Lagos Jump

Strut Records are a label I hadn't previously come across until recently when I discovered they had decided to do a Soul Jazz records styled move (Soul Jazz release flawless compilations that each concerntrate on either the roots of a certain style of music, or an era within a particular Country) and one I have been listening to a lot lately is the second in their Nigerian series: Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump (following on from the mindblowingly good Nigeria 70).

It covers the era within the 70's where a strong international influence was coming across the popular Nigerian Afrobeat laced styles, there are tinges of Funk, Soul, Jazz and Psychedelica coming across, I can only imagine the clubs and culture involved in this brilliant music at the time. 

The most popular artist across the selections is of course Fela Kuti, a lot will be familiar with his innovative and leading styles but the otherwise largely undiscovered gems stand up just as well as Kuti. 

I urge you to go to the miscrosite designed to promote the albums release here.

You can listen to samples from the album, watch videos of artists featured on the compilation and there is a download for the excellent 'Yabis' by Sir Shina Peters and His International Stars.

I'd highly reccomend sourcing out both this and the original Nigeria 70 comp (which also comes with a DVD). 

I'd also reccomend anything from the Soul Jazz catalogue, they truly lead the pack when it comes to archivists of highly sought out gems.