Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

Saxophonist Bukky Leo and producer Ben Mitchell have gone to the very top and got Bukky’s compatriot, friend and fellow Fela Kuti Afro 70 member Tony Allen as special guest on drums.

I don’t suppose Mr. Allen will be turning up for the gig next week at Momo’s Kemia Bar but it’s a good time to look back at the CD that came out late last year. Mr. Bongo are best known for their Brazilian Beat compilations so fair play to them for releasing this CD.

Even though the ‘Black Egypt’ track and ‘Ake Bo Je’ are ‘typical’ Afrobeat, the rest of the album is quite varied with a jazz-funk base. Tracks like ‘Don’t Go Away’ is a little samba like with Baba Johnson’s Santana style guitar solo and the laid back ‘Times Like These’ has a Grover Washingtonesque sax solo.

The feel is that of golden days of the 70s and the inclusion of a cover version of ‘Why Can’t We Live Together’ is, you might think, is little too obvious (even if the anti-war message is as relevant today as it ever was/will always be). However, it’s grown on me as it funks along. Similarly, ‘Dreamer’, ‘Dem Go Shout’ and ‘Secular Society’ are founded on a message of liberty, peace and understanding.

Bukky met Ben when he played on the track ‘Living… Am I Living’ on the Rapping With The Gods album, which Ben put together with legendary Brighton ‘Jazz Rooms’ DJ, Russ Dewbury. This album contained a track called ‘Children of Ra’ (spot the link?).

Bukky’s relationship with ‘Jazz Rooms’ dates back to the early days of Acid Jazz and the Gilles Peterson / Eddie Piller label of the same name (check the seminal Totally Wired compilations).

Since then, after a pilgrimage to Egypt about 10 years ago, he’s been developing the Black Egypt sound.

In terms of the musicianship, there’s a really cool vibe. Tony Allen puts in a solid performance and Billie Godfrey (who was also on that Mitchell and Dewbury album) lends a lovely counter-point to Bukky’s lead vocals. The last track, a calypsofied ‘His Majesty’ is slightly odd but you can image the band getting down to it with the sax and keyboards jamming away. In fact, if the band sound like this live, they’d be excellent but especially in a venue like Momo’s (where La Cedille were supberb last year).

Definately one for children of the 70s and any optimists about the positive power of music.

Live In London:
Tue 21 Mar Bukky Leo & Black Egypt Momos Kemia Bar doors 7pm

Bukky Leo & Black Egypt - Afrobeat Visions (Mr Bongo) Cat. No. MRB039 Release date: October 2005
Vocals, Saxophone, Flute - Bukky Leo
Vocals - Billie Godfrey
Drums - Tony Allen
Bass - Jude Baptist , Patrick Zombonin
Guitar - T.J. ‘Baba’ Johnson
Keyboards - Kishon Khan
Trombone - Justin Tihurgur
Producer - Ben Mitchell

Tracklisting:
1. Black Egypt (Intro) (3:31)
2. Ake Bo Je (4:47)
3. Don’t Go Away (6:56)
4. Times Like These (4:42)
5. Dem Go Shout (5:31)
6. The Vision (5:40)
7. Why Can’t We Live Together (3:24)
8. Dreamer (3:48)
9. Secular Society (4:19)
10. His Majesty (5:14)

Links:
www.mrbongo.com www.mitchellanddewbury.com
Mitchell And Dewbury – Rapping With The Gods (Mumo Records) [2003]
Bukky Leo & Black Egypt at Postnove.
Russ Dewbury – Brighton Jazz Rooms - Every Saturday@ The Jazz Place - 10 Ship Street - Brighton £6/5 conc. 10PM - 3AM SELECTED BOTTLED BEER £1.50 ALL NIGHT! Forthcoming:
Saturday 25/3 - Live session featuring killer vocalist Matty Eeles - Alice Russell Band and percussionist Tim “Bongos” Mercer
Saturday 1/4 - Stuart Chalk - Jazz Rooms Allstars and Ben Mitchell - Mr Hermano/Sao Benitez
Saturday 8/4 - Gary Johnson - Jazz Rooms Allstars plus live percussion from Dal Robertson
Easter Saturday 15/4 - Mark GV Taylor - DIG, Leeds/Brasilian Love Affair, London
Easter Bank Holiday Radio Special Sunday 16/4 - Russ Dewbury / Stuart Chalk
Saturday 22/4 - DJ Dupree - The Scandinavian Beatmaster