Ozobia Special by Nkem Njoku & Ozzobia Brothers
Nkem Njoku & Ozzobia Sound’s one and only album, Ozobia Special, is an early 80s Igbo Highlife masterpiece, drawing on Ghana Highlife as well as traditional Ogene 6/8 bell tempos.
Nkem Njoku’s only album as leader, this LP epitomizes the feel-good, gospel-tinged party atmosphere of Igbo Highlife, with John Kante’s soukous guitar scales interweaving the sharp sax/ trumpet line-up, which includes the legendary Ray Stephen Oche, whose two scarce albums with his band Matumbo are big afro-jazz collectors’ items, reissued several times over the years.
Percussion section includes the prolific Smart ‘Friday Pozo’ Thompson, whose session credits read like a ‘who’s who’ of contemporary West African music and include many gigs on Tabansi artists’ albums.
The razor-sharp production sound, as so often on the best Tabansi Highlife and boogie sessions, is down to multi-keyboardist Jake Sollo.
Tracklist
| 1. | Ozobia Special | 7:35 |
| 2. | Ofu Obi (Onye Achuna Uwa Nike) | 5:45 |
| 3. | Osula Nwa Eje Ubi Eje Oba | 7:26 |
| 4. | Ije Eluwa | 7:53 |
| 5. | Akwa Obi | 6:07 |
| 6. | Egwu Oyoliba | 6:21 |
Credits
Arranged By, Composed By, Lead Vocals, Percussion – Nkem Njoku
Backing Vocals – Judith Ezekoka, Kenny George
Bass – Isidore Modjo
Drums, Percussion, Congas – George Atomba
Engineer [Assistant] – Emma Kalu, Remi Njoku, T. Death
Engineer [Recording, Remix] – Abe Aaron, Tom O'Leary
Guitar – John Kante
Percussion – Chukwudi Nwafor, Friday Pozo
Percussion, Engineer [Assistant] – Candido
Piano – Sonny Enang
Producer, Arranged By, Engineer [Recording, Remix], Synthesizer [Prophet "V" & 1] – Jake Sollo
Saxophone – Ngoma
Trumpet – Kofi Adjololo, Ray Stephen Oche
License
All rights reserved.Recommendations
Congo Funk! - Sound Madness From The Shores Of The Mighty Congo River (Kinshasa/Brazzaville 1969-1982) (Analog Africa No. 38)by Analog Africa
Dur Dur of Somalia - Volume 1, Volume 2 & Previously Unreleased Tracks (Analog Africa Nr. 27)by Analog Africa
Pop Makossa - The Invasive Dance Beat of Cameroon 1976-1984(Analog Africa Nr. 23)by Analog Africa
KISS ME YOU FOOLby Julien Gasc
Cerf, Biche et Faonby Julien Gasc
Keturahby Keturah
(Djibouti Archives Vol. 1) Super Somali Sounds from the Gulf of Tadjouraby 4 Mars
Come say hello at our Record Store in London
-----------------------
The BBE Store
Arch 376, 10 Helmsley Pl, London E8 3SB
-Open Tuesday - Saturday 12-5pm
-----------------------