The Sophisticated Audiophile

October 25, 2011 • 8:15 am 0

Nigerian Cover Project

I recently started a site called Nigerian Cover Project.

This project is an idea that I’ve had in my head for quite some time. It’s simple in concept. I’ll be posting the album covers of Nigerian musicians, but certainly not limited to just them. I’ll also post album covers from other African musicians as well. I’d like more people to be aware of their talents. A step in the right direction is letting people know the work of these musicians by seeing the names and album covers of the musicians themselves.

There will be no commentary to cloud your opinion. Just album covers (and sometimes links to videos/audio under the images). Past and present music will be represented. I hope the covers will motivate people to explore the works of the musicians posted. Sometimes, you just need a visual.

Click here to take a look. Much more to come, so stay tuned!

Filed under: Afrobeat, Africa, Afrobeat, Ambasse Bey, Apala, Cape Jazz, Ethio-Jazz, Fuji, Highlife, Juju, Makossa, Nigeria, Palm-wine, Sakara, Soukous

October 11, 2011 • 9:20 am 0

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers – Buhaina’s Delight

From the late 40s and onward, many African Americans converted to Islam. The rise of Elijah Muhammad, and the teachings of the NOI (Nation of Islam) were gaining a foothold with many blacks. The NOI conversion numbers saw new heights with the popularity of Malcolm X in the 60s. Taking a quick look at the jazz world in the period from the late 40s and onward, you’d see the effect this had on black jazz musicians. Many converted to Islam, and changed their names. Click here for a fairly comprehensive list of jazz musicians who converted to Islam.
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Filed under: Hard bop, Jazz, Video, Art Blakey, Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Blue Note, Cedar Walton, Curtis Fuller, Freddie Hubbard, hard bop, Hardbop, Jymie Merritt, Wayne Shorter

October 5, 2011 • 9:13 am 6

The Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz

For one reason or another, there are many talented musicians who never became famous. Elmo Hope is one of those musicians. His brilliance on the piano can be heard on Sonny Rollins’ album, Moving Out. Hope was a musician’s musician, in the sense that his colleagues and contemporaries knew how good he was, but he never achieved wider acknowledgment from the public. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: bebop, Hard bop, Jazz, Video, bebop, Donald Byrd, Elmo Hope, Hank Mobley, Hardbop, Herbie Nichols, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Prestige, Prestige Records, Sonny Rollins