#afro jazz

1970s Italy: Afro-Inspired Jazz, Brazilian Rhythms & Library Grooves with Nicola Conte

"This selection follows the pathway of my recent compilation Viaggio, released via Far Out Recordings last year, expanding the view on the multicultural atmosphere that surrounded Italy in the '70s. Integration was not an issue back then and many foreign musicians made Italy their new artistic home, getting together with the new wave of young Italian artists alongside the countless sessions for sound library and soundtracks. The trend of Afro & Brazilian sounds was huge and some exciting groups were leading the scene (Mandrake & Som, De Paula -Urso - Viera, Luis Agudo, Mbamina and so on ) while independent producers started new labels to record jazz (Aldo Sinesio, Horo Records, Sergio Veschi Red Records, Black Saint, Carosello Jazz from Italy) to give space to the new sounds which span over modal and spiritual colours often fused with free and post bop.

FRANCISCO FELLOVE

Tuve el honor de alternar junto al maestro del Afro Jazz, el prolífico cantante y compositor cubano Francisco Fellove Valdés— El Gran Fellove y el legendario Johnny Pacheco, flautista, director de orquesta y cofundador del sello Fania Records. Esa noche formé parte de la Orquesta Entre Amigos de Willie Villegas, y juntos vivimos una de esas veladas que la música convierte en memoria. El S.O.B.'s (Sounds of Brazil) fue el escenario perfecto para una noche de pura magia.

I had the honor of sharing the stage with the master of Afro Jazz, prolific Cuban singer and composer Francisco Fellove Valdés— El Gran Fellove and the legendary Johnny Pacheco, flautist, bandleader, and co-founder of Fania Records. That night I performed as part of Willie Villegas' orchestra Entre Amigos, and together we lived one of those evenings that music turns into memory. S.O.B.'s (Sounds of Brazil) was the perfect stage for a night of pure magic.

📽️ El Gran Fellove, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Villegas & su orquesta Entre Amigos comparten el escenario interpretando el clásico de Fellove, "Mango Mangüé". En coros Carlos El Grande y Frankie Vásquez. / El Gran Fellove, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Villegas & his orquesta Entre Amigos share the stage performing Fellove's classic "Mango Mangüé". On chorus Carlos El Grande and Frankie Vásquez.

Ｆｏｔｏｓ　／　Ｐｈｏｔｏｓ

🎞️ Foto/Photo 1 (izq. a der. / L–R): Carlos El Grande (@officialcarloselgrande) & Francisco Fellove, El Gran Fellove

🎞️ Foto/Photo 2 (izq. a der. / L–R): Carlos El Grande (@officialcarloselgrande), Johnny Pacheco & Francisco Fellove, El Gran Fellove

(Como el sol from SOL by Raul Monsalve y Los Forajidos)

""Como el Sol" (“Like the sun”) follows. John Coltrane’s Like Sonny is reimagined over Afro-Venezuelan drums, aided by Venezuelan master percussionist Gustavo Ovalles, and gritty, Mwandishi-style synths. Its centrality to the album is clear by its title, and the lyrical content of the chant towards its end, beseeching the sun to “not go out”, to bring abundance and blessings, to see all, and to “let your soul shine”".