Hello there! It’s konkaz (@konkazuk) here.
Africa is hot, and so is its music!
With this new series, I am going to write about some of my favourite “African musicians” I have been really into over the past few years!
Back in my younger days, I was mainly listening to rock, blues, and rhythm & blues type of music.
So, when it comes to African musicians, I had only listened to “Fela Kuti” for a few times and knew almost nothing at all, to be honest…
However, since the advent of the internet, we have been able to access all sorts of music from all over the world via YouTube channels…
Among all, the one I have found really “fresh” to my ears is this album called
“Drums of Passion”
performed by a Nigerian musician called
“Babatunde Olatunji”.
A blend of percussionists’ glowing performance and the “chant” performed between Olatunji and others totally matched up with what I had been looking for in African music!!!
I immediately purchased the LP, and became a fan of his music!
Anyway, here I have picked up his first three albums, and am giving you a brief idea of what they are like…
“DRUMS OF PASSION”
So, here is his debut album called
“Drums of Passion”
which was released by Colombia records in 1959!!!
There are lots of African folk music available to listen out there which have been released by variety of record labels.
And majority of them were typically recorded live, hence some people might find the quality of these recording’s sound quite unlistenable, I assume…
However, despite the time it was released, the sound of this Olatunji’s album is not these sorts at all!
On the contrary, it sounds really “pop”!
And it is actually said that…
This very album had made African music popular for the first time in America and over the European countries.
It’s like you might find listening to “The Monroe Brothers” unbearable, but you are absolutely fine with “Hank Williams” when it comes to country music?
Anyway, this album is perfect!
As soon as a needle is dropped on the record,the scorching sun will glare on you!!!
You can surely feel its “heat”, however, all the songs are performed with just percussions and chants (with no overemotional vocals or stuffy electric guitar solos!), …so, it sounds rather crisp, I should say.
And there is not a single weak track in the album, so it just flies to the end…
You will be like… “Oh, really? Maybe one more round?” w
I guarantee that this album will certainly give you positive energy!!!
If you are interested, you can purchase the CD from the link below. 👇
“ZUNGO! AFRO-PERCUSSION”
His second LP.
From the very beginning, the African vibe will strike you!
Lots of guest musicians were invited for this recording.
The style of the music is fundamentally the same as the first album, however its atmosphere has slightly changed due to the appointment of horn players.
But, the same heat you could feel with his 1st album is totally present here. w
Having heard this amazing performance by percussionists with the sound of horns,
I can now easily imagine that how the master of spirituality “John Coltrane” was inspired by Olatunji’s music.
He probably went like…
“Oh man, I would love to improvise over this great sound of percussions with my tenor”
( …with Elvin Jones definitely frowning next to him. w)
The composition “Tunji (Toon-gee)” in his album titled as “Coltrane” (released in 1962) was dedicated to Olatunji.
Incidentally, I cannot help imagining that “Marion Brown” had also been influenced by Olatunji when I listen to the intro of the 2nd track “ZUNGO”
This 2nd album is also brilliant and will provide you a sort of feeling that you are only a little something surrounded by a blessing from nature.
By the way, the below is “analog version” you can purchase from here. 👇
“FLAMING DRUMS”
And finally, the 3rd one with this cool sleeve.
The sun is still shining…
Hence, the dancing keeps going on… w
Well, regarding the first track called “Abana’, I was sure that I had listened to this tune before…
…I was thinking and thinking… and it finally came to my mind.
The tune was in an album called “Jazz around the world” by Yusef Lateef who is known for having incorporated “Eastern vibes’ into jazz music
…and actually he was one of the guest players in Olatunji’s second album!
(I feel happy that I have spotted it! 🎵)
Although, this album was recorded with some horns, its vibe is rather closer to the 1st album, I personally think…
(It is probably because the number of the guest player is smaller than the second one?)
Anyway, the tunes are exploding with positive energy.
You can imagine that the dancers are generating electricity by shaking their asses with lightning speed!!!
Wilting plants should get energized and would try to reach the sun?
(Probably they just need some water. w)
No chance to get dispirited!!!
What do you think? Why don’t you get blown away by Mr. Olatunji’s vigorous drum playing, and be benefited by his African solar power!!?
Anyway, those who are interested, the CD below contains all three albums I have mentioned.
Strongly recommended!!!👇
Anyway, thanks for reading up to this point, and I hope you will like Mr. Olatunji, too!
konkaz