Month: December 2018

Mantra – Baile Mi Hermano (Martinique, 1970s, Hit Parade)

Mantra was a quite obscure band from the city of Fort-de-France (Martinique, in the French West Indies) that released only one album in the late 70s.

The band was composed by :

Julian Martin (Piano, organ, guitar)
Anison Rabess (Bass, vocals)
David Laville (2nd guitar)
Algernon Rabess (Guitar, vocals)
Alex Larocque (Drums, vocals)
Janet Azzouz (Vocals)
Archie James (Trumpet)
Leon Knibbs (Percussion)

I wanted to make you rediscover today “Baile Mi Hermano“, an incredible and irresistible West Indian Guaguanco track, one of my favorite of the genre – Enjoy !!!

Mantra – Baile Mi Hermano

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/N_FynG0WjEY

Best regards,

Armand

Balla et ses Balladins – Samba (Guinea, 1972, Editions Syliphone Conakry)

Samba” is a very well known traditional folk song from the Wassoulou area (situated between Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali), adapted here by the national legendary “Balla et ses Balladins” Guinean orchestra, leaded by Balla Onivogui.

This song talks about Samba, a young and unlucky taxi driver from Conakry (Guinea) who fall in love with one of his customers. He steals the earings of the girl to see her again, but the father of the girl finds out the craftiness of the young Samba and casts out the boy. After many adventures, everything goes finally in order when Samba asks the girl in marriage.

Several covers of this song, in different musical styles, were recording during from the 70s to the 80s, to traditional from afro rock and funk way – Hope you’ll enjoy this one !!

Balla et ses Balladins – Samba

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/DWneGfCaVps

Take care,

Armand

Liber et Andoche Gentile – Amour d’Un Negre (Guadeloupe, 1961, Disques Debs)

Firmin “Andoche” Gentille and Jean “Liber” Gentille were two brothers and musicians native of Guadeloupe, French West Indies.

They played in several bands in the 50s and the 60s, but released only one 4-tracks single together in the early 60s.

The song presented here, “Amour d’un Negre“, is a beautiful melancholic bolero with jazz influences that I wanted to make you rediscover – Enjoy !!

Liber et Andoche Gentile – Amour d’un Negre

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/BiCPGDmNg-E

Best regards,

Armand