MANU DIBANGO Vinyl & CDs

Review: Sun Explosion is an album by Manu Dibango that is the latest reissue from Soul Makossa after it was first put out in 2016. Dibango is legendary musician from Cameron who was celebrated for his versatility - he could do it all from jazz to funk to soul, blues to electro to reggae. He was trained in classical piano and formed his own band in the mid 60s before moving to Paris in 1965, where he recorded several albums. The six tracks here are all lengthy pieces that take in various styles from Afro boogie jazz to Soukouss beats via catchy Afro soul and funk It's superb album from a notable talent.

Review: Manu Dibango's grooves will never dull with time. The Cameroonian sax man made some of the most infectious, feel-good funk to ever transmit from the African continent, and here's one of his heavy-hitting high-watermarks, reissued by Soul Makossa. African Voodoo originally came out in 1972, a year that saw nearly all Dibango's most revered jams cut loose on an unsuspecting public. These sessions were recorded in France with Yvan Julien on trumpet, Slim Pezin on guitar, Jacques Bolgnesi on trombone and Lucien Dobat on drums to name but a part of the line-up, but of course it's Dibango holding court on the vibes, marimba, sax and organ who brings the unmistakable magic to the music.