VA - Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration Of Fela Kuti

By now, Fela Kuti has taken his deserved place in the international canon of musicians whose impact can be felt far beyond borders of time and geography.  Compiled by Stones Throw GM Egon, this batch shows not only the impact his instantly-identifiable sound has had on the world but also documents the sounds of his contemporaries who, in turn, had their influence on him. Thus, tracks by compatriot Segun Bucknor and Ghana’s Jerry Hansen show that others in West Africa were headed in similar directions.

The popularity of Fela With Ginger Baker Live! in the Caribbean led to aggressive interpretations of “Black Man’s Cry” and “Egbe Mo O” included here. From there, we head to Colombia for a pair of takes on “Shakara”, retitled “Shacalao” for an Afro-Colombian percussion workout by Cumbia Moderna de Soledad, and a surprising turn for Lisandro Mesa as he tries it on himself.

Three modern cuts finish things off: one by deep funk revivalists The Daktaris, who tackle the classic “Upside Down", along with originals from the great Jan Weissenfeldt, who takes a swing as The Whitefield Brothers, as well as Karl Hector and The Malcouns, each showing the breadth and depth of fecundity that Fela’s blueprint has given the musical world.