Kojato and The Afro Latin Cougaritas - All About Jazz
(CD/Download) Buyú Records BU010CD, 2011-11-11 (bandcamp) 2011-12-12 (digital) 2012-01-13 (physical)

Oliver Belz, the man behind The Juju Orchestra, The Bahama Soul Club, regular guests of our 21st Century Latin mixes, is back with another new project, Kojato and The Afro Latin Cougaritas that's as much nu-jazz as it's 60s soul, 70s funk and afro-latin grooves. The Everywhere You Go Now Kuti kinda-tribute to Fela track is disturbing, it's not afrobeat at all, more of a Juju Orchestra latin thing with funky keyboards. Not that it's bad, but doesn't fit anywhere really, even though it should grace many groovy-lounge compilations in the coming months... African music lovers should go instead directly to the second half of the album, with tracks such as Afro Shigida (Original Lagos Cut), a glamourous take on afro-soul-jazz that'll grace our upcoming Bag of Goodies mix recorded last weekend with records labels and artists have sent to us during the last months. All in all this album's full of funky afro-latin-jazz for the modern rare groove dancefloors, just like the previous Oliver Belz productions: classy & smart, with a nice suit & moustache!

JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra - Mediacracy
(CD/LP/Digital) Tramp Records TR-9014, 2012-01-30

After a first album in 2009, Afro Sound System (now sold out), the JariBu Afrobeat Arkestra have released late october 2011 their second opus Mediacracy, on Soul Garden Records in Japan. The album will be released in Europe by one of our favorite German labels, Tramp Records on January 30th 2012. A 7 inch, Legend Of Yoruba, pressed at 200 copies, was released in the UK in 2010. That's it for the official info. The other Afrobeat band from Japan that we've heard of is Kingdom Afrocks, maybe there are some others, since Afrofunk and Afrobeat are now a worldwide movement… But let's get back to this 13-piece outfit, one of the most enjoyable live acts from the Tokyo circuit. On this album they are joined by Temjin from Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro on trumpet, Hirose Takao from Jazz Collective/Masa Sextet on trombone and Takao Watanabe from Pikaia Pandeiro Special also on trumpet, which might explain why the first impression left by this album is one of a supa-heavy, fully-powered horn section, for fans of Afrobeat, of course, but also for fans of Funk and Jazz. A fiercely recommended album!

King Porter Stomp - Let It All Out (Limited Edition EP)
(CD/Digital) Comm:UNITY Sounds, 2012-01-23

'Let It All Out' is a limited EP edition and a new release for King Porter Stomp, a truly original band from Brighton, UK. This seven-piece ensemble delivers a strongly compelling blend of funk, ska, hip-hop and afrobeat, personified by its charismatic leader MC Jonezy. The man really toasts, with a style of his own that mixes power, rage and melancholy in a single voice. King Porter Stomp’ first album (Poison The Beat, Comm:UNITY Sounds, 2008) got rave reviews in UK and was followed in 2011 by a dub version EP, Antidote Dub. Meantime, with their intense live performances at big festivals, it became obvious that King Porter Stomp was killing it, both on stage and in the studio. This EP is a perfect candy to wait for their eagerly awaited second album. It's also a great fusion of the band's ingredients: political awareness, solid lyrics, smooth grooves with superb horn arrangements, afrobeat and rocksteady glints.

The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra - Mr Clean (pts.1&2)
(7"/Digital) Hope Street Recordings HS005, 2011-09-27

After The Liberators (Record Kicks) and The Shaolin Afronauts (Freestyle Records), here's another Afrobeat band from Australia: The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra! They seem to have already self-released 2 albums worth of material and if Hope Street Recordings opted for this track to put out on a gritty 45, there's a reason: this uptempo afrofunk piece in two parts will hit you 'In Yo Face' lke the dirty stormer it is. The band gathers 17 Merlbourne-based musicians and we can only be left to wonder what else is to be found in those two albums... and in the next ones!
PS If representatives of other Aussie Afro bands such as Big Fela or Askari Afrobeat Orchestra want to get reviewed/played on Paris DJs, they should get in touch with us...

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‬Black Truth Rhythm Band - Ifetayo (Love Excells All)
‬(CD/LP‬+7"‪/Digital) Soundway Records SNDW033‪, 2011-12-05
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‬Soundway return once more to the Caribbean and are proud to present Ifetayo by Black Truth Rhythm Band originally released in 1976. Led by the charismatic Oluko Imo, Ifetayo was the only release from the Afro-centric, Trinidadian band and is re-issued here for the first time on CD, vinyl and digital. Whereas most of their peers at the time were looking to the funk of the USA & James Brown for inspiration, Black Truth Rhythm Band looked to Africa, fusing rhythms from Africa & the West Indies with elements of jazz, funk, calypso and soul. From an early stage in their career it was the African influence that set Black Truth Rhythm Band apart from other West Indian bands. Formed in 1971, the group looked further a field than the USA for their influences, more specifically to Africa, even going as far as giving themselves African names and dressing in African clothes. At the time finding African records in the West Indies was particularly difficult, making the bands choice of influences even more rare. Ifetayo was to be the only release from Black Truth Rhythm Band but Imo continued his music and love of African rhythms, going onto record with Fela Kuti in 1988 and later on perform with members of Fela’s Egypt 80 band.

Baloji - Kinshasa Succursale
(CD/Digital) Crammed Discs CRAM183, 2011-11-21

Baloji, whose name means "sorcerer" in Swahili, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1978. At the age of 4, he arrived in Belgium with his father and grew up in Liège. As a young adolescent, he discovered hip-hop, a passion for tagging, rap & dance. At 15 he joined the collective Starflam, a figurehead of Belgian hip-hop, who released a platinum selling disc Survivant (2001). Baloji quit the group in 2004 after a number of interpersonal disagreements and turned his back on music. It was a letter from his mother, whom he had not seen since 1981, and winning a poetry competition in Paris, that pushed him back to persue the muse of music. His first solo recording, Hotel Impala (2008), as much of a responce to the letter of his mother as it a quest to find his identity, is coloured with influences of soul, afrobeat, and hip-hop. A certified Gold Record, the album won two Octaves de la music (a Belgian equivalant to the Grammys) as well as the Rapsat-Lelièvre Prize and the Brassens prize for lyric writing. Baloji comes to Crammed Discs with his latest opus Kinshasa Succursale to be released November 2011. The album features contributions from some of the finest musicians from the capital of the DRC, including Konono N°1 & Zaïko Langa-Langa, as well as three brand-new remixes.

Ye Mighty - Fuse
(7"/Download) First Word Records FW78, 2011-11-21

Ye Mighty return with a brand new single to round off a fantastic 2011 for the band. Following on from their debut album Beyond Cairo the duo are back with a cover of one of the biggest underground tracks of recent years, Hudson Mohawke’s Fuse. Replicating the memorable synth hook with stunning horns and pounding live drums, Ye Mighty have created a guaranteed dancefloor destroyer - adding their own idiosyncratic twist to a bonafide modern classic. The band's unique fusion of Eastern scales, hip hop drums and futuristic synths creates a sound that bridges the gap between the original HudMo track and the classic Mulatu & Fela vibes that influence much of the Ye Mighty output. On the flip of this limited 7", Optimist vs Realist is a straight up afrobeat groover, completing a must-have record for any discerning DJ.

The Strides - Reclamation
(CD/LP/Digital) Record Kicks RKX042, 2011-11-14

Record Kicks proudly presents new afrobeat/groove outfit from Sydney, The Strides! With their explosive melting pot of Afrobeat, Reggae, Hip-Hop and Dancefloor jazz, 10-piece ensemble The Strides has already won over a steadfast following in Australia. After a lengthy series of gigs that includes supporting afrobeat legend Tony Allen and becoming a headline act at both the Bellingen Global Carnival and Peats Ridge Festival, this dynamic outfit is ready to launch its new album Reclamation on Record Kicks. With a heavy rhythm section and a powerful 3-piece horn section, The Strides deliver a captivating blend of funky afrobeat, roots reggae, hip hop grooves, dubbed out beats, and hypnotic rhythms.

Polyrhythmics - The Imposter b/w Klompton
(7") Kept Records KPT-101, 2011-11-11

Kept Records proudly presents their label debut, featuring Seattle's all original 8-piece funk and worldbeat orchestra: Polyrhythmics. The Imposter, is a rhythmic afro-funk number packed with so much groove that it is set to kick-off an "occupy the dancefloor" movement. The B-side (Klompton) is an equally infectious mover, and clearly showcases the deep and heavy funk of these northwest instrumental beat makers & guaranteed ass-shakers.
This is the first release on the brand new label lauched by our fellow DJ from Canada, Citizen Dale, who gave us the Platters That Matters podcast series, so send him props! And if you haven't already go check his mixes: Vol.1, Vol.2, Vol.3 and Vol.4

GUYNAMUKAT - Afro Disco Boogie Edits Volume 5
(promo 12") Guynamukat Edits GUYNAMUKAT 005, 2011-11-08

GUYNAMUKAT continue their crusade into unearthing lesser known classics on from the world of afro, disco & boogie dancefloor gems. Volume 5 kicks off with a surefile floor afro funky filler on Afrikawith a super catchy chorus to keep your dance floor bumping. Everytime I Think About Jesus dips into religious boogie territory that has wooed the dancefloors this summer in Japan and extensively across europe. On the flip Don't Want To Lose My Rent is a mid tempo slap bass boogie female vocal gem from Nigeria. Lagos African Disco Bridge is a funk & brass heavy disco boogie bomb. Another 4 value for money 4 tracker limited vinyl 12 from GUYNAMUKAT and mastered by the legendary Sean P.

Check the free Nik Weston/Mukastsuku Afro Tropical Special mix from the Paris DJs mixes podcast!