Azimüth
Azimüth

Le maître du Danzon cubano...Press vénézuélienne de 1974 (orig 1960). LE QUINTETO MATANCERONé à Bolondron le 4 décembre 1909, Barbarito Diez passe son enfance et son adolescence dans la plantation sucrière « Manati », où débute sa carrière artistique amateur. Fraîchement débarqué à La Havane, il devient l’ami du troubadour-compositeur Graciano Gomez, qui l’aide à intégrer le Quinteto Matancero. Cette première expérience lui permet d’acquérir de précieux enseignements sur sa propre manière de chanter. Il enregistre quelques disques avec ce quintette, et voyage à Porto Rico, en Haïti, en République Dominicaine et aux Etats-Unis.A VERDADERA HISTORIACependant, Barbarito Diez ne connaîtra la gloire et la reconnaissance du public cubain que grâce à sa collaboration avec Antonio Maria Romeu, tandis que celui-ci trouvera enfin, en Barbarito, un chanteur faisant corps avec sa musique, doté d’une voix cristalline. Ensemble, ils enregistrent de nombreux disques pour le label Panart, y incluant les thèmes les plus représentatifs du répertoire tradionnel.Antonio Maria Romeu est né le 11 septembre 1876 à Jibacoa. A 22 ans, il part pour la Havane à la recherche de nouveaux horizons et débute avec succès au café La Diana. Accompagné d’un seul joueur de güiro, il joue des danzones qui révèlent au public ses exceptionnels dons de pianiste.

Obscure, rare spiritual jazz, deep folk and psychedelia sounds from the French ‘70s - ‘80s underground‘Spirit of France’ is an anthology celebrating the French artists whose total desire not to belong to a particular trend expanded their horizon by pushing the boundaries of creative music. Recording in caves during the full moon, or in the open air in Ibiza to celebrate the sun - with flutes, cromorne (French woodwind reed), darbouka and hurdy-gurdy, or with fascinating, unusual, artist-build instruments, with sounds heavily influenced from Indian, African, Arabic, Eastern and Malagasy cultures, this is what makes this compilation so unique.Freedom of expression, experimental creativity and collaboration constitute the fuel for these hand picked artists – similar to Don Cherry’s influence on Colin Walcott and Kahil El’Zabar (in the field of jazz), and folk background artists like Robbie Basho and Sandy Bull; in Europe, the same approach was manifested in Italy with bassist Marcello Melis, the Sardinian singers from the Gruppo Rubanu, Aktuala and Futuro Antico. In France, Cossi Anatz, Nu Creative Methods and Sonorhc were also echoing the same approach.‘Spirit of France’ – a long project in the making, is dedicated in unearthing more than just curiosities, instead focusing on never been reissued, obscure, artist-self-released music. Carefully curated by Spiritmuse Records’ Mark Gallagher and Thea Ioannou, and joined by young French digger Tom Val, ‘Spirit of France’ is an anthology of obscure spiritual jazz and its’ relationship with deep folk in the ‘70s - ‘80s French multi-cultural melting pot underground scene.The album’s aim is evident from the outset, with Rémy Couvez’s aptly named ‘Rêve de Voyage’, illustrating the theme’s quest for imaginary folklore, continued with Workshop de Lyon, Jef Gilson – France’s spiritual jazz giant, Sylvain Kassap, Noco Music, Pân-Râ, L’Empire des Sons, Ghédalia Tazartès, and the mysterious Adjenar Sidar Khan. Some of these artists remain unacknowledged, yet they’re all extraordinary heroes of the French music avant-garde scene.‘Spirit of France’ is a journey of imaginary folklore, blending spiritual jazz influences and deep folk, celebrating the unique sounds of the French avant-garde underground, at the crossroads of the tribal, the secular and the universal.

Comet Records presents from Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, N.E.P.A Reissue LP Vinyl remastered and coming in an heavy Deluxe Tip-On Jacket.In 1979, Tony Allen decided to leave Fela Kuti & Africa 70 and moved to London in 1982. Originally Released in 1984 on Earthworks Records, this reissue holds an extra track previously unreleased on vinyl called “Olokun”. N.E.P.A (Never Expect Power Always) is a searing critique of the Nigerian Electric Power Authority, an organisation that governed the use of electricity in Nigeria.It starts out with the title track, with a definite Afro-beat punch. Electro-claps stand as part of the percussion line, adding to a more modern look at what Afro-beat was becoming.This is followed by an even further modernized piece of Afro-beat, as the title track is given a dub mix. “When One Road Close” has a similar pace, and is similarly followed by a dub remix, complete with the necessary space-effects reverb.And to make this reissue extra special the track “Olokun” was never released on vinyl before.Blending the nascent rise of electronica into Afrobeat production, it’s tighter than any Fela album and became a definitive project in shaping Allen’s future sound. Whether it’s the electro beats or the punchier, multilayered arrangement, it instantly stands out in Allen’s vast and expansive discography.

In the 60s and 70s Arthur Verocai arranged for the likes of Jorge Ben, Gal Costa, Marcos Valle and other such legends of Brazilian pop music. However, it was his self-titled debut album in 1972 which now largely defines Vaerocai's reputation, although it was a resounding failure in Brazil upon its release. His sound looked to US jazz, pop and soul as much as bossa nova, and it was only in the 2000s that it started to be picked up on in the US and elsewhere. The passage of time helps place certain records, and that's especially true of this incredible curio from a bygone era, which strikes a mysterious out-of-time-and-place quality as Rodriguez's classic Cold Fact. Here's to the overlooked greats - may they all find their moment in the sun eventually.