Kokoroko – Carry Me Home
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokoroko-carry-me-home/
“Before melody or harmony, there’s rhythm,” cites Sheila Maurice-Grey, the band leader of Kokoroko, when speaking to Dele Sosimi about musical structure. A profound statement that is reflected through the sonic depths of their hypnotically bracing new single, ‘Carry me home’. The track was inspired by conversations with the masterful Sosimi, whose technical ability in […]
Mehdi Laifaoui – Sidi El Hakem
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mehdi-laifaoui-sid-el-hakem/
Mehdi Laifaoui is an Algerian author, composer and performer. His repertoire includes original compositions and some revisited Rai standards of the 70s and 80s. His music mixes Bedouin and Trab modes, a pentatonic music that gives Algerian Rai music its uniquely African flavour.
Listen to his “Opus & Trab Project,” a repertoire rooted in the […]
Shabaka - Eyes Lowered
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68HbFFNGVMk
From the new album 'Of The Earth' to be released on March 6, 2026
https://shabaka.bandcamp.com/album/of-the-earth
(Yes, this is the Shabaka you know...)
'Of the Earth’ was entirely written, produced, performed and mixed by Shabaka.
Nu Afrobeat Experience
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nu-afrobeat-experience/
The sounds of modern Afrobeat with “Nu Afrobeat Experience (Ultimate Afro-Funk Dance Grooves)” in 2002. Most of these artists stick to the basic blueprint created by Fela Kuti, but with more modern production. Others add varying degrees of other musical influences, like Tony Allen’s incorporation of HipHop or Jagunlabi’s Afrohouse dance sound [...]
#AfroFunk #AfroHouse #Compilation #Jazz #Remixed #TonyAllen #AfroBeat
Spoek Mathambo - Afro Jazz Giants Tribute Concert (2021)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZIUxuyO7-I
"Spoek Mathambo's dynamic audio-visual show conceived from his long standing love affairs with Hip-Hop and South African Jazz. The rapper/producer has created Afro Jazz Giants as a celebration and tribute project to explore the South African Jazz songbook while creating new conversations around 'classics' and 'standards,' as well introducing the canon to first-time listeners."
Super Biton de Segou – Bara Musso
https://amf.didiermary.fr/super-biton-de-segou-bara-musso/
Super Biton de Segou was one of the great bands of Mali of the 1970s and 1980s, created as the Orchestre Régional de Segou, at the first Biennale in 1970 where they won several prices. They were part of all the great Post-independence Malian orchestras. Super Biton was created in the mid-1960s, with the members […]
Join me Tuesday @ 6pm EST/5pm CST when #LaEsoterica explores experimental #Jazz. Feature presentation (s): The Cry of Jazz (1959) & Art Ensemble of Chicago at the 1970 Festival de Jazz de Châteauvallon. Playlist available here (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Zslnc5XTftGN8jJTrIhjbvXfv8Uu7hn&si=2mQVEmp5RC189Sys)
(1/6)
R.I.P Abdullah Ibrahim
(9 October 1934 – 15 June 2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5i4stj4M30
All posts on AMF: https://amf.didiermary.fr/tag/abdullah-ibrahim-dollar-brand/
Abdullah Ibrahim – Mannenberg
https://amf.didiermary.fr/abdullah-ibrahim-mannenberg/
Filmed in 1987, Abdullah Ibrahim describes in this interview how the iconic track “Mannenberg” came into being and performs it live. Taken from the BBC Arena film “A Brother with Perfect Timing.”
“Mannenberg” is a Cape jazz song by South African musician Abdullah Ibrahim, first recorded in 1974. Driven into exile [...]
#AbdullahIbrahim #Apartheid #Documentary #Jazz #Madiba #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Thelonious Monk met Dollar Brand
https://amf.didiermary.fr/thelonious-monk-met-dollar-brand/
When Thelonious Monk first met Dollar Brand… By 1964, Dollar Brand (later Abdullah Ibrahim) had already made 3 LP’s as a bandleader. He was living in Switzerland and had just gotten a boost from Duke Ellington.
… [Thelonious Monk and his wife, Nellie] were at Kongresshaus in Zurich where Monk gave another successful concert. After […]
Dollar Brand – African Space Program
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dollar-brand-african-space-program-1974/
“African Space Program”, recorded in 1973, contains 3 compositions by Abdullah Ibrahim / Dollar Brand, where he arranges for a big band.
This is unique, pancultural music. Brand, as his followers know, is a native-bom South African who is well-versed both in modern conservatory music and in the music of his native Africa. He’s skilled [...]
Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band – In The Mood
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bulawayo-sweet-rhythms-band-in-the-mood/
Flip side of Skokiaan by Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band, recorded in 1947.
It’s not Glen Miller, but it’s Jazzy-Boogie-Rock…
August Machona Musarurwa was born in the Zvimba District of Mashonaland, Southern Rhodesia (or British Southern Rhodesia) around 1925. Originally he recorded the song “Skokiaan” with “The African Dance Band Of The Cold Storage Commission Of Southern [...]
Saxophone Jazz from Moçambique
https://amf.didiermary.fr/saxophone-jazz-mozambique/
Moreira Chonguiça is a Mozambican jazz saxophonist, who started a jazz festival, Morejazz, in Maputo in 2010. He collaborated with Manu Dibango on M & M, an album which was released in 2017.
United across the generations… the album came about from a 15 year friendship that started in 1999/2000. Moreira […]
Sings by Patty Waters, released in 1966 on ESP Disk.
"Patty Waters comes alive on this legendary 1965 debut. Sings features seven ballads and a shocking version of “Black Is The Colour Of My True Love’s Hair”. With Patty’s moans, whispers, screams, and wails, this track helped cement her reputation as a vocal innovator, one whose influence extended beyond jazz to Yoko Ono and Diamanda Galas. "
"Patty Waters Sings, like so many records on the ESP-Disk label, seems to enter our world unprecedented, fully formed from a completely different and far superior place." - Perfect Sound Forever
https://pattywaters.bandcamp.com/album/sings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90-lTWcbOfc
#PattyWaters #FreeJazz #VocalJazz #ESPDisk #BurtonGreene #Jazz #Music
Prince K. Musarurwa – Nyamatsatse
https://amf.didiermary.fr/prince-kudakwashe-musarurwa-nyamatsatse/
RIP Prince K. Musarurwa (December 5, 1988 – February 15, 2020), also known simply as Prince, who was a Zimbabwean African Jazz singer, songwriter and producer. He played the guitar and mbira.
“Nyamatsatse” was released on his last album before his death at 31.
Musarurwa was born and raised in Zimbabwe. His career began within the […]
Dollar Brand – The Children of Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dollar-brand-the-children-of-africa/
The Children of Africa (aka Banyana) by Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), recorded in NYC and released in 1976. [...]
#AbdullahIbrahim #FullAlbum #Jazz #SouthAfrica #Vinyl #AfroJazz
Vuyo Viwe / in rehearsal (Ndalo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6vOsXOBXlE
More music: https://soundcloud.com/vuyoviwe
Reza Khota Quartet – Liminal
https://amf.didiermary.fr/reza-khota-quartet-liminal/
Cape Town-based guitar player Reza Khota is Artist in Residence in the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape. Reza Khota Quartet released “Liminal” in 2018.
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks (1956-59)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/miriam-makeba-the-skylarks-1956-59/
The Skylarks were an all-woman South African vocal group, founded by Miriam Makeba in 1956. The original lineup comprised Makeba and Johanna Radebe, Mary Rabotapi, and Mummy Girl Nketle. Later, Helen Van Rensburg and Abigail Kubeka replaced Radebe. They played a blend of South African (mbombela, kwela) and Zulu music, jazz and jive/swing. [...]
Aly Keita Trio - Balafon Evolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaVHdjHtMs8
(with a short intro in German)
Kesivan and The Lights - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZwT2LpvuOM
Line-Up
• Kesivan Naidoo – Drums & Cymbals
• Darren English – Trumpet
• Bokani Dyer – Piano
• Fabio Gouvea – Guitar
• Charley Rose – Saxophone
• Joan Codina – Double Bass
Bokani Dyer – Ke Nako
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bokani-dyer-ke-nako/
Bokani Dyer is a multi-award winning Motswana-South African pianist, composer and producer.
Bokani Dyer opens with “Ke Nako” (now’s the time), with an irony, because that was a slogan used to get voters to the polls in the first post-apartheid election. Now, Dyer’s using it to remind us to think again about who we are […]
Dele Sosimi & Estuary 21
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dele-sosimi-estuary-21/
Bamidele Olatunbosun Sosimi, known as Dele Sosimi, the UK based Afrobeat ambassador, former band member of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 and co-founder with Femi Kuti of the Positive Force finally unleashed his full debut album with The Estuary 21, entitled The Confluence LP in April 2024.
Afrobeat ambassador Dele Sosimi’s new album ‘The Confluence’ has […]
Tu Nokwe – African Child
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tu-nokwe-african-child/
Hailing from South Africa, Dr. Tu Nokwe taught herself to play the guitar as a young woman. She eventually landed a spot at the Manhattan School of Music and went on to perform around the world. She describes her music as a spiritual new age African sound with influences of jazz and funk. Tu Nokwe […]
Jay Lou Ava – Soir au village
https://amf.didiermary.fr/jay-lou-manu-dibango-soir-village/
A cover of Manu Dibango’s “Soir au village”, from Ava’s album “Ebotan” in 2005.Guitarist Jay Lou Ava, born Israël Jean-Louis Ava in Cameroon, is often described by members of the French media as “the Wes Montgomery of Africa.” His signature music is a fusion of jazz and African music, drawing from both contemporary and traditional […]
