Tag Archives: Fela Kuti

Fela Kuti: Expensive Shit

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On December 12, 1975, “Sounds Workshop” label released “Expensive Shit”, the twelfth Fela Kuti album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Arc Studio”, and was produced by Fela Kuti.

Personnel:

  • Fela Kuti – vocals, alto and tenor saxophone, piano, arranger

Africa 70

  • Christopher Uwaifor – tenor saxophone
  • Lekan Animashaun – baritone saxophone
  • Tunde Williams – trumpet, solo
  • Ukem Stephen – 2nd trumpet
  • Ogene Kologbo – tenor guitar
  • Leke Benson – rhythm guitar
  • Franco Aboddy – bass guitar
  • Tony Allen – lead drums
  • Henry Kofi – lead congas
  • Nicholas Addo – additional congas
  • Issac Olaleye – maracas
  • James Abayomi – sticks
  • Demola Odebiyi – engineer
  • Remi Olowookere – artwork, graphics
  • Peter Obe Photo Agency – photography
  • Roland Francis – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Fela Kuti.

  1. Expensive Shit
  2. Water No Get Enemy

Tony Allen

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On April 30, 2020, Tony Oladipo Allen died aged 80. He was composer, songwriter and musician (drums), regarded as one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat music. He has recorded and performed with Fela Kuti, Roy Ayers, Ernest Raanglin, Zap Mama,  Sébastien Tellier, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Moritz Von Oswald Trio, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jimi Tenor, Rocket Juice & The Moon, Gonjasufi and Hugh Masekela. Brian Eno described Allen as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived”.

Manu Dibango

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On March 24, 2020, Emmanuel N’Djoké Dibango aka Manu Dibango died aged 86. He was musician (saxophone and vibraphone), developed a musical style fusing jazz, funk, and traditional Cameroonian music. He was a member of the seminal Congolese rumba group, African Jazz, and has collaborated with many musicians, including Fania All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Adé, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. He was best known for his 1972 single “Soul Makossa”.

Lester Bowie

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On November 8, 1999, Lester Bowie died aged 58. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as co-founder and member of one of the most important groups in jazz history, “Art Ensemble of Chicago”. He was a also member of the” Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians”, “Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy”, “The Leaders” and “Lester Bowie’s Organ Ensemble”. In his career Bowie has performed and recorded with many big names of the popular and jazz music, among them  Archie Shepp,David Murray, Jack DeJohnette, Fela Kuti, Kahil El’Zabar, Defunkt, David Bowie, Sunny Murray, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Kirk Lightsey, Cecil McBee, James Carter, Brigitte Fontaine, Melvin Jackson, Wadada Leo Smith, Jimmy Lyons, Little Milton, Albert King, Solomon Burke, Joe Tex and Rufus Thomas.