Deep Tracks 76

1. Shakin' In My Boots- Herb Day
2. One Monkey Don't Stop The Show (Part 1) - Honey Cone
3. Black Coffee - Willie Bobo
4. Your Lies - The Falling Martins
5. Hot Sauce- George Braith
6. Mama Told Me Not To Come – Odetta
7. Skate Now - Lou Courtney
8. Dujii - Kool & the Gang
9. I Saw The Light - The Easter Brothers
10. Till I See You Again - The Dells
11. Feelin' Alright - Wade Marcus
12. Nadia Soleil - Théo Blaise Kounkou
13. Jive American Jive No 1 - Bra Sello
14. Kansas City - Flatt & Scruggs
15. Jivin' – Deodato
16. Washita Love Child - Jesse Ed Davis
17. At The Club - Ray Charles
18. You're Coming Home - Esther Phillips
19. The Semi Colon - Nekwaha Semi Colon
20. Cheatin' Girl - Stu Gardner
21. Coming Home - Chuck Armstrong

http://rapidshare.com/files/297001612/Deep_Tracks_76.zip

Willie Bobo, like Mongo Santamaria, was able to capture a significant following by blending R&B with latin jazz and boogaloo. Black Coffee is a classic dark brew posing as a pop instrumental. The kind of stuff he made a living at.

George Braith began playing pretty straight ahead stuff on Blue Note notwithstanding this little latin groover. Times have changed and Mr. Braith's music with it. In the intervening years he has invented the undoubtedly popular and easy to play "Braithophone."

Théo Blaise Kounkou is a Congolese singer with an unbelievably sweet voice and somehow his french works perfectly with the lighter than air music. Obviously I have no idea what the lyrics are about but the song is arranged beautifully and the band jumps off the record. I've only seen a few albums by this guy and they are all filled with this kind of music.

Deep Tracks 56 - The African Nation

1. Bembeya – Bembeya Jazz National

2. Pindurai Mambo – Oliver Mtukudzi

3. Take Your Soul – Sahara Allstars

4. Use Mcane – Letta Mbulu

5. Amo Sakesa – Hugh Masekela

6. Ziglibithiens - Ernesto Djédjé

7. Avi-Vo - The Lafayette Afro Rock Band

8. Who No Know Go Know – Fela Kuti & Africa 70

9. Colonial Man – Hugh Masakela

10. You Gotta Help Yourself - Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies

11. Quier Quiera Quer Nao Quier – Tim Maia

12. Madwuma Yi Nti - Canados International Band

13. Mbube – Miriam Makeba

14. Bassa Bassa - Osibisa

http://rapidshare.com/files/263440405/Deep_Tracks_56.zip

Without question the biggest recent 'discovery' for me has been African music. I do have an excuse for my ignorance, however. Obviously none of us heard Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies growing up. Mom and Pop never dropped a needle on Tim Maia, representing the African diaspora to Brazil. I'm pretty sure WKRP never promoted the latest single by Fela even though he is perhaps the most significant African musician of the 20th century. I remember thinking that Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masakela were on some Paul Simon video that somehow made MTV. Turns out they actually did some stuff besides harmonize with a fat little Jewish guy.

I guess the bigger question is who gives a shit? I'm not really sure I have an answer. Why would music created by people from such a completely different culture resonate so deeply with me? Here is the challenge to you my fellow wayfaring strangers: can you listen to Ernesto Djédjé and not tap your foot and want to sing along? Even though you can't understand a thing he is saying and you don't have the faintest idea where he is from? Let me know.

If you dig this too, check out afroslabs.blogspot.com. Worth a look just for the cover art.