Dossier 51

Our hero, Jo Tongo (born Joseph Ekambi Tongo Mpondo) was born and raised in Douala Cameroon. In 1964 he headed off to Paris to begin Pharmaceutical studies. Somewhere along the way the music in his soul eventually won out and he embarked on a life of music. In the latest of our series of "Funk Experimentals" LPs we dig for the funk. Not necessarily the artists greatest hits but most definitely the funkiest ear benders. We proudly compile together tracks from 1968 to 3 new brand new exclusive tracks from present day 2017. And yes, they all have the funk. In spades.

Debussy’s early promise as a virtuoso pianist never blossomed; instead he turned to composition, resulting in the creation of some of the 20th century’s greatest music. But he never abandoned the piano, and this beautifully played album gathers together some of his finest shorter works for the instrument. In pieces such as the Suite bergamasque and Images 2e Série, Lugansky ravishes the ear with playing of delicacy and fantasy. L’Isle joyeuse is gorgeous while “Jardins sous la pluie” conjures up the image of rain on leaves with astounding clarity.

"All tracks have been baked and digitally transferred from the original Ampex master tapes, except for ‘Relax’ (International) and ‘The World is My Oyster’ (at its full length) (from masters previously created for ZTT Japan’s Return to the Pleasuredome box set…" (ztt.com)

Stan Getz - Live In Paris 1959 (2018) {Frémeaux & Associés FA 5730}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 429 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 188 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 14 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1959, 2018 Frémeaux & Associés | FA 5730
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

A fantastic live performance from Stan Getz – recorded in Paris at the end of the 50s, and with maybe a bit more of an edge than some of his other European concerts! One of the key factors here is the budding modernist Martial Solal on piano – who makes a nicely surprising partner for Stan – in a group that also features Jimmy Gourley on guitar, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – certainly something of a French pick-up group, but one that's top shelf all the way through! Stan's got a wonderful sharpness to his tone – with that growing sense of fullness that would mature in the 60s, but still also this link that maybe goes a bit back towards Lester Young too – spun out on long takes of familiar tunes, very well-recorded as on other selections in this series.

For her tenth album and first album on a major label in nearly fifty years, legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette takes on the songs of Bob Dylan with the grit and experience that makes her one of the greatest living soul singers alive. Things Have Changed is a masterpiece of interpretation of one of the greatest songwriters alive, by one of the greatest soul singers alive. Produced by Steve Jordan, the album spans Dylan’s catalogue and features guest appearances by Keith Richards and Trombone Shorty.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason, BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2016, pays tribute to his mentors and heroes on his thrilling debut album. The cellist shows impressive maturity and confidence, whether he’s harking back to his time in a school klezmer band (“Evening of Roses”) or playing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, his performance of which so moved the Young Musician judges. There are touching, personal nods to early 20th-century cello master Pablo Casals and genius performer Jacqueline du Pré, while the album is rounded off with superb arrangements of iconic songs by Bob Marley and Leonard Cohen.

No reference of the griotique poets, but a bewitching funk and dizzying rock pulsations to serve a spinning and hypnotic music. Bamba Wassoulou Groove's repertoire is composed in majority of new tracks and some other big Bambara classics, which definitely exceeds the celebration of genre. An album like a story where the depths of memories meet the shine of the present. The Bamba Wassoulou Groove is composed of 6 musicians (three guitars,one bass, a drum and a singer) and is here to create a real wall of sound. Solis with Hendrixian virtuosos, trance voice, evil bass and drum sections, the band is a heavy dance machine who electrifies the Malian music and recreates the excitement of the hot nights in Bamako.