Here's another heater from the Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque compilation for your enjoyment.  The song comes courtesy of Trinidadian soca master Mighty Shadow, from his 1978 album "If I Coulda I Woulda I Shoulda."  Nice to hear a little bit of a disco beat underneath the Soca rhythms.  

Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque

Dat Soca Boat

Mighty Shadow- Dat Soca Boat (from Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque)

Taken from Strut's comprehensive retrospective of the hugely influential Fania Records, 'Pa' Bravo Yo' is one of the biggest hits vocalist Justo Betancourt achieved on the label.  An infectious cut lead by his deep vocal, the song first appeared on his 1972 album of the same name.  Fania Records 1964 - 1980: The Original Sound of Latin New York will be out March 29th on Strut, featuring a 32-page booklet including a full Fania label history, memorabilia, album artwork and many previously unseen photos from the Fania archive.

Justo Betancourt- Pa' Bravo Yo (From Fania Records 1964 - 1980)

From the liner notes of our 2-disc Ebo Taylor retrospective, Life Stories:

Ebo acknowledges the influence of US jazz rockers Blood Sweat & Tears and
– less obviously, perhaps – Deep Purple on this easy going mid-tempo
piece, written a few years before it was recorded, when Osibisa and
various ‘blaxploitation’ themes were hip. “I was trying to fuse rock and jazz together with highlife,” Ebo recalls. “This kind of music was ahead of its time – not very popular when we recorded it!”

Life Stories

Peace On Earth

Ebo Taylor- Peace On Earth

From the upcoming album 'Jaiyede Afro' by Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics, out September 8th on Strut. 
Pre-order now via iTunes and receive "Buje Buje" instantly: http://geni.us/JaiyedeAfro

Jake Ferguson of The Heliocentrics on "In The Middle:"
"We’ve all been big fans of James Brown since we’ve been involved in music and have played ‘In The Middle’ regularly on our live tours. It felt like a natural fit for the Orlando project, particularly as we have added an Afro swing to the track. We first played the track with Orlando at a London gig last year and he got into it in the studio straight away – his sax solo here was the very first take. James Brown and his band loved Orlando when they saw him play in Ibadan back in the ‘60s and the two of them met up and talked at J.B.’s hotel. So, for lots of reasons, this felt like a natural one to include.”

More from Strut:
https://www.facebook.com/StrutRecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/strutrecords
http://strut-records.com

More from Orlando Julius:
https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoJuliusOfficial

More from The Heliocentrics:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Heliocentrics/159461737458324

Jaiyede Afro

In The Middle

Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics - "In The Middle"

Just One More

Bachelorette Björk cover

So Many Events - ZARBITURIC 3.0

Ecchymose - ZARBITURIC 3.0

A musician since the age of six, Ebo Taylor is one of the most achingly honest voices in African music.  His songs have a timeless quality to them, and continue to reach new audiences worldwide.  His album Love And Death on Strut will be his first internationally distributed solo album.  Backed by Berlin's Afrobeat Academy, the album is packed with pure fire from a true original.  Enjoy the title track.  More info at http://www.ebotaylor-loveanddeath.com

Love & Death

Love and Death

Ebo Taylor- Love And Death

Maxi enregistré et mixé au Studio Bande Originale (PARIS) par Maxime Monin

Fonzy

[APWW #667] [Originally aired 2013]
This Hip Deep edition, based on field work in Ghana, tells the story of how highlife turned into Afro-funk. Guitarist/composer/bandleader Ebo Taylor, at 77, is our principle guide, taking us to his hometown Saltpond to explore the roots of his complex sound, and recounting his highlife years, and his deep study of American jazz in London in the early 60s—all part of a remarkable mix.  We also hear from Ghanaian Afro-funk pioneer Gyedu Blay Ambolley and other observers and veterans of this history.  Among the figures that interweave this story are James Brown, his most successful African successor Geraldo Pino, and, of course, the creator of Nigerian Afrobeat (a variety of Afro-funk), Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Produced by Banning Eyre.

Hip Deep Ghana 1:  Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-Funk

Terre et air sont convoqués dans chaque grand messe des Balaphonics, faisant écho aux racines africaines de leur musique que l’on retrouve par la place centrale qui est accordée au balafon.
Autour de cet instrument traditionnel africain, c’est un brassband complet qui s’est déployé à travers les rêves de ces musiciens.
Dans le domaine des airs : une section vent soudée depuis plus de dix ans aux sons de la world, du funk, et du jazz infuse au public des mélodies percutantes et des improvisations cathartiques.
Sur terre : percussions, batterie, balafon et guitare déroulent un tapis de groove puisant dans le highlife, le bikutsi ou le mandingue, autant de rythmes, pour autant de pas de danses.

Sur scène, ce qui caractérise cette machine bien huilée c’est la diversité et la fraîcheur des compositions.
Doté d’une aisance scénique invitant le public à la transe, la musique des BALAPHONICS s’expriment à travers des pas de danses spontanés, un réel esprit d’équipe et un dresscode lumineusement vintage.
Le son Balaphonics est porté par 9 musiciens dévoués, élevés à la musique de rue comme aux grandes scènes de festivals. Le groupe et la scène entrent en fusion, et tel un volcan en éruption projettent sur la foule toute leur énergie dans un bain de folie.