Salif Keita & Kante Manfila - The Lost Album (2007) {Cantos–MRA MR60552 rec 1980}
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© 1980, 2007 Cantos / MRA Entertainment | MR60552
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

The Lost Album resurrects six lengthy and largely acoustic tracks recorded in 1980 by West African singer Salif Keita and his longtime collaborator, guitarist Kante Manfila. Musical partners since the late '60s, first in the Rail Band and then in Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Keita and Manfila seem to be moving away from that group's somewhat westernized Afro-pop sound with these sessions.

Salif Keita - La Différence (2010) {EmArcy–Universal 000422 88240266}
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© 2010 EmArcy / Universal | 000422 88240266
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

Salif Keita turned 60 in 2009, which was also the year in which the veteran Malian singer recorded most of La Différence (although parts of the album were recorded in 2008). At that age, Keita had nothing left to prove; he had long since established himself as a major figure in Mali's Afro-pop scene. But his desire to excel remained, and he is in fine form throughout La Différence. In contrast to all the keyboards and synthesizers he used back in the 1980s, La Différence has a largely acoustic outlook – not exclusively acoustic, but largely acoustic.

Salif Keita - M'Bemba (2005) {EmArcy–Universal 0602498312278}
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© 2005 EmArcy / Universal | 0602498312278
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

The Grammy nominated West African artist, Salif Keita, whose voice The Washington Post once declared as "one other mortals can only aspire to" returned after many years to Bamako, Mali to record M'Bemba, a remarkable, multifaceted collection which beautifully blends native choirs (comprised of his foster sisters), rolling hypnotic guitars, happily dancing percussion, and such indigenous instruments as ngoni lute and kora.

Gil Scott-Heron - I’m New Here (10th Anniversary Expanded Edition) (2020) {XL Recordings, Digital Issue}
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© 2020 XL Recordings Ltd.
R'n'B / Poetry / Dubstep / Trip Hop / Dark Ambient / Spoken Word

In February 2010, the late, legendary musician, poet and author Gil Scott-Heron released his thirteenth, and last, studio album. First conceptualised in 2005, and ultimately produced by XL Recordings head Richard Russell during New York recording sessions that commenced in January 2008, I'm New Here was Scott-Heron's first album in thirteen years and found him sounding as vital, boundary-pushing and insightful as ever before. On 7th February 2020 - the tenth anniversary of I'm New Here's release - XL Recordings will release a limited-edition, expanded version of the album.

Salif Keita - Folon… The Past (1995) {Mango–Island Records CIDM 1108}
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© 1995 Mango Records / Island Records | CIDM 1108 / 524 149-2
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

Everything about this African singer/songwriter is striking. An albino with a gritty voice that transcends classification, he spins dance tracks that reveal a dedication to tradition and passion. A unique treat. Salif Keita is a god in his own country, we puny Americans really have no musicians to compare with his status, (maybe John Lennon in his heyday). Folon is a great reminder of why hes such a god.

Salif Keita - Soro (1987) {Mango–Island Records IMCD 243 842775-2}
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© 1987 Mango Records / Island Records | IMCD 243 / 842775-2
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

Soro is the album that brought Salif Keita international stardom though he was already well-known in West Africa from his work with The Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. Keita's voice is in peak form, soaring and swooping with awe-inspiring power. For these sessions, Keita has gathered an all-star band that is innovative, solid, and turn-on-a-dime tight. The production, state of the art in 1987, sounds just as bright and fresh today. This CD draws its strength from the rich traditions of Malian culture, melded with cutting edge musical technology, and a global outlook. All of the tracks on Soro are crucial, though the bittersweet "Cono" and the intricate and epic title track "Soro" (Afrika) are standouts.

Salif Keita - Ko-Yan (1989) {Mango–Island Records 842 454-2}
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© 1989 Mango Records / Island Records | 842 454-2
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

From the voice of Mali comes this album, full of vaguely '80s synth work and Salif Keita's perfect brand of vocals. The album is a long distance from the Ambassadeurs days with Mory Kante and/or Kante Manfila, but it's worth hearing for the progression of Keita's sound. There is certainly a dichotomy on the album between more traditional sounds, with cascading vocal lines from Keita coupled with largely traditional instruments, and the more modern side, with slightly more pop-oriented vocals coupled with synthesizers and electric guitars.

Salif Keita - Amen (1991) {Mango–Island Records 261 694}
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© 1991 Mango Records / Island Records | 261 694
Afro-Pop / World Funk / World Fusion / West African

An early-'90s album from the great Salif Keita. This one pulls out all the stops to appeal to a Western audience at some level. Keita's vocals are, as always, outstanding. On top of this, though, a slew of performers make appearances and/or help out on production. Former bandmate Kante Manfila provides the primary guitar work for the album and master keyboardist Joe Zawinul both plays keyboards throughout and provides the production work.

Jo Jones - The Drums, The Historic and Legendary Jazz Drumming Sessions (1973) {Frémeaux & Associés, Expanded Edition rel 2018}
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© 1973, 2018 Jazz Odyssey Records / Frémeaux & Associés | FA 5672
Jazz / Instructional / Comedy / Spoken Word / Drums

I first heard this recording some 30 years ago and it is now avaiable in a CD format. I can recommend this to any drummer or musician who is seriously interested in learning about one of the most influential drummers in music history. This is to say the least highly entertaining and informative as Jonathan David Samuel Jones (aka Papa Jo) or Jo Jones talks about his influences and experiences leading up to joining the Count Basie Band in 1935.

Rhino's three-disc box set The Remains of Tom Lehrer presents 75 tracks from the satirist's four decade career. The first disc concentrates on Lehrer's studio output, including pieces from his 1953 debut Songs by Tom Lehrer and his 1959 album More of Tom Lehrer, as well as a 1996 version of "I Got It from Agnes" and "That's Mathematics," a previously unreleased track from 1993. Disc two gathers his '59 performances at MIT and Harvard, captured on the albums Tom Lehrer Revisited and An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer (which offered many of the same selections as their studio predecessors). The third disc is a mix of live and studio tracks, including the material from the album That Was the Year That Was, songs written for PBS's The Electric Company in 1971-72, orchestral versions of songs conducted by Richard Hayman in 1960, and four new songs, including "Selling Out" and "(I'm Spending Hanukkah) In Santa Monica." Song-by-song notes by Lehrer, rare photos, and an essay by Dr. Demento add an extra depth to The Remains of Tom Lehrer making it the ultimate collection of his irreverent social commentary.

Charlie Parker Records: The Complete Collection, Vol. 14 - The Orioles + Beatrice Kay (2012 CP Records 233193/14 rec 1962}
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© 1962, 2012 Charlie Parker Records / Membran Media / Documents | 233193 / 14
Jazz / Doo Wop / Jazz Blues / Early R'n'B / Spoken Word / Comedy

Exhaustive 30 CD collection from the Jazz legend's short-lived label. Contains 44 original albums (421 tracks) plus booklet. Every record-collector has run across an album with the little sax-playing bird in it's label-logo, right next to the brand name Charlie Parker Records or CP Parker Records. Turning the sleeve over, especially if it was one of the non-Parker releases, and seeing a '60s release date under the header Stereo-pact! Was as exciting an experience as it was confusing. Was the claim Bird Lives meant more literally than previously thought?