NIGERIA 70: LAGOS JUMP / VARIOUS Vinyl Record

Nigeria in the 1970's was a hotbed for a myriad of musical movements and hybrids. Asserting its fiercely independent spirit in the wake of colonial rule, the music centered on the country's largest metropolis, Lagos, grew to be as diverse as that of any major city in Europe or the U.S.A. Continuing the Strut label's series of Nigeria-focused compilations, NIGERIA 70 LAGOS JUMP: ORIGINAL HEAVYWEIGHT AFROBEAT HIGHLIFE & AFRO PUNK unearths lesser-known musicians, many of whom continue to toil in the shadow of the larger-than-life figurehead of Afro-beat, Fela Kuti. While homegrown styles are represented (as in the upbeat juju of Sir Shina Peters), many of the most memorable cuts represent distinctly western-influenced fusions. Funk and soul-jazz influences play heavily in the slick grooves of Peter King's "African Dialects," while Chief Checker's "Africa Irie" puts a West African spin on roots reggae.

• Format Detail: 2LP w/ CD insert (widespine jacket)
• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Int'L & World Music