Juno Recommends International: June 2024

Review: It has now been three years since Matasuna Records unveiled a scorching Latin 45 showcasing two tracks by Venezuelan ensemble Phirpo y sus Caribes, led by Porfi Jimenez. Now, Matasuna is reissuing two more cuts from their sole album, Parrilla Caliente, this time on a 7" vinyl - a debut for these tracks in this format. The original 1972 album, a scarce collector's gem on Philips, holds official licensing from Jimenez's family. On the A-side, 'Y Esa Pava Que?' ignites with Latin funk fervour and is driven by robust drums, potent horns, and groovy, psychedelic keys and guitars. The B-side features 'Pa' Los Rumbero,' a vibrant rendition of Tito Puente's classic, showcasing Jimenez and his band's exceptional musicianship.

Review: Two silky sides of Brazilian disco soul on Mr Bongo's perennial Brazil 45s series. First up, long-haired lothario samba fusionista Marcos teams up with Leon Ware for a pristine polished piece of early 80s disco funk. Golden harmonies, staccato vocals and a super juicy bassline; it's not hard to see why it was his best selling single. Flip for the equally smooth "Alleluia" from Brazilian boogie gospelist; this one is all about the percussion heavy breakdown. Proper sunshine block party business.

Review: Saci Perere by Banda Black Rio is a Brazilian jazz-funk masterpiece that deserves a rediscovery this summer. Pioneers of the soul-funk movement in Brazil, Banda Black Rio, led by saxophonist Oberdan Magalhaes, effortlessly blend samba, jazz, and Brazilian rhythms, evoking comparisons to other strong 70s bands. This reissue satisfies the demand for the rare original album, delivering a protest-triumphant mix of mellow, tropical, and uplifting melodies. Tracks like 'Miss Cheryl' epitomize the album's infectious energy, with its soulful groove captivating London dancefloors in the 80s. Saci Perere is a must-listen for fans of Brazilian jazz-funk, offering a melodic, playful, and atmospheric journey that is both nostalgic and timeless. It's a love letter to the lush sounds of Brazilian music, guaranteed to get more fans as more people hear this phenomenal album.

Review: Juan Pablo Torres's 1978 release Algo Nuevo is a vibrant addition to the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series, displaying the trombonist's eclectic blend of jazz-funk and Afro-Cuban styles. The album kicks off with the energetic 'Pan Caliente,' a fusion of Latin percussion, horns, and infectious vocals, augmented by cosmic synth touches that give it a modern edge. Tracks like 'Guajira 2001' offer a future-forward take on traditional Cuban dance music, while 'Cacao' delivers a funky, percussive groove reminiscent of electronic disco anthems. 'Elvira' highlights the album's psychedelic essence with its deep Latin rhythms and trippy synths. Throughout Algo Nuevo, Torres explores a variety of Afro-Cuban genres, infusing them with mindbending cosmic influences. The result is a dynamic and diverse album that offers plenty of dancefloor-ready tracks as well as more downtempo numbers. With its blend of traditional rhythms and contemporary sounds, Algo Nuevo stands as another shining example of Cuba's rich musical heritage.

Review: The next release in the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series is Juan Pablo Torres' iconic 1977 album Super Son. Featuring tripped-out rumbas, psych-Afro-Latin funk, and quirky orchestrated tracks with a big band horn section, it showcases Torres' band Algo Nuevo. Torres, also director of Estrellas De Areito, released numerous albums on Areito/EGREM. Despite post-revolution censorship, Cuban musicians enjoyed artistic freedom, leading to 1970s and '80s experimentation. Super Son exemplifies this, with tracks like 'Y Que Bien,' 'Pastel En Descarga,' 'Con Aji Guaguao,' and 'Son Riendo' blending psychedelic funk and Afro-Cuban rhythms into a joyful, energetic masterpiece.

Review: New Regency Orchestra's debut album is a vibrant homage to the Afro-Cuban jazz legacy, reimagining classics with contemporary dynamism. Led by artistic director Lex Blondin and co-captain Andy Wood, the 18-piece ensemble breathes new life into timeless tunes from the 1950s to the 1970s. Eliane Correa's direction ensures a fluid and energetic performance throughout. The album features ten instrumental tracks showcasing NRO's powerhouse rhythm section and horn arrangements, alongside two captivating vocal numbers. Tracks like 'Pregon' and 'Mambo Rama' exude anthemic horn stabs and infectious grooves, while 'Papa Boco' and 'Labasta Llego' add scorching vocal performances to the mix. NRO's blend of tradition and innovation shines through, with respectful nods to jazz luminaries like Tito Puente and Chico O'Farrill, infused with London's vibrant jazz scene. The result is a celebration of shared joy and irresistible music that invites listeners to move and groove along.

Review: Aderemi Kabaka's Roots Funkadelia is a magical bit of rather overlooked but classic Kabaka all the way from 1976. It was recorded at Island Studios London then mixed in L.A. during a golden period for the Motown studios. That quality shines through on the record, not least thanks to the appearance throughout of the 'mean machine' which was an alias of legendary Motown artists The Commodores' brass section. An original of this will cost you well over 500 quid so do not sleep on this quality reissue from BBE as it is a brilliant bit of Afro-funk for those who know.

Review: Arakou, situated over 400 km north of Cotonou, housed the Orchestre Anassoua-Jazz de Parakou. Through the 1970s, they recorded several singles and EPs for Albarika and a few others, but never completed a full album.Their 1975 45rpm release is exceptionally rare; no copy has surfaced on eBay, nor is it listed on Discogs. Beyond rarity, 'Bakassine Gabou' offers a highly-charged, hypnotic dance track perfect for DJs, while 'Moumouni Bassina Borou Fo' intensifies with layered guitar, vocals, and percussion. What's more, this version finds both tracks were meticulously transferred, restored, and mastered from the original 1/4 inch tape.

Review: The Zawose Queens' debut album Maisha is a captivating blend of traditional Gogo music from Tanzania with modern electronic elements, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Zawose family while pushing boundaries. Produced by Oli Barton-Wood and Tom Excell, the album features 11 original tracks that seamlessly fuse ancestral rhythms with contemporary production techniques. Drawing on their deep roots in Gogo music, Leah and Pendo Zawose deliver powerful vocals and masterful instrumentation, accompanied by the percussive rhythms of the muheme drums and the resonant sounds of the illimba thumb piano. Songs like 'Lule Lule' and 'Kusekala Kwa Nyungu' capture the essence of go go tradition, while tracks like 'Fahari Yetu' and 'Sauti Ya Mama' celebrate themes of heritage and maternal love. Maisha is not just an album; it's a statement of empowerment for women artists in East Africa and beyond. The Zawose Queens have boldly stepped into the spotlight, reclaiming their place in the musical landscape and inspiring others to follow suit.

Review: Les Belgicains - Na Tango Ya Covadia 1964-1970 sheds light on the pioneering Congolese student orchestras in Belgium during the Covadia era. Congolese students, referred to as 'Les Belgicains,' brought a fresh breeze to Congolese popular music. Supervised by legendary editor and producer Nikiforos Cavvadias, the music resonated with the spirit of early African independence. Homesick students formed music groups, infusing their compositions with Belgian influences, creating a unique sound. Cavvadias, renowned in Congo, relocated to Belgium due to political unrest. He recognized the talent of groups like Los Nickelos and Yeye National, ushering them into his new label Covadia.

Review: One of the leading lights of Ghana's vibrant musical ecosystem, Ebo Taylor cast a monumental influence thanks to his deft blend of Afrobeat, jazz and funk, helping define the now-canonical highlife sound. 'Twer Nyame' was released as a three-track single in 1978, although the 16-minute run time of the track makes it much more than a rapid fire hit. Backed with the delicate delights of 'Peace On Earth' and the shuffling funk perfection of 'Atwer Abroba', it's a rare gem of Ghanaian groove from the undisputed king of the sound.

Review: South African Madala Kunene, known as Bafo, blends Zulu folk with township blues to create his unique and so-called 'Madala-line' music. His songs are inspired by dreams, ancestral messages, and Zulu folklore, and often incorporate traditional songs, nursery rhymes and lullabies. Musicologists study and teach his work, and in May 2023, he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal for his contributions to indigenous and African music. Kunene started buskin aged just seven with a homemade guitar and was discovered by bassist Sipho Gumede. His debut album, released in 1990, now gets its first-ever vinyl reissue courtesy of Bella Union.

Review: The Joy, a vibrant a cappella group from the South African township of Hammarsdale, captured the hearts of global audiences with their soul-stirring harmonies and profound musical heritage. Growing up in a region where Zulu isicathamiya music thrives, made famous by legends like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Joy tap into a rich tradition and their music, characterised by powerful, lion-like mbube vocalisations, reaching beyond mere performance to touch something deeply ancestral, especially evident when lead vocalist Duzie unleashes his extraordinary voice. This group's journey from local choir practices to international acclaim is nothing short of miraculous, marked by a significant win in a regional singing contest and recognition from stars like Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson. Their music, produced by Two Inch Punch, blends traditional influences with contemporary appeal, achieving millions of streams and resonating uniquely in today's diverse musical landscape.

Review: By the time they released Saci Perere in 1980, carioca outfit Banda Black Rio were amongst Brazil's biggest dance music stars - an outfit whose blends of samba, jazz, disco, funk and MPB moved the heart and feet of the country's dancers. The set remains a timeless Brazilian classic - hence this much-deserved CD reissue. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from the leisurely sundown headiness of 'Saci Perere', and horn-heavy jauntiness of 'Melissa', to the funky samba-jazz fusion of 'Subindo O Morro', synth-laden downtempo sunshine of 'Amor Natural' and the atmospheric Latin disco-funk of 'Broto Sexy'. An album that should be in every Brazilian music fan's collection.

Review: El Palmas Music is behind this welcome revival of Sexteto Fantasia's album, led by Venezuelan pianist Virgilio Armas, and originally from in 1968. His illustrious career includes collaborations with Tito Puente, Paulinho da Costa, and Stan Getz, among other greats, and Estamos en Algo delights with its diverse rhythms. They are drawn from local Latin American sounds like guaracha, pachanga, mambo, boogaloo, cha cha cha, and bolero. Described as a dynamic sextet aiming to innovate within the competitive salsa scene, their music also embraces Latin jazz and bossa nova influences as Virgilio Armas directs a talented lineup featuring Domingo Moret, Rodolfo BuenaNo, Guillermo Taribe, Hugo Liendo and Gabriel Ruiz.

Review: Anoushka Shankar, the renowned British-Indian-American sitar player, producer, and composer, shares her first live album since 2001's Live At Carnegie Hall. Between Us... marks her debut with the German label Leiter, featuring material from four solo albums and one previously unreleased track. This album has Shankar's collaborative spirit in full glory, beginning from her early performances alongside her father, Ravi Shankar. Between Us... features Shankar's regular collaborator, Manu Delago, a master of the Hang (hand pan), and Holland's Metropole Orkest, directed by the esteemed conductor and arranger Jules Buckley. Recorded in 2018 during a short series of shows in the Netherlands, the album captures the vibrant energy and synergy of these performances. Shankar fondly recalls the concerts, highlighting the unique experience of performing with an orchestra where the audience's energy was palpable. This dynamic interaction brought a fresh and fun element to the orchestral setting. The album offers listeners a glimpse into a harmonious and exhilarating musical world.