Dia G 09.05.10 (3) - Fela Kuti And Afrika '70 - Sorrow Tears And Blood (1977 NIG)

FELA KUTI AND AFRIKA' 70

"SORROW, TEARS AND BLOOD"

Conoci a Fela decasualidad, cuando Ginger Baker grabo en 1971 el disco "Fela Ransome-Kuti &Africa'70 With Ginger Baker", la musica de aquel disco me cautivo de alguna manera, asi que investigando un poco pude profundizar y seguir a traves de los años a este gran musico ( por desgracia ya fallecido ) hacedor como madis, de lo que yo denomino "Jazz Minimalista"

Oidlo, no os defraudara

"Fela and Afrika 70-Sorrow Tears and Blood-1977 Nigeria":
Born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, north of Lagos in 1938, Fela's family was firmly middle class as well as politically active. His father was a pastor (and talented pianist), his mother active in the anti-colonial, anti-military, Nigerian home rule movement. So at an early age, Fela experienced politics and music in a seamless combination.
"Sorrow Tears and Blood" accurately depicts the trail left in the wake of the February 18, 1977, raid by 1,000 armed Nigerian army men on Fela Kuti and his Kalakuta republic. In keeping with the format upheld on a majority of Kuti's long-players, this disc contains a pair of extended works, featuring one title per LP side. In contrast to the hard-edged and aggressive Afro-funk that Kuti and his Africa 70 became synonymous with, both the A-side title track and B-side, "Colonial Mentality," are seemingly staid, in light or perhaps because of the cruel statesponsored attacks that he and his extended family suffered.
"Sorrow Tears and Blood" is neither a full-blown, up-tempo funk drone nor a somber dirge. The even-handed, mid-tempo groove trots along at a steady pace and features some comparatively sedate sax work from Kuti.
His lyrics are starkly direct: "Everybody run, run, run/Everybody scatter, scatter/Some people lost some bread/Some people just die". Perhaps this is the result of fear, shellshock, or a combination of the two. Kuti's words, however, remain as indicting as ever: "Them leave sorrow, tears, and blood/Them regular trademark."
It's almost impossible to overstate the impact and importance of Fela Anikulapo (Ransome) Kuti (or just Fela as he's more commonly known) to the global musical village: producer, arranger, musician, political radical, outlaw. He was all that, as well as showman, inventor of Afro-beat, an unredeemable sexist, and a moody megalomaniac. His death on August 3, 1997 of complications from AIDS deeply affected musicians and fans internationally, as a musical and sociopolitical voice on a par with Bob Marley was silenced.

mp3 (320 Kbps)

LOOK FOR: AFRIKA