Jazz & Improvisation / Afrobeat

Soundtrack to Stan Douglas's 2013 video Luanda-Kinshasa, a staged 1970s jazz-funk session led by Jason Moran, recorded in Brooklyn in June 2013 and edited by Douglas; second edition of The Vinyl Factory's 2016 double LP.

The second album by Kio Amachree in Afro Boogie Funk style recorded in Lagos Nigerian in early 80s. Limited Edition.

Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango is a groundbreaking Afro-funk and jazz-fusion record that blends hypnotic African rhythms, funky basslines, soulful horns, and dance-oriented grooves with makossa, a traditional Cameroonian style. Centered around Dibango’s warm saxophone playing and infectious percussion, the album became hugely influential in the development of disco and world music, especially through the iconic title track “Soul Makossa”, whose famous vocal chant was later echoed by artists like M…

Cucoma Combo are back with their impetuous and political sound, an urgent need to communicate in order to awaken consciences and react to the sick immobility of our times. Captain Marco Zanotti (Classica Orchestra Afrobeat/Lolo) once again gathers his pirate crew and sets sail for new Atlantic and Caribbean adventures. From Cape Verde to Salvador de Bahia, from Haiti to Colombia, then back to Tanzania and Zimbabwe. An inspired and furious attitude incorporates disparate rhythms, languages, and s…

Afro7 returns with the third Scorpios album, Lemon Barah — a vibrant fusion of Sudanese traditional rhythms, psychedelic funk and jazz. Born in London and shaped by musicians from Sudan, Jamaica, Japan and beyond, Scorpios have spent 13 years building a reputation for powerful live performances across England and Europe. Featuring rich percussion, analogue synths, horns, guitars and soulful vocals.

On their self‑titled debut, Kenako deliver a tightly wound set of organic funk and Afro‑soul instrumentals, where heavy drums, hot horns and deep, unhurried grooves feel cut for both dusty dancefloors.

Strut Records proudly presents a new reissue of the original Afrobeat classic Low Profile (Not For The Blacks), recorded and composed by Afrika 70 saxophonist and bandleader Lekan Animashaun and produced by Fela Kuti. After years touring the world as Fela’s baritone saxophonist, Animashaun stepped forward to lead the legendary Egypt 80 band following Tony Allen’s departure, remaining the group’s musical director until Fela’s death in 1997. He continued on subsequent tours with Seun Kuti until 20…

Soundway collects ten rare sides from Trinidad's revolutionary decade, when calypso, jazz and heavy percussion carried the charge of the Black Power years. Kaiso Power assembles music made for the dancehall and the steelband yard, its politics built into the rhythm rather than spelled out.

We Are Busy Bodies presents Drive Unlimited. A gem by South African group The Drive, founded in 1971 by Adolphus "Bunny" Luthuli and Henry Sithole. Remastered reissue by We Are Busy Bodies. Art restoration by Steve Lewin.

The debut albumo of Tasmin is a journey through layers of influences connected by the band members bringing the sound of Ethio-Jazz, Afrobeat, Percussion, Dub and Tribal Music with an electronica sauce are interwoven, all mixed together in a delicate balance that creates a cinematic soulful and one-of a kind aesthetic blend from the connection of several worlds.The name "Tezeta" is taken from the well-known Ethiopian musical scale, which served as a major inspiration for the writing.  This scale…

“This is the time that we, who have benefited from the Last Poets should be able to say, ‘it’s the Last Poets. It’s them we should be honouring, because we did not honour them for so many years…” KRS One wasn’t just addressing the hip hop fraternity when he uttered those words by way of introducing the video for Invocation – a poem written thirty years ago, around the time of the Last Poets’ last significant comeback. He was speaking to everyone who’s been affected by the word, sound and power i…

Matata were formed in Kenya in 1963, laying down their grooves in Nairobi's Brilliant Club before going on to record two albums in London in the early 70s. Both Air Fiesta and Independence are perfect nuggets of Afro-funk, but alas Matata were reportedly homesick and they disbanded to return home. Their short-lived legacy lives on though, and now Dynamites Cuts have turned to their second album to present two of the hottest joints on a cool and deadly 7". 'I Feel Funky' is one of the band's bigg…

2024 stock. Alèmayèhu Eshèté is no less than one of the great voices of the heyday of modern Ethiopian music, the swinging sixties which, in this country, went on until the fall of the Emperor Haile Sellassie 1 in 1974. On a par with Tlahoun Gèssèssè, Bzunèsh Bèqèlè or Mahmoud Ahmed, Alèmayèhu is a star at the top level of the constellation that once lit up the wild nights in the capital.

2025 stock Even without an album out: they have already set the world on fire freaking out audiences all over Europe on their 2019 summer festival tour including Sines in Portugal, WOMAD in UK, Roskilde and WOMEX in Tampere. This young allstar band from Ghana brims with gifted musicians and energy on stage. The 8 piece collective is made up of a young generation of awarded musicians who have backed anyone in Ghana from Azonto sensation Sarkodie to Nigerian superstar 2 Face Idibia, but their pass…

Tip! **2025 Stock** The Chisa Years: 1965–1975 (Rare and Unreleased) gathers the most exploratory moments from a vital era in Hugh Masekela’s career, collected on BBE as part of the label’s Masterclass Series. As co-founder of Chisa Records with Stewart Levine, Masekela set out to document the crossflow between African musical idioms and the currents of soul, jazz, and R&B pulsing through the United States and beyond. The result is an archive alive with the friction and joy of experimentation—a …

This is the fourth, and until now, unreleased album by Kapingbdi, a six-piece band from West Africa, which billed itself as “African Jazz-Funk-Rock from Liberia”. It is a skilful mix of African and Western elements, with a spiritual heart and dynamic grooves. In January 1985 and shortly before the group disbanded, they recorded nine tracks for an aborted LP project at Masterpiece studio in Detroit, U.S.A. In 2019 the music was carefully remastered from the original 24-track master tape. For Kapi…

The album delivers masterful arrangements, inventive rhythms, rich harmonies, and a perfect balance of flute and saxophone interplay. Funk, Jazz, Gospel, Afro, and traditional elements all merge seamlessly into something unique and timeless.Joshua Sithole (1947–1999) was a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from South Africa who first started busking with the Kwela kids in 1959 and then went solo in 1978. He became popular in the 80’s, performing widely in Durban and Cape Town. Origi…

On a quest for cosmic grooves of unity, Àbáse is the imagination of Hungarian producer and keyboardist Szabolcs Bognár. Now based in Berlin, he’s become a protagonist of a fast-rising jazz movement in the German capital. Bringing together musicians from Hungary, Germany, Ghana and Australia for moving project with a global outlook - here is his highly anticipated new album ‘Awakening’ released by Analogue Foundation and Oshu Records. Created following a move to Berlin, marriage, new parenthood, …

South-african jazz-rock worshippers alert ! Assagai was an Afro-rock band, active in the early 1970s in London, whose relatively short career produced two albums recorded in 1971. It has been described as "the second best-known African group of the late 60s/early 70s in Britain" after Osibisa. The original band consisted of five members, three from South Africa and two from Nigeria: drummer Louis Moholo, trumpeter/flautist Mongezi Feza, alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, tenor saxophonist Bizo Mngqi…

Estrada Orchestra's self-titled debut album, released on Funk Night Records (FNR), is a 5-track LP that showcases the group's adventurous blend of jazz, funk, psychedelic, and disco influences. The Estonian-based quintet recorded the album mostly live in one day, capturing their raw improvisational energy with minimal overdubs and only a handful of microphones. Anchored by bass-driven grooves and swirls of cosmic keys, the tracks move fluidly between free funk, Afrobeat, and lo-fi psychedelic ja…

The re-release series of original Ethiopian classic vinyl continues -- the finest Ethio jazz by Mahmoud Ahmed and his band from 1975 plus two tracks from 1978.

The Afro National band was formed in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1972. Their inspirational leader, Sulay Abu Bakarr accompanied by his wife Patricia and Ayo Roy Macauley split from the Sabanoh Jazz Band to form their new group. They skillfully merged highlife and jazz sounds with a deep knowledge of West African sounds. Growing to become one of the premiere bands to emerge from Sierra Leone they not only defined the sound of the country for a generation but also crafted some of the country's most …

'Formed in Bristol back in 2014 Tezeta were an experimental 8 piece instrumental group effortlessly combining Ethiopian jazz, Afrobeat, prog and improvisation. The band spawned out of the much loved Bloom Collective - a collective of musicians and friends from an experimental corner of the city’s buzzing music scene. Led by composer, pianist and bandleader Daniel Inzani (Spindle Ensemble, Cosmo Sheldrake) the band also featured tenor saxophonists Andrew Neil Hayes (Run Logan Run) and Lorenzo Pra…

*2024 stock* Girma Bèyènè is a true legend of Ethiopian music. After an exile in the United States and a silence that lasted 25 years, he jubilantly accepted the invitation of the group Akalé Wubé to return to the front of the stage. The comeback was held last September at a memorable concert with Akalé Wubé in Paris. The adventure could not stop in such a good way ...Under the direction of Francis Falceto (director of the famous Ethiopiques series) Girma and Akalé Wubé recorded this album to im…

We can safely say that some of the past Italian library music masterpieces will hardly reach the export levels of mainstream Italian pop music. However, there is no doubt that the recent rediscovery operation led by some record labels such as Schema, Sonor, Four Flies, Intervallo and many others, has helped to create a lively and passionate record collectors’ market where names such as Umiliani, Brugnolini, Torossi, Tommasi, Braen, Iacoucci, Alessandroni are the watchwords for entering a wonderf…

Wah Wah 45s are proud to present the full debut album from Afrobeat supergroup Eparapo. Having come together during the unprecedented events of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, and despite being a project born from the privations of lockdown, their music is ultimately an expression of hope, resilience & resurgence.

2025 stock 6-track album from a musician with a long list of credits including South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela, afrobeat co-creator Tony Allen and Ethiopian jazz originator Mulatu Astatke as well as many Brit-jazz and other international roots artists. “It’s Time” blends Afro-jazz groove, free improv, spoken poetry and other-worldly atmosphere, with lyrics and titles hinting at unorthodox takes on reality and the times we live in.

*300 copies limited edition* Alpacas Collective takes you on a trip from Lagos to Addis Ababa, from Augusta, Georgia to New Orleans, and from Delhi to sci-fi worlds, bringing it all back home in a unique set of original songs featured on its debut album Seven Wisdoms of Plutonia. During the covid 19 pandemic, when everyone was in lockdown the group retreated underground for a quest to soul saving creativeness, to come out again as Alpacas Collective with a first release. 'Seven Wisdoms of Pluton…

Kapingbdi came together in Liberia, West Africa, during the late 1970’s and had their own unique style. This six to seven-piece band played original compositions in a vibrant mix of African Rhythms, Soul, Spiritual Jazz, Funk and Rock. Led by Kojo Samuels on sax, flute and vocals “Born in The Night” presents the essential tracks from their rare studio LPs produced between 1978-1981, carefully remastered in 2019 for vinyl LP and a 6-Page Digipack CD, which includes two additional recordings. Kapi…

Phil Dawson, UK guitarist and producer, learned his trade with legends like South African jazz trumpet giant Hugh Masekela, Nigerian Afrobeat co-creator Tony Allen, Ethio- jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, and Ghanaian afro-rock dons Osibisa as well as a large handful of Brit Jazz and cultural fusion projects. 'Don't Waste Your Ancestors' Time'creates a new blend of Afro- and Afro-Brazilian grooves, high-level improv and dub, and boasts an array of collaborators that push the music in new directions …

Following the success of ‘The Original Sound of Mali’ compilation, we return with another explorative delve into the wonders of Malian music compiled by French writer, journalist and Grammy-nominated compiler Florent Mazzoleni and Mr Bongo’s very own David Buttle. Restoring, reissuing and contextualising iconic tracks from Ousmane Kouyaté & Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Rail Band, Les Messagers du Mali, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou and many more, the second compilation in this series dives ever fur…

The Beaters – Harari was released in 1975. After changing their name, Harari went into the studio late in 1976 to record their follow-up, Rufaro / Happiness. In 1976 they were voted South Africa’s top instrumental group and were in high demand at concert venues across the country. Comprising former schoolmates guitarist and singer Selby Ntuli, bassist Alec Khaoli, lead guitarist Monty Ndimande and drummer Sipho Mabuse, the group had come a long way from playing American-styled instrumental soul …

*2022 stock. In process of stocking* Strut present a definitive vinyl edition of the groundbreaking compilation 'Nigeria 70'. Originally released in 2001, the collection set the benchmark for a new generation of archive labels and releases mining the vaults for rare Afro funk and Afro jazz fusions and helped to paint the wider picture of the 1970s Lagos scene beyond Fela Kuti's catalogue for a legion of soul, funk and dance music enthusiasts. Check!

Introducing the 2nd Volume of Super Biton of Segou’s Afro.Jazz.Folk collection, led by Malian conductor Amadou Bah, also known as “The Armstrong Malian”. Deviation Records is thrilled to present this collaboration with The Mieruba Label Team, showcasing the diverse musical roots of 1970s Mali, combining Afro-Latin percussion, Mandingo songs, jazzy brass, and funky guitar. The album also features the captivating ArtCollage of Emma Margo incorporating visuals of Segou, Mieruba Art Center, and Fran…

This record is the result of a live streaming that was put in place after a two-day residency. It is published as it was played, with its shouts of joy and its flaws and wobbles. No overdubs, no edits. raw.

Hot Casa Records present Togo Soul 2: Selected Rare Togolese Recordings from 1974 to 1989.

*2024 stock* Celebrated multi-instrumentalist and visionary artist Yussef Dayes announces his highly anticipated debut solo studio album ‘Black Classical Music’, released on September 8th via the revered Brownswood Recordings, Warners and Cashmere Thoughts Recordings. Alongside this, Dayes shares a first taster of the record, the title track “Black Classical Music” featuring Venna & Charlie Stacey. First single “Black Classical Music” is an incredible opening statement and entry point to this ne…

Alpacas Collective once again invites you for an enchanting musical trip. After finding their voice and soul on their well received debut album ‘Seven Wisdoms of Plutonia’ (October 2022), they are excited to release the second collection of Alpacas tunes one year after! From of the adventurous spaces of Plutonia , from where Alpacas Collective emerged, this gang of fanatic music lovers continue their trip through new places with new friends on the new album ‘Big Words’. ‘Seven Wisdoms of Plutoni…

Fela used the cover of Ikoyi Blindness to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which means “he who carries death in his pouch.” The front cover shows Ransome crossed out and Anikulapo added above it. Fela also used the album cover to announce the Africanisation of Africa 70’s name, changing it to Afrika 70. In the title track, Fela draws attention to the economic chasm separating the haves and have-nots of Nigerian society, contrast…

This edition of Original Sufferhead is a major event. With the release of box set #5, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent album is presented in its full-length, 25 minutes 24 seconds glory. While preparing the master disc for the box set, our engineer Jedi, Colin Young, discovered four minutes of “lost” material on the B-side of the original pressing, including a superb keyboard solo by Fela. This had been omitted from subsequent reissues. The restored version used here …