Manu Dibango’s 1982 Concert Recording Sees the Light: A Night of Funk, Soul, and Locked-In Groove
African funk and soul legend Manu Dibango passed away in 2020, but his musical legacy continues. The saxophonist, best known for his hit “Soul Makossa” as sampled in Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” left a huge body of work that has grown with a new album.
Dibango 82 is a previously unreleased live recording captured in Marseille, France, in December 1982. It was a pivotal time in French culture.
“This live album, recorded during a French tour in 1982, came at a critical time when France, after the election of Francois Mitterrand, was embracing its multi-ethnic sensitivity,” the album’s description explains. “Through the rise of FM radios such as Radio Nova, an offshoot of cult magazine Actuel, the French music scene suddenly got much more opened.”
The gig was part of a sold-out tour featuring a stellar 8-piece band. Bassist Hary Gofin anchored the group’s sound, whose solid grooves helped unify the funk, soul, and African rhythms. He also shines melodically on the song “Africa Boogie” with a solo that seems to have been influenced by Jaco Pastorius.
Dibango 82 is out now on CD, vinyl and as a digital download (Apple Music and Amazon Music).
Dibango 82 Track List:
- Migilbawe
- Africa Boogie
- Ashiko Oumba
- Waka Juju Part 1
- Waka Juju Part 2
- Waka Juju Part 3
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
