February 7, 2021

Poly Rythmo

T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou Benin is, in my opinion, one of the premier bands from the era of West African independence, right up there with the better-known Rail Band of Mali, Orchestra Baobab of Senegal and Bembeya Jazz of Guinee Conakry.
 
I've been a fan of Poly Rythmo since I heard the first reissues of their material back in 2003.  I own about 10 of those reissues and, to be honest, I assumed I had already heard the band's best.
 
I was wrong.  The British label Acid Jazz is now reissuing a slate of Poly Rythmo titles under an exclusive licensing arrangement with Albarika Store, the band's original label in Benin.  The first three of those titles are now available, and there's material on there that I think is even better than the best of what has previously been reissued.
 
I played two tracks from the new reissues in the last two weeks, and I'm playing another one this week.  If you're a fan of African music, do yourself a favor and check out this Poly Rythmo music that few listeners have had the opportunity to hear until now.
 
Also this week (Monday February 8, 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): women in Afrobeat, 50 years of samba-soul, reggae that veers off in an unexpected direction, and two sets of Latin electronica: one for the chill room and one for the dance floor.

 
 
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
 
Angelique Kidjo | Benin-France | Listening Wind | Remain In Light | Kravenworks | 2018
Warsaw Afrobeat Orchestra | Poland | Survival | Antibody | Peace & Rhythm / Scriptology | 2020
tUnE-yArDs + Angelique Kidjo + Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson + Akua Naru | USA-Benin | Lady | Red Hot + Fela | Knitting Factory | 2012
 
T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou Benin | Benin | Davi Djinto Super No. 2 | Volume 4: Yehouessi Leopold Batteur | Acid Jazz | 1978
 
Tim Maia | Brazil | O Caminho Do Bem | Racional Vol. 2 | Seroma | 1975
Joao Selva | Brazil-France | Cade Voce | Navegar | Underdog | 2021
Jorge Ben | Brazil | Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu | Africa Brasil | Philips | 1976
Seu Jorge | Brazil | Vizinha | Musicas Para Churrasco, Vol. 1 | Cafune | 2011
 
Bunny Wailer | Jamaica | Ballroom Floor | Rock 'N' Groove | Solomonic | 1981
Fat Freddy's Drop | New Zealand | Special Edition | Lock-In | The Drop | 2020
Rebel Tumbao | USA | Natural Mystic | Rebel Tumbao | Sacred Rhythm | 2013
 
Los Terrificos | USA | Salsipuedes | Go South: Vaya Pa'l Sur | Peace & Rhythm | 2016
Bomba Estereo | Colombia | Deja | Deja | Sony US Latin | 2021
Sidestepper | Colombia-England UK | Come See Us Play | Supernatural Love | Real World | 2016
Novalima | Peru | Bandolero | Afro | Mr Bongo | 2004
 
Bosq | USA-Colombia | Descarga Mundial (feat Mauro Aboganster) | Y Su Descarga Internacional | Bacalao | 2020
Professor Angel Dust & The pH Force | Mexico-Canada-Spain | Oye Como Va (feat Mucho Muchacho) | Guapacheando | Virgin Spain | 2000
Pete Rodriguez | USA-England UK | I Like It Like That (Aaron Jerome remix) | I Like It Like That | Fania | 2008

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