Fela Ransome Kuti and Africa '70 with Ginger Baker

Baker tooled into Nigeria in 1969, having come directly from Europe in a Land Rover. His stated purpose was to absorb and internalize the rhythms of Africa, and he was remarkably successful in accomplishing this task. Fela Kuti already had an astonishingly brilliant drummer in the form of Tony Allen, who was able to simultaneously perform a world of rhythm. But Ginger Baker brought something new to the mix. Live! was recorded in 1971 with Fela's group at the time, the Africa 70. Due to its demanding performance schedule, the band is remarkably tight. Interlocking rhythms drive keyboard and guitar vamps, propelling instrumental soloists on trumpet and saxophone.

Jose Gonzalez

Air

Jack Johnson

Beirut

Beck

Patti Smith

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Thelonious Monk

M. Ward

Citizen Cope

Stevie Wonder

COMPILATIONS

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Cat Power

Hot Chip

Dengue Fever

The Detroit Experiment

'Baby Needs New Shoes' introduces Latin syncopated hip hop, over which Bennie Maupin sax and Perry Hughes' creamy guitar unite for the refrain and surrounding improvisations.

Mo' Horizons

LCD Soundsystem

COMPILATIONS

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Marco Benevento

Neko Case

Blitzen Trapper

Sebastian Tellier

Sébastien Tellier (born 1975 in Paris) is a French singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is currently signed to Record Makers, a French independent record label. He sings in English, French and Italian.

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

White Stripes

XTC

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Adele

Nina Simone

Lightnin' Hopkins

COMPILATIONS

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COMPILATIONS

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R.L. Burnside

Tokyo Morose

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The Mighty Narwhale

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Menahan Street Band

The Menahan Street Band is a collaboration of musicians from Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Dave Guy, Homer Steinweiss, Fernando Velez, Bosco Mann), El Michels Affair (Leon Michels, Toby Pazner), Antibalas (Nick Movshon, Aaron Johnson) and the Budos Band (Mike Deller, Daniel Fodder), brought together by musician/producer Thomas Brenneck to record hits in the bedroom of his Menahan St. apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

MC Yogi