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| Bongos Ikwue and his former band, The Groovies |
It was in Kano, Nigeria, in 1974, that I first encountered the music of Bongos Ikwue and his band, The Groovies. Entering the Magwan Waterworks Café with Nigerian friends, my ears picked up the loping, dulcet tones of a country song, a Jim Reeves tune if memory serves (Jim Reeves was quite popular in Africa and The Caribbean). As I turned the corner I was shocked to see that the pleasing country song was being played by a dashiki-clad Nigerian band. The lead singer, a trim, stylish-looking, dark-complected man in his thirties with liquid dark eyes, delivered the song in an effortless, smooth, resonant voice. As that song ended to warm applause, the band kicked into a familiar groove and the vocalist began singing a somewhat obscure Brook Benton song called “True Confessions”. I was struck by the similarity of his warm tones to those of Brook Benton. Soon the band launched a Congo-style groove and Bongos-as the was the lead singer’s name—sang a sinuous, lyrical melody in a Nigerian language (a later learned it was his native Idoma). The Groovies—drummer, electric bassist, guitarist, keyboard player, congo player, saxman and trumpeter—morphed easily from hard-kicking funk to lilting highlife and Congo inflected grooves, occasionally jumping into a reggae skank. Bongos sang without histrionics, standing before the microphone and delivering the songs in a direct, soulful and heartfelt manner, the drummer harmonizing with him. The mix of music they delivered was utterly unique in the African landscape. Come to think of it, I’d never heard a band deliver that sort of musical mix anywhere in the world. Bongos was a decidedly soulful singer in the manner of Sam Cooke, The Impressions and Brook Benton but he didn’t ape American soul singers. He was a singer-songwriter who mixed country music, R & B and various African styles, both popular and traditional. That made him a unique figure in African popular music. Little did I know that I was about to learn first-hand just how special an artist he was.
This piece was written by Randall Grass
Randall Grass an acclaimed expert on both reggae and world music, he's lived on virtually every continent and has advanced the cause of musical diversity throughout his career. As a writer, he contributed to Spin, Beat, Musician Magazine and the New York Times; as a musician he played in bands in both North America and Africa; and as a disc jockey he hosted one of the earliest radio shows in America dedicated to reggae music. But his biggest mark has been made as the General Manager of the independent label Shanachie Records, where he helped transform a label known best for its catalog of Irish music into an indie powerhouse in reggae, jazz and, most recently, soul music. In 2006 alone, Shanachie has released albums by such classic soul artists as Maysa, Phil Perry and Ann Nesby as well as the hot UK act Hil St. Soul. Randall's appreciation for the diversity of musical styles and his belief in the commercial viability of even smaller musical niches has made Shanachie one of the independent leaders and has helped the careers of dozens of artists ignored by the major record labels. He's a true friend of soul music fans everywhere, so if anyone knows a thing or two about soul music. He sure does
Bongos, Double X and the new Album
The Album. with a new band that he named Double X, to suggest the intersecting elements in his music—traditional and contem, both re-workings of some of his earlier songs and also new compositions. He recorded over 40 tracks, working both in Maryland and Nigeria. The fourteen tracks album are drawn from these new recordings, which may be the best work he’s ever done as a recording artist, an amazing feat since very few artists can top or even match the work they did in their breakthrough period.
First Up before the Album release, which is due in September will be a series on Vinyl/Download of mixes by top uk producers, the first set of release is due out by the End of next month titled A side Love of my life re-mixed by Dj Simbad
Simbad is one of the uk busiest Djs touring the globe from Soth Africa, to new York L A Paris Amsterdam . his re-mix of love of my life has been supported (dj wise) by Gilles Peterson Deetron, Ripperton, Alex Nuts, Laurent Ganier and Kevin Beadle.
B side is Ochombolo re-mixed by Greenmoney . Greenmoney is formed by London Producer, Dj Duo, otherwise know as Leo Greenslade, head honcho of one of London’s best club nights YOYO and Alex Phountzi formarly of Bugz in the Alex .the pairs, have re-mix Kanye West’s “love Lockdown and the their own critically acclaimed “Goldrush” EP.. also on the Bside is the original version of Ochombolo by the Double x Band.
There is Also a 7” single of TELL MY GIRL also taken from the new album this re-mix comes from PRINCE FATTY . Prince Fatty, a record producer, has worked with a Diverse repertoire of Artist and Label from the Acid jazz in the 1990’s, to rock musicians like Graham coxon of (blur) reggae legend Gregory Isaacs, and Dun syndicate, and pop singer Lilly Allen
July will also see an extended 12” vinyl with more re-mixes from Simbad, and IG CULTURE.
First Up before the Album release, which is due in September will be a series on Vinyl/Download of mixes by top uk producers, the first set of release is due out by the End of next month titled A side Love of my life re-mixed by Dj Simbad
Simbad is one of the uk busiest Djs touring the globe from Soth Africa, to new York L A Paris Amsterdam . his re-mix of love of my life has been supported (dj wise) by Gilles Peterson Deetron, Ripperton, Alex Nuts, Laurent Ganier and Kevin Beadle.
B side is Ochombolo re-mixed by Greenmoney . Greenmoney is formed by London Producer, Dj Duo, otherwise know as Leo Greenslade, head honcho of one of London’s best club nights YOYO and Alex Phountzi formarly of Bugz in the Alex .the pairs, have re-mix Kanye West’s “love Lockdown and the their own critically acclaimed “Goldrush” EP.. also on the Bside is the original version of Ochombolo by the Double x Band.
There is Also a 7” single of TELL MY GIRL also taken from the new album this re-mix comes from PRINCE FATTY . Prince Fatty, a record producer, has worked with a Diverse repertoire of Artist and Label from the Acid jazz in the 1990’s, to rock musicians like Graham coxon of (blur) reggae legend Gregory Isaacs, and Dun syndicate, and pop singer Lilly Allen
July will also see an extended 12” vinyl with more re-mixes from Simbad, and IG CULTURE.
Record Label: BIK RECORDS NIGERIA
Distribution: KUDOS DISTRIBUTION UK
Address: 77 Fortess Road London NW5 1AG
Contact: KAYODE SAMUEL
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