Bnegao

Afrobeat is enjoying a solid surge of support and reincarnation amongst the underground scene in Brazil. Virtually all of the state's capital cities have a band (or 3!) championing the afrobeat movement. This compilation shows how musicians from diverse corners of the contemporary Brazilian music scene are being inspired to infuse elements of this sound into their work. The artists range from the non-stop touring machine based in São Paulo, Bixiga 70, to the pioneer afrobeat group, Abayomy jn Rio de Janeiro, to fellow carioca and frequent collaborator, BNegão, who here also participates on a track from legendary singer Tonho Crocco.

The African beat has always been essential to Brazil’s music. But now the new generation of musicians, singers and rappers are tweaking the basics of Fela’s funk to fit with samba swing, bossa tempo and nordestino nous. John Armstrong’s new compilation Afrobeat Brasil features 14 blazing tracks from 2011 to 2017 that nod towards Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali and beyond – with feet firmly in Brazil. For the first time outside Brazil, a careful selection of modern Afrobeat- inspired tunes from across several Brazilian genres, taking in cutting-edge players from Rio, São Paulo, Salvador, Porto Alegre –and even Paris. No slavish Fela Kuti copycats these, but rather Afrobeat and other specific African tempos and rhythms used as a blueprint, a building- block for new directions in Brazilian music.

SOLAR: Sun Ra In Brasil is a Brazilian celebration of the music of Sun Ra. The album was recorded in 2022 in Bahia and São Paulo, Brazil, and highlights incredible talent in Jazz, Avant-Pop, Rap and poetry. It includes such Brazilian forward-thinking artists such as Metá Metá, Edgar, Xênia França, Tiganá Santana, Max De Castro, Hamilton de Holanda, as well as 3x Grammy nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and world renown musician and songwriter Meshell Ndgeocello.