Aka J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop).
‘Recorded in autumn 1976, six months before the army attack on Kalakuta Republic, this is a lampoon of ‘been-to’ Nigerians, who had been to Europe or the US and returned with an inferiority complex about African culture. Ghariokwu Lemi’s front-cover portrays a suited-up been-to, dressed like a cartoon British toff, as he parachutes into a Lagos street to the bemusement of passers-by. The back cover shows a more funkily dressed been-to, wearing US-style ghetto-chic, but looking equally out of place. See how these JJD’s dress and talk, sings Fela, they are trying to be foreigners. In response, the chorus repeats the single word ‘original’, invoking Fela’s closing line on Gentleman: ‘I no be gentleman at all-o, I be Africa man, original.’‘
With Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, John McLaughlin, Airto, Gary Bartz, Wayne Shorter — different lineups around 1970 — running jazz into Sly and JB and way out the other side.
Vinyl from Music On Vinyl.
Tremendous. Big Youth overflowing with good and righteous vibes; churchical organ, fruity trombone, punchy rhythm. Now… where’s that copy of Instant Coma?
The more expensive iteration is from Acoustic Sounds.
Expertly natural recordings of an intimate concert in 1980.
1967 — Rudd and Moncur, Jimmy Garrison (an unmissable solo overture), and Beaver Harris, tearing like a tornado into three-quarters-of-an-hour of One For The Trane.