul.

Also featuring on this compilation are Fanga, Albino, Dennis Ferrer, The Afromotive and The Souljazz Orchestra