Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders - Orlando's Afro Ideas 1969-72 (2003)

The musical heritage of Nigeria is a large area that holds many jewels from Afro-beat to Highlife, unknown outside of cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Benin City. Ekosound hopes to put the record straight by representing some of the countrys most respected musical figures such as Orlando Julius, Victor Uwaifo and Tunji Oyelana.

Orlando Julius was one of the originators of Afro-beat in Nigeria and was one of the main contemporaries of the legendary Fela Kuti from the mid sixties onwards. He has become known outside of Nigeria since his early material was re-issued on Strut records and the track Alo Mi Alo was featured on the Strut Nigeria 70 compilation 2 years ago. Also responsible, but never properly credited for his part in writing the Lamont Dozier dancefloor classic Going Back to My Roots, he has played with Hugh Masekela and worked on the musical score for Disney's The Lion King.

The style of the Afro-Sounders is a fusion of Highlife, Jazz, Funk, and traditional Yoruba culture from the west of Nigeria. As well as remaining popular to the Nigerian community Afro-beat has become popular in the last few years with a diverse mix of house-producers, rare funk and jazz collectors, the world music community and many more it's influences being felt in all sorts of areas. Here we present the recordings Orlando made between the period of 1969-72, a period when some of the funkiest sounds emanated from not only the USA but also Africa.

Driving powerful rhythms and stunning sax solos from Orlando himself, combined with elements of not only Yoruba culture but James Brown-style stand-up-and-be-counted mentality made these recordings a revolutionary and unique force at the time in Africa.

Apart from Alo Mi Alo this is the first time these tracks have been commercially available outside of Africa, and the first time they have been re-issued since the ultra-rare original records were pressed in small quantities over thirty years ago.