A while ago Benn loxo listener extraordinaire, Fabian, sent me a vinyl rip of the Western Jazz Band’s album, Vigelegele.

I’ve had so much listening to catch-up on that I only got to it today.. and it’s amazing. I’d heard the first track, Rosa, before but it’s the the last track on the B-side, the one you’ll hear today, that blew me away.

The slight echo and distortion on the guitars gives this album’s music a special quality.

You might have already heard some Western Jazz Band from another album back in August when I did a post about Original Music’s Dada Kidawa, Sister Kidawa compilation.

You might have also heard them over at Steve Ntwiga’s great site – he posted a track from this album a couple months ago. Steve: I imagine we’re both on Fabian’s mailing list.

Sorry there’s no purchase link, but I think that this album has been out of print for quite some time and hasn’t been reissued.. yet.

Maybe I’ll see some of you tonight, maybe not, but regardless I hope you all have a good weekend. I think I’ll take a break for a couple days. See you Monday.

ps- Thanks, Fabian.

Western Jazz Band – Wana Saboso

Wow, busy week. Feeling a bit tired this morning. A little Zambian “you’ve done me wrong” acoustic by George Kazoka lifts me out of bed and into my mug of coffee.

Today we’ll hear music from yet another Original Music release that explores the various forms of music that were spawned by the acoustic guitar as it spread across Africa: Guitar Songs From Tanzania, Zambia & Zaire.

You know, I never was good at the guitar. Something about stringed instruments has always eluded me. Piano, percussion, horns, no problem. But for whatever reason my fingers could never quite work the frets the way they should. It’s a shame, really, because it’s such a portable and almost universal instrument. In my next life, I guess.

George Kazoka – Ulayinda Kubota

C’est vrai qu’on est assez loin du Congo.. but you could feel a little closer this Friday if you show up at the Heat Me Party at the Cannibale Café. I’ll be playing some African classics there from about 11:30pm until closing. If you’re in Paris this weekend stop by 93, rue JP Timbaud in the 11th.

If you can’t make it, pour yourself a little Bas Armagnac, get a fire going and throw on today’s Bantous de la Capitale track. It’s a little reminder that there’s much more to life than Lisie.

Bantous de la Capitale – Loin du Congo

One of my favourite strands of music from across the African continent is a variety of styles that employ the European acoustic guitar. Original Music’s compilation, African Acoustic: Sounds Eastern and Southern, as the name implies, explores just that in eastern and southern African countries.

My two favourite tracks are both from the East so we’ll hit some southern acoustic another day.

The first is by the Kikuyu Kenyan duo, Peter Kimuri and Patrick Roy Roger. The track’s title apparently translates into “Kirinyaga is Our Good”, refering to a legendary tribal founder.

The second track is by Somalian steel guitar player, Amin Xaaji Maxamed. We don’t get to hear Somalian music too often, and Maxamed’s oud-like guitar playing and Arab-influenced singing is great.

Patrick Roy Roger & Peter Kimuri – Kirinyaga Ni Igai Retu
Amin Xaaji Maxamed – Dakhtar

Nacio Makanda’s growling on the track Kerestina sounds like I feel this Monday morning. A pinch of grumpy, a dash of missing the weekend, with its beer, fish and wine.

Another Original Music post today on my quest to post it all. Today’s tracks come from the 30th OM release, Kerestina: Guitar Songs Of Southern Mozambique 1955-1957. It doesn’t get much more niche than that.

I’ve always liked music from Mozambique and the songs on this release are no exception. Easy going and jangly, plus I love the sound of the languages spoken in that part of the world.

Mozambique is on my places to visit short list so hopefully I’ll be able to bring you more Mozambican music first hand sometime in the future. In the meantime, five bucks to anyone who can pronounce the first track’s name five times fast.

Mahikwani Makhuvele – Hayilolosa Amale Ye Matshangana
Nacio Makanda – Kerestina