Following this former article, I wanted to share with you “Djamban“, an incredible mesmerizing 70s Afro Mandingo Jazz Soul track from Mali with gorgeous horn & guitar parts, taken from one of the first albums recorded in 1975 by the mythical Malian band “Rail Band” (also known as “Orchestre Rail Band” or “Orchestre du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako” because the band played there twice a week) leaded by the legendary Malian composer & saxophonist Tidiani Kone (who also played for with Beninese kings from the “Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou”).

Pressed in Nigeria, this album is part of the very well known “Rail Band Series” (this one is the 4th volume), and features some of the bests Malian & West African musicians (Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, …) from that era as :

Tidiani Kone : Leader, Saxophone ;

Djelimady Sissoko : Vocals ;

Djelimady Tounkara : Lead Guitar ;

Cheick Traoré : Bass Guitar ;

Moussa Koné : Bongos, Trumpet ;

Abdouramane Koumané : Congas ;

Mamadou “Pacheco” Bagayoko : Drums ;

Dielly Moussa Kouyaté : Guitar ;

Mory Kanté : Lead Vocals ;

Alfred Coulibaly : Organ ;

Maitre Lédy Youla : Sopranino Saxophone ;

Really hard to find album nowadays, that I found a few years ago during a record digging trip in Nouakchott (Mauritania). I had the great honor to got it from Mr Mohamed Vall, one of the very few record collectors from the country, who used to run “Le Saphir D’Or”, the only record store in Mauritania opened in the 1979 until the early 2000s (for more informations, I interviewed him here).

And cherry on the cake : this sublime artwork – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Rail Band – Djamban (Mali, 1975, RCAM)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/PhCD9gPmtm8

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

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Maze (Part 2)“, an instant feel-good Afro Soul Funky Soukous Masterpiece from Democratic Republic of The Congo (former Zaïre) with frantic guitar, taken from a compilation of previously released singles out in the early 80s (in Kenya & Nigeria) and recorded by the mythical Congolese composer & musician Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, better known as “Tabu Ley Rochereau“.

He started his career in the 60s, playing alongside with legends as “Dr Nico” (Nicolas Kasanda Wa Mikalayi) in famous band such as l’African Jazz, l’Afrisa International & l’Orchestre African Fiesta.

Tabu Ley is famous for having pioneered Soukous music, and to have internationalized Congolese music by mixing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American rumba. He’s considered by one of the giants of Congolese & more widely, African music.

Hope you’ll enjoy this sweet nugget !

Tabu Ley Rochereau – Maze (part 2) (Democratic Republic of Congo, 1981)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Sgv5PGm2dPw

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

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Iduke“, a catchy uptempo Afro Boogie Disco track from Gabon, recorded in 1981 by the Gabonese composer & musician Jean Mabika (seems it’s his only track released, any additional infos are welcome), and released on the rare double album compilation “Les 9 Révélations de l’Année 1981” (“The Revelations of the year 1981”), produced & released locally in 1981 by the National Gabonese TV & Radio to promote the rising artists of that year.

Alongside to the legendary French musicians Michel Alito & Jean-Claude Naimro (from the mythical Kassav), this compilation includes the following musicians :

Backing Vocals : Makaya Madingo, Yolande Yeno-Anotho ;

Bass Guitar : Michel Alibo ;

Drums : Valery Lobé ;

Guitar : Jacky Arconte, Jerry Malekani ;

Percussion : Jean-Marie Bolangassa ;

Piano : Jean-Claude Naimro ;

Saxophone : Mam Houari ;

Synthesizer : Fred Grenier ;

Trombone : Alex Perdigon ;

Trumpet : Kako Bessot ;

Super hard to find album now, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Jean Mabika – Iduke (Gabon, 1981, Radio Télévision Gabonaise)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/v0goyEw79aA

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

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Meaculpa Mawewe“, a bouncy joyful tropical Afro Soukous Funky Rumba Soul track from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, former Zaïre), taken from the sole album of the Congolese composer & musician André “Zorro” Lumingu Puati, recorded in Nigeria in 1979 on the legendary label “Tabansi“.

This album features great musicians from Congo, Nigeria & Cameroon as :

Lumingu Puati (Zorro) : Leader, Vocals, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Percussion ;

Nico Ossomba : Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone ;

Charlie “Boogie” Kamga : Bass, Percussion ;

Joe Dikson : Bass, Percussion ;

Babila : Congas ;

Alhaji Steven : Drums ;

Essoa Richard : Lead Guitar ;

Joe Neng : Rhythm Guitar ;

Tina Maya Eric : Vocals, Backing Vocals.

Sweet palm wine tropical dancefloor tool, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Lumingu Puati Zorro – Meaculpa Mawewe (Democratic Republic Of the Congo, 1979, Tabansi)

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

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

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Kourounougnon Watoro“, a mesmerizing balearic 80s Afro Mandingo Soul Boogie Funk Synth track from Mali with Afrobeat flavors, taken from the 2nd album of the band “Les Asselars“, recorded in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 1983 and composed with 4 musicians from Mali & Burkina Faso (formerly “Upper Volta”) :

Jacob Souleiba : Guitar, Vocals ;

Les Asselars – Kourounougnon Watoro (Mali, 1983, Sacko Production)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/YygGiNMSgW4

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

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former post, I wanted to share with you “Ndeg Meyok“, a bouncy syncopated psychedelic 70s Afro Soukous Soul track from Cameroon with furious Balafon (drums) & guitar parts, taken from an ultra hard to find single recorded in the late 70s by the mythical Cameroonian musician Messi Martin & backed by his legendary band “Los Camaroes” formed in the 60s in the city of Maroua, in the extreme north region of Cameroon.

It included some of the finest musicians of that era : Jean Gabari, Johnny Cosmos, Sala Bekono, Mpoudi Emmanuel, Jean-Marie Ngoembang, Kwanga Roger or Paul Bingue.

If you’d like to know more about the band, don’t hesitate to (re)discover “Los Camaroes – A Journey Into Cameroonian Music“, the compilation (digital + vinyl) I released in 2019 that includes a very detailed story of the group, exclusive pictures and 10 of the best tracks of the group :

Los Camaroes – A Journey Into Cameroonian Music

Instant tropical stormer, always a banger when I play it in clubs – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Messi Martin & Los Camaroes – Ndeg Meyok (Cameroon, 1970s, Editions Chic Sound)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/SXSVHv58KZw

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

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former post, I wanted to share with you today “Oui Verckys“, an insane crazy 70s Afro Organ Funk Soul Mod instrumental track from Congo with catchy Organ parts & powerful horns, taken from an ultra hard to find single recorded in the early 70s by the legendary Congolese composer & musician Georges Kiamuangana Mateta aka “Verckys”, and backed by the almighty Orchestre Veve.

One of the heaviest & funkiest instrumental from Congo (and really hard to find too, unfortunately..), and one of my favorite track from the band, so hope you’ll like – Enjoy !

Verckys & L’Orchestre Veve – Oui Verckys (Democratic Republic Of Congo, 1970, African)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/HAvyfH6UwGI

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

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “I Know My Mission“, a wonderful funky 70s Afro Soul Jazz Rnb from Ghana with Highlife reminiscences & great trumpet parts, taken from the 2nd LP of the mythical Ghanian band “Uhuru Dance Band” formed in the late 60s by former members of Broadway Dance Band, whom the trumpeter Sammy Obot.

With the time, the group featured some of the finest Ghanaian musicians of that era such as Ebo Taylor, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Joe Mensah & George Danquah not forgetting the Diva Charlotte Dada.

Ultra cool track driven by super catchy drums and – cherry on the cake, an awesome album art (so sad the artist wasn’t credited, any infos are welcome !) – Hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Uhuru Dance Band – I know my mission (Ghana, 1975, Agoro Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/6BnS0pbQ-qE

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

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Love Affair“, an explosive Afro Soul Funk Boogie track from Nigeria with devastating horns, taken from the 2nd album recorded by the Nigerian Band “SJOB Movement” (or “SJOB“), recorded in 1977 on the mythical Nigeria record label “EMI Nigeria” by the mythical Nigerian sound engineers Kayode Salami & Monday Oki and produced by the famous Odion Iruoje.

The band took the name “SJOB” after taking the first letter of the name of its founding members :

Samuel Abiloye (Spark) : Guitar, Vocals ;

Johnnie Woode Olima : Keyboards, Vocals ;

Ottay Imah Blackie : Fender Bass, Percussions ;

Bolla Prince Agua : Lead vocals, Drums, Percussions.

Some of the greatest nigerian musicians of that era are also included on that album, such as Ignace de Souza (Trumpetist, leader of the legendary beninese band “The Black Santiagos”), Fred Fisher (Trombone), Akin Nathan (Vocals) & Friday Pozo (Congas).

One of my favorite record of the genre, always a dance floor burner, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

SJOB Movement – Love Affair (Nigeria, 1977, EMI Nigeria)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/SswUYJhqBl4

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

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

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Metalik Funk“, an instant catchy downtempo 70s Afro Soul Boogie Funk Rock track from Nigeria with ultra groovy Synth parts, taken from the first album of the band “Mighty Flames“, formed on the nucleus of the former Port-Harcourt “Flames” band, and that recorded three albums in Nigeria in the 70s.

The band was composed with the best Nigerian & Cameroonian musicians of that era, as :

Willy Nfor : Bass Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals ;

Vincent Ekedi : Drums, Congas ;

Didi Lead : Lead Guitar ;

George Achini : Lead Guitar, Vocals ;

Frankie Ntoh Song : Organ, Piano, Tambourine, Vocals ;

Emma “Wah-Wah” Baloka : Rhythm Guitar ;

Stormy Jimmy : Vocals, Percussion ;

One of my favorite song of the band, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Mighty Flames – Metalik Funk (Nigerią, 1977, RTS)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/WstDhiALvw8

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

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

Armand de Preseau