November 22, 2020

Celestial blues

Kokoroko is a young octet from London fronted by three female horn players; their music bridges Afrobeat, highlife and modern jazz.  They've released an EP and a couple of singles so far, and I expect more good things from them in the future.

Kokoroko's brand new single "Baba Ayoola" is a tribute to saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi's grandfather.  It's an ideal introduction to their sound and you'll be hearing it on this week's episode of Global A Go-Go.

Also this week (Monday November 23, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): acoustic music of the Sahel, old-fashioned Afropop is sounding good to me right now, three 5-star albums of South African jazz, modern highlife from Ghana and the roots of Colombian champeta, where cumbia meets Afrobeat.
 


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck | Senegal | Lam Tooro | Djam Leelii: The Adventurers | Mango | 1989
Bounaly | Mali | Soko | Music From Saharan WhatsApp 10 | Sahel Sounds | 2020
 
Habib Koite & Bamada | Mali | Wassiye | Ma Ya | Contre-Jour | 1998
Bil Aka Kora | Burkina Faso | Dibayagui | Dibayagui | Djongo Diffusion | 2004
Youssou N'Dour | Senegal | Birima | Joko (The Link) | Nonesuch | 2000
Modou Toure | Senegal | Touki | Touki | ARC | 2020
Toure Kunda | Senegal | E'mma | E'mma Africa | Celluloid | 1980
 
Kokoroko | England UK | Baba Ayoola | Baba Ayoola - Single | Brownswood | 2020
Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids | USA-Ghana | Tinoge Ya Ta'a Ba, parts 1 & 2 (feat Guy One) | Tinoge Ya Ta'a Ba - Single | Philophon | 2017
The Souljazz Orchestra | Canada | Celestial Blues | Inner Fire | Strut | 2014
 
Abdullah Ibrahim | South Africa | Bra Timing From Phomolong | Ekaya (Home) | Ekapa | 1983
Batsumi | South Africa | Emampondweni | Batsumi | Matsuli | 1974
Dudu Pukwana & Spear | South Africa | Ezilalini | In The Townships | Caroline | 1974
 
Ebo Taylor | Ghana | Heaven | Ebo Taylor | Essiebons | 1977
Pat Thomas | Ghana | Gyae Su | Wo Nyim Nti Na Woye | K Sounds | 198x
Mawuli Decker | Ghana-Germany | Lololi-Lomko (Renegades of Jazz edit) | Lololi-Lomko - Single | Matasuna | 1983
 
Grupo Bola Roja | Colombia | Caracol | La Locura De Machuca 1975-1980 | Analog Africa | 1978
Tita Duval Y El Nuevo Ritmo De Bobby Rey | Colombia | Batukacuto | Cumbias Internacionales | Discos Fuentes | 1974
Abelardo Carbono Y Su Conjunto | Colombia | Quiero A Mi Gente | Guana Tangula | Vampisoul | 1980
Wganda Kenya | Colombia | Shakalaode | Shakalaode - Single | Discos Fuentes | 1974

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