Orchestre Massako

Orchestre Massako

Analog Africa
33.95 €
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The last time I found myself on the phone with Jean-Christian Mboumba Mackaya known as Mack-Joss - founder of the Mighty Orchestra Massako - I could hear gun-shots in the background. Libreville was upside down following the re-election of president Ali Bongo in August 2016. By the time I was ready to go ahead with this project, Mack-Joss’s phone number had been disconnected, and shortly afterwards I found out that the baobab of Gabonese music had fallen. An adept of folk rhythms, Mack-Joss’s career as a musician began when he was just 17 of age and he quickly established himself as a staple of Libreville’s nightlife scene, singing in various local bands. By 1966 he had released “Le Boucher”, his first hit which swept the African airwaves and earned him the respect of Franco, the legendary master of Congolese Rumba. Franc ´s encouragement helped transform him from a Gabonese singer into an ascendent figure of pan-African culture. Between 1968 and 1970 Mack-Joss and his Negro-Tropical immortalised a good number of singles recorded in a makeshift open-air recording studios and in 1971 Gabon armed forces decided to form their own band. Mack-Joss was recruited to become the band leader and this was the birth of Orchestre Massako which became Gabon’s national orchestra. At the end of the 1970´s funds were made available to bring recording equipment over from France. Studio Mobile Massako was born and Mack-Joss’s songwriting ability provided hit after hit. The master tapes with the recordings were sent to Paris for mixing and Mack-Joss would personally make the journey to France, carrying the reels in his hand luggage. The vinyl records were then pressed in France and shipped back to Gabon, and to other distributors throughout the continent. About a dozen long play records were recorded between 1978 and 1986 and most were released on Mass Pro, Mack-Joss´s own label. A few of these recordings featured a singer from Guinée Conakry by the name of Amara Touré who had joined Orchestre Massako as a singer in 1980 and had become an important ingredient in the band’s success. His specific voice, impossible not to recognise, left no one unmoved (ask those who listened to the compilation AALP078). Mack-Joss’s retirement in 1996 marked the end of Orchestre Massako. With a four decades spanned career, his contribution to Gabonese culture cannot be overstated and continues to inspire the respect and devotion of people who knew him. Tracklisting 1. Gnekelhe Mohi - Gnekelhe Mohi ft Amara Touré 8:05 2. Boungoumoune - Orchestre Massako 5:30 3. Dibembi - Orchestre Massako 5:02 4. Temedy - Temedy ft Amara Touré 6:57

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Details

Release Date

01.07.2022

Cat No

AALP-DE014

Tracklist

Track 1
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Track 2
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Track 3
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Afro Funk
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2-LP
Various
34.95 €
Congo Funk! Kinshasa / Brazzaville 1969-82 Analog Africa
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Afro Music
2-LP
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Various
34.95 €
Congo Funk! Kinshasa / Brazzaville 1969-82 Analog Africa
Brazil
LP + mp3
Ary Lobo
32.95 €
Ary Lobo - 1958-1966 (Ltd 180G Gatefold) Analog Africa
Backorder
LP + mp3
Ary Lobo
32.95 €
Ary Lobo - 1958-1966 (Ltd 180G Gatefold) Analog Africa
Afro Beat
LP + mp3
Leon Keita
32.95 €
Leon Keita (Ltd 180G) Analog Africa
Backorder
LP + mp3
Leon Keita
32.95 €
Leon Keita (Ltd 180G) Analog Africa
Latin
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LP + mp3
Various
32.95 €
Ecuatoriana - El Universo Paralelo (GF+Book) Analog Africa
Backorder
LP + mp3
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Various
32.95 €
Ecuatoriana - El Universo Paralelo (GF+Book) Analog Africa
Afro Beat
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LP + mp3
The Good Samaritans
32.95 €
No Food Without Taste If By Hunger (Colored) Analog Africa
Backorder
LP + mp3
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The Good Samaritans
32.95 €
No Food Without Taste If By Hunger (Colored) Analog Africa
Latin
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2-LP + mp3
Various
32.95 €
Peru Selvatico Analog Africa
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Latin America
2-LP + mp3
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Various
32.95 €
Peru Selvatico Analog Africa
Calypso/Caribbean
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7"
Outfit
14.95 €
Dr. Spougenstien / Theme From Peter Gunn Lava On Wax
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World
7"
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Outfit
14.95 €
Dr. Spougenstien / Theme From Peter Gunn Lava On Wax
Disco
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12“
Collettivo Immaginario
15.95 €
Luce / Luna Gioia Space Grapes
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Disco
12“
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Collettivo Immaginario
15.95 €
Luce / Luna Gioia Space Grapes
Disco
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2-LP
Various
27.95 €
Surinam Funk Force Rush Hour
Backorder
Disco
2-LP
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Various
27.95 €
Surinam Funk Force Rush Hour
Soul
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2-LP
Marcia Griffiths
34.95 €
Sweet And Nice (2024 repress) Be With
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Funk/Soul
2-LP
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Marcia Griffiths
34.95 €
Sweet And Nice (2024 repress) Be With
Disco
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LP
Various
25.95 €
Parkway Presents WPKY Jams Parkway
Backorder
Disco
LP
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Various
25.95 €
Parkway Presents WPKY Jams Parkway
Cumbia
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7"
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18
13.95 €
Cachetón / Cachetón (Elijah Minnelli Dub) Agati
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Latin America
7"
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Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18
13.95 €
Cachetón / Cachetón (Elijah Minnelli Dub) Agati