Nigerian music legend Orlando Julius was born in 1943 in Ilesa, Nigeria. He performs classic Afrobeat with a psychedelic edge, constantly pushing musical boundaries. Julius…
Artist Profiles: Orlando Julius
Tag: Afrobeat
Irresistible and Timeless Antibalas
Antibalas – Fu Chronicles (Daptone Records, 2020) Antibalas, one of the finest Afrobeat ensembles in the international scene, has released a superb album titled Fu…
Interview with Composer and Bassist Dawn Drake
American composer and multi-instrumentalist Dawn Drake and her band ZapOte have a new album titled Nightshade. She discusses her background and the new recording with…
Alluring Afro-Roots and Funk from Dawn Drake and ZapOte
Dawn Drake and ZapOte – Nightshade (Dawn Drake, 2019) Nightshade is the new album from American bassist, percussionist, vocalist and composer Dawn Drake and her…
The Soulful Afro-Roots of Ajoyo
Ajoyo – War Chant (Shems Records, 2019) War chant is the new EP from New York-based Afro-roots band Ajoyo. Led by saxophonist Yacine Boularès, Ajoyo…
Elikeh: A Journey Between 2 Worlds
“Between 2 Worlds” is the second CD release for Elikeh (Azalea City Recordings; released 2012). They are a big band based in Washington, D.C. who…
Ebo Taylor’s Lost Nigeria Sessions Released for the First Time
Ebo Taylor – Palaver (Tabansi Records/ BBE Music, 2019) Palaver contains five tracks recorded in Nigeria in 1980 by famed Ghanaian guitarist and composer Ebo…
The Remarkable Nigerian Guitar and Beats of Toby Foyeh and his Orchestra
Toby Foyeh and his Orchestra – Pirates of Africa (Kameleon Afrika Music, 2019) Nigerian world traveler Toby Foyeh is an excellent guitarist, charismatic vocalist and…
Artist Profiles: Osibisa
Osibisa exploded onto the music world in 1971 with a pulsating and vibrant sound. Translated from Ghanaian, Osibisa means “criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness”.…
The Seductive Burkinabe Beats of Baba Commandant and The Mandingo Band
Baba Commandant and The Mandingo Band – Siri Ba Kele (Sublime Frequencies, 2018) Siri Ba Kele is the second album by Baba Commandant and The…