Hidden gems

Welcome to Hidden Gems: a blog for deejays specializing in rare international/funky/soul gems and all lovers of these genres.

Corpura

Alafia

Released 2015

Alafia’s 2015 release is definitely a hidden gem to scoop. 11 tracks that oscillate between smooth and smouldering downtempo tribal rhythms  and uptempo high energy dance floor jams. Based out of Sao Paulo, the group stays true to the Capoiera incantation tradition and you will feel the spirit of the ancestors as you listen whether chilling with your loved one and a glass of wine or partying in a packed house party with your friends. A worth while investment for deejays/audiophiles and general listeners just the same!

Check out Corpura:

Siria

Mestre Cupijo 

released 20 June 2014 Analog Africa

This edition of Hidden Gems we take a listen to Siria (Analog Africa) by the late Mestre Cupijo and his band Seu ritmo. This compilation is a presentation of the sounds of the Quilombo a Brazilian community of African slave descendants. The Quilombo were a community of escaped slaves that created a community in the jungles of Northeast Brazil and created a hybrid sound  born from a cross pollination with the indigenous Native population. The Quilombo were also known to welcome escaped and fugitive individuals of European descent  particularly Jews. The result is a festive carnival like sound that resonates with warmth and brightness.

Siria release from Analog Africa
Siria release from Analog Africa

Mestre Cupijo was a trained musician with whom this sound resonated. He and his band Seu Ritmo present their interpretation of this sound in this release.

To grasp the soul of this music, Cupijó went to its source and lived with the quilombolas (maroon) community of the Amazon. Upon his return, enriched by this life-changing experience, he founded the band ‘Jazz Orquestra os Azes do Ritmo’ with the goal of reinventing Siriá and modernising Samba de Cacete, Banguê and other folkloric music of the state of Pará. Airwaves from the Caribbean and Latin America had also brought the cumbia sound of the mighty Colombian orchestras, Merengue from the Dominican republic and Cuban music to the Amazon, all of which had an impact on the music of Northern Brazil, Mambo especially! Mestre Cupijó took these influences and mixed them in with the ingredients he had studied in the Quilombos. That fusion – as we are witnessing on this record – had explosive effects. (Analog Africa liner notes- Sammy Ben Redjeb)

Mestre Cupijo chillin on the docks
Mestre Cupijo chillin on the docks

Tribo Massahi
Goma Gringa Discos label

Tribo Massahi lead singer Embaixador
Tribo Massahi lead, Embaixador

Tribo Massahi -Estrelando Embaixador, is a record that has become legendary among record collectors and researchers in Brazilian music…The LP, recorded in 1970, is nowadays very rare and its few existing copies are sold at high prices around the world.
The records characteristics, both acoustic and asthetic, have helped to consolidate a myth. Tribo Massahi – Estrelando Embaixador was recorded in two long continuous tracks, side A and side B, about 14 minutes each, where you can hear songs with a pop footprint and strong African influences, “a crazy and contagious rhythm” according to the LP’s liner notes. “This is a sound made in Brazil. All the members are Brazilians. But the goal is to show the new African music, with all the distinctive features that defines the black continent’s music.

(Coma Gringa Discos liner notes – Itamar Dantas -Sao Pauolo – February 2015)

This album takes you on a journey to a very specific place that’s difficult to describe.I will try, Its a jazzy funky tribal swing..with a chorus of voices beckoning you to come join a primal celebration of humanity.

The African influence is clear and present from the onset and so is the psychadelic 60’s funk blend …its like looking at a mosaic of go go dancers, afros, sistas with colorful African head wraps undulating while chanting, performing ancient tribal rites and in the background you see three dog night handlebar mustache dudes rocking out with an African Shaman.

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Quite a place.

Embaixador (Sept. 10 1934 – December 27, 1996) was the stage name for Sebastiao Rosa De Olivera, a multi talented actor/musician entrepreneur who never saw the success of this gem that is only achieving notoriety for him posthumously.

After working in bit parts and appearing in at least one major feature film Embaixador created this band and they recorded this album in one marathon session. One of the more remarkable achievements I have come across in the record industry given the incredible quality of this work.

As read in the liner notes, the album plays as a medley so its a continuous movement and very dynamic.

The whole album ..just wow it will move you. Highlights for me include Fareua,
Menina Da Janela and Dandara.

Here is a taste enjoy..and go cop this!

Brand New Wayo

The review is simple: “I love this album”. 15 high energy dance floor grooves, great to mix with your favorite disco/ funk jams. The highlights for me on this album: “Get on up”, “Excuse me baby”, and “Listen to the Music”. One or two of these jams almost always find their way into my rotation. Peep:

Surinam: Boogie and Disco Funk from the Surinamese Dance Floors 76′ -83

label: Kindred Spirits www.kindred-spirits.nl

Surinamese Funk

Our first entry is a great one to jump off with for this blog: A Surinamese funk compilation released by Kindred Spirits (a label based out of the Netherlands)  highlighting cuts from 1976 through 1983. It is packed with super tight funky jams and breaks that are all dance floor energizers and a lot of fun. I will be real with you, I know next to nothing about Surinam but this compilation definitely made me want to investigate some more for myself.

Some highlights off the record for myself include Erwin Bouterse and the Group Roetoe’s “Groovy Weekend”, Solat’s “Try, Try, Try” and Sumy’s “Soul with Milk”.

This record wins because of the grimy textures of the sounds that pulsate in rhythms that drives on point unfailingly. It also incorporates heavy layer of electro-funk elements into the songs which makes sense given that the music is extracted from 1976-83 and clearly bears some markings of the early eighties synth influences.

Overall, I would give this a very solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are virtually no dreaded weak links on this compilation, do not be surprised when you find your head nodding to every cut.

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