Review: Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers - African Party (Deluxe Edition) (Impressive Collective)

Back in 2015, Freestyle Records reissued a remastered version of this 1967 classic ten track album by Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers but this is the 12 track Deluxe Edition as the first on the Impressive Collective label.

You may know Mr. Boraman from his connections with Brian Auger (see review HERE) so it's no surprise that he loves this seminal album from that late sixties when Ginger Johnson was not only opening the London/UK ears to Afro-jazz percussion, he was also a mentor to then London resident, Fela Kuti as well having work with British jazz greats as Ronnie Scott, drummers Phil Seaman, pianist Victor Feldman, Kenny Graham (in his Afro-Cubists band) as well as percussionist in Edmundo Ros' popular dance band in the 50s (always check the credits his album).

This album is full of Yoruba vocals/chants, heavy percussion and Brit-jazz horns and flute; 'Hi-Life' being particularly good but it's all excellent and often mentioned as the start of Afrobeat. 

Johnson's band also went on to include future members of Cymande and Osibissa and you can hear elements of calypso/Carribean on 'African Party' and even Zamrock meets jazz ('Witch Doctor' (Afro Rock)'.

A truley amazing album and especially in this expanded form (the extra two tracks having been taken from a long lost 45 that's been a 'Repair Shop' restoration so as to match the rest of the album).

When Tony Allen (RIP - albeit mentioned this week - see review HERE) said, Ginger "was a pioneer, the trailblazer for all of us", he really should be better known and this 'African Party' will definitely make that happen.

Artist: Ginger Johnson And His African Messenger

Title: African Party

Release date: 18th October, 2024

Label :  Impressive Collective (an imprint of BBE Music)

Catalog Number:BBE771

Format: Vinyl 2xLP (early 2025), Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Dele Sosimi - You No Fit Touch Am (Deluxe Edition) (Wah Wah 45s)

As you may have seen elsewhere, I have already pronounced this album is "BIG".

There's a number of reasons for this confident assertion as it was original a seven track album released by Dele Sosimi on Wah Wah 45s in 2015.  Back then it was a mere 7 tracks and featured the realitively unknown Tamar Osborn (and is now better known as leader of Tamar Colocutor and has appeared with world star plus jazzers like Emma-Jean Thackray, BunnDebrettQuintett, Emanative and Liz Elensky) and was produced/mixed by Ben Lamdin (aka Nostalgia 77).

As a former 'pupil' of Fela Kuti the album had many instant hits like 'E Go Betta', 'You No Fit Touch Am', 'Where We Want Be' and 'I Don't Care'.

Such was the attention, the Deluxe Edition re-issue features the original tracks together with previously unreleased and classic remixes, edits and dubs; including Dele's new best mate, Medler (the 'You No Fit Touch Am' remix got these two together and it's a match made at 'The Shrine' so to speak) together with the whole Prince Fatty vs. Nostalgia 77 dub album and old favourites like Modified Man, Paper Tiger and DJ Khalab.

Dele's just had a BIG 60th birthday bash at the Jazz Cafe and the album that came out last month as Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21, 'The Confluence' (see review HERE) so it's worth checking out what is now a 27 track option!

Now that is BIG! 

Artist: Dele Sosimi 

Release: You No Fit Touch Am (Deluxe Edition) 

Release Date: 12th May, 2023

Label: Wah Wah 45s

Catalog Number: Digital / BANDCAMP