“We are glad to present a brand New Year record by Franck Biyong
for a tribute to legendary band SANTANA. This very special musical celebration of Afro-Latin-Rock Music will delight you and features performances of some of East Africa’s finest instrumentalists such
as Asaph Uzele on Bass, Moses Njoroge on Keyboards, Emma the Drummer and Percussion Ensemble Debe Debe.
As one of Cameroon’s best alternative, jazz fusion and creative experimental sounds exports, the Afrolectric musician imagines
the future Pan-African sound and was recently set with two
consecutive album releases, the raw Afrobeat of “Afro Bikutsi
Live!” and the cosmic 70’s Spiritual Jazz of ‘Evening Prayer’.
This early 2019 EP release inaugurates a string of challenging
and diverse musical endeavors planned for this promising
new year.
Taking a slight detour from his usual afro-jazz focused traditional sounds, the Yaoundé based and world-touring act had formed the powerful Orchestre Lipombe Jazz in 2015, received rave reviews
for their tribute to Fela Kuti at Thursday Nite Live at J's Westlands,
the “IBOLO INI” album launch performance at the Treehouse Club
in June 2017 and appearances at the Backyard Bar, Alchemist
Club, live Jam Sessions at J’s Westlands again in November 2018; Franck and his musicians are just back from the Sanya Island in
China where they co-headlined the legendary ISY MUSIC FESTIVAL
for the first ever showcase of an international Afrobeats stage in
this region of the world.
Franck is a child of many worlds but is anchored to none. The 45-year-old instrumentalist, composer, producer and singer grew
up in Gabon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast before heading to the UK
at age 14. Franck’s musical instincts were awoken in a Baptist household and sharpened by Makoune, Assiko, Electronica,
Funk, Rock and Jazz. The Electric Guitar would later become
his tool of trade.
Afro rock is a style of rock music pioneered in the late 1960's and
early 1970's by Nigerian acts such as MonoMono, BLO, Ghana’s
Alhaji K. Frimpong and the Pan African super group Osibisa. SANTANA’s unique sound showcases melodic blues-based
guitar lines set against Latin and African rhythms featuring
percussion instruments such as timbales, bongos congas
not generally heard in rock music.
These Musical Roots transplanted to Mexico and the US are
exactly what SANTANA always showed a sharp awareness of
when he long ago declared in an interview: “And you know,
again, the roots of all our music comes from Africa”. Franck
and his band therefore proudly present a “cross-back” thrilling performance showcasing the many links between Africa’s
polyrhythm and the many artistic expressions it originated
in the New World. Make sure you check out this one…”
credits
released January 28, 2019
DRUMS: Emmanuel Yakobo Obedi
GUIRO & SHEKERES: Daniel Mburu Muhini
BONGOS & TIMBALES: Amani Muge
CONGAS & DJEMBE: William Rama
BASS GUITAR: Asaph Uzele
KEYBOARDS: Moses Njoroge
ELECTRIC GUITAR: FB
Recorded @ J's Fresh Bar & Kitchen
Thursday Nite Live in Westlands - Nairobi, Kenya
Hosted by Abdi Rashid Jibril for Roots International
Recording engineers: Julius Oyando Okoti & FB
Mixed & Mastered by Benjamin Lafont (Shelmi) & FB
Artwork by Wanyoike Kimani @ Square Down Studios
Produced by FB
Track 1 written by Michael Carabello
Track 2 written by José Areas, David Brown,
Michael Carabello, Gregg Rolie & Michael Shrieve
Track 3 written by Michael Shrieve & Richard Kermode
Track 4 written by Carlos Santana ("I'll Be Waiting") and
Babatunde Olatunji ("Jingo")
A unique Sun Ra live recording of the mid 1960's, ranging from classic Ancient-Egyptian inspired big band arrangements to lengthy free form pieces and pioneering a stunning use of electronic keyboards Franck Biyong
Rare pre-Woodstock live recording of the "Santana I" classic line-up showcasing the elements that made the band legendary: African drumming, Psychedelic organ and screeching but bluesy guitar lines Franck Biyong
A riveting jam session from Pittsburgh, Pa. folk band Wisbands, who infuse classic Americana with jazz and psychedelic rock. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 15, 2021