Tag: maghreb funk

Abdelkader “Free” Khodja – Nadim (Je Regrette) (Algeria, 1978, Disques Espérance)

For today, I wanted to share with you “Nadim (Je Regrette)“, an instant catchy Disco Soul Synth track from Maghreb, taken from the 2nd album recorded in 1978 in Paris by the musician (saxophone player) & composer Abdelkader “Freh” Khodja.

Abdelkader “Freh” Khodja was born in Sidi-Bel-Abbes (Algeria), on the 1st of January 1949.

At the age of fifteen, he began musical studies, entered the Conservatory, where he opted for the saxophone. Two years later, he began playing at open air dances, banquets, etc.

In March 1968, he travelled to France, and worked in different jobs to earn his living, including grill man in a restaurant. Then, he joined his brothers in Lyon, where he became a semi-professional performer at the city’s Winter Palace, and met his first band with whom he played Soul music.

Back in Paris, he and his group gradually appeared as stars at the “Bus Palladium” concert hall. After several tours in clubs, Freh abandoned Soul music for varieties, and left France for the United States, to Greenwich Village, to play in one of the most sumptuous establishments in the region. It was there that, by chance, improvising on his guitar & backed by his musicians, he sang for the first time in Arabic, which was instantly a big success.

Thus, was born an idyll : merging Arabic and pop influences in his music.

From that moment on, he made a point of honor to defend during all his musical career the promotion and acknowledgement of Arabic language in Western pop songs.

This album features :

Drums : Michel Galon ;

Guitar : Jean Lopez ;

Bass Guitar : Alex Sanders-Nace ;

Synth : Eko Roosevelt ;

Percussions : Sidney ;

Saxophone/Flute : Jean Bremzet ;

Saxophone (solo) : Freh Khodja ;

Trumpets : Michel Barrot, Jean Buzon ;

Trombone : Jacques Bolognesi ;

Violins : M. Berthier ;

Chorus : Tarik Chikhi, Grazellia Madrigal, Aïda Nassim ;

Grazellia Madrigal ;

Directed by : Eric Siota ;

(Yes, this album features the legendary Cameroonian keyboardist Eko Roosevelt, whom we reissued a few years earlier a vinyl compilation on Nubiphone, one of the record labels I run !)

One of my personal favorite track in the genre, that always set the dance floor on fire when I play it during my DJ sets – Enjoy !

Abdelkader “Free” Khodja – Nadim (Je Regrette) (Algeria, 1976, Disques Espérance)

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

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Boussouar El Maghnaoui – Nabghik Nabghik Chkoune Yedik (Algeria, 70s, Sawt Hilali)

For today, I wanted to share with you “Nabghik Nabghik Chkoune Yedik“, a dope powerful Proto Raï Folk Soul track, take from an ultra hard to find single recorded in the 70s by the Algerian singer & composer Boussouar El Maghnaoui on the mythical Parisian record label “Sawt Hilali“.

One of my personal favorite track in the genre, that always set the dance floor on fire when I play it during my DJ sets – Enjoy !

Boussouar El Maghnaoui – Nabghik Nabghik Chkoune Yedik (Algeria, 70s, Sawt Hilali)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/4LtG-3LCzRg

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Ahmed Fakrun – Njoo El Leyl (Libya, 1977, Polydor)

Following to this previous article, I wanted to share with you for today “Njoo El Leyl” (“نجو الليل“, what could be translated by “the night survived” in arabic), a killer downtempo dance floor Arabic Synth Funk Boogie track with Reggae flavors, catchy guitar riffs & deep flute parts, recorded in 1973 at Tommy Vance Studios (London, Great Britain) by the Libyan musician Ahmed Fakroun from Benghazi, during one of his European trips between the 1970s and 1980s where he used to compose his albums & singles, and released in Italy in 1977 on the mythical label “Polydor” – Enjoy !

Ahmed Fakrun – Njoo El Leyl (Libya, 1977, Polydor)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/3BF6oBZzf8I

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Abdennebi Ouiness – Chouaya Hob (Morocco, 1968, Pathé) / ويناس – شوية حب

For today, I wanted to share with you “𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐛” (“شوية حب” or “A bit of Love” in Arabic), a raw Surf Rock Soul Mod track with killer organ & guitar riffs, taken from the first single ever recorded in 1968 by the famous Moroccan singer, composer & musician Abdennebi Ouiness (ويناس) – Enjoy !

Abdennebi Ouiness – Chouaya Hob

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

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Les Abranis – A Yema (Kabylie/Algeria, 1977, Disques Bordj El Phen)

Les Abranis was one of the very first Rock band from Algerian Kabylie and, more, one of the very first from Algeria.
 
The group was founded in 1967 by Sid Mohand Tahar, aka Karim “Abranis” Abdenour, singer and bassist, and was originally composed with :
– Karim “Abranis” Abdenour : Singer, Bass
– Samir Chabane – Singer
– Madi Mahdi : Guitar
– Shamy El Baz : Organ
In 1975,  Samir & Madi left the band to found “Syphax“, another legendary Algerian Kabyle band.
For today, I wanted to share with you “A Yema“, one of my favorite track from the band, a deep & groovy Rock Folk ballad with uplifiting fuzzy guitar riffs & catchy drums taken from the first album of the band, recorded in 1977 – Enjoy !

Les Abranis – A Yema

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Gt5UX7_xzpE

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Marhaba Band – Baba Bahri (Tunisia, 1978, Self-Released)

For today, I wanted  to share with you “Baba Bahri“, the B side of super obscure single self-released in 1978, only recording of the Tunisian bandMarhaba Band“, a powerful Psychedelic Rock Fusion Funk track sung in Arabic – Enjoy !

Marhaba Band – Baba Bahri

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/xYfTMYvq-g4

Have a nice sunday, see you on next wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau