Name: Leon Keita
Brand: Leon Keita

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LPAADE016

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

2000

Release date

2023-10-06

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4260126061637

Total Cap

Black LP

Artist

Leon Keita

Genre GB

African

Label GB

Analog Africa

Analog Africa is a renowned music label that specializes in releasing rare and obscure African music from the 1970s and 1980s. With their series, Analog Africa (2), they have curated an impressive collection of vibrant and soulful sounds that showcase the rich musical heritage of the continent.

Since its inception, Analog Africa has been dedicated to unearthing hidden gems and forgotten masterpieces from across Africa. Their meticulous research and passion for preserving these cultural treasures have earned them a reputation as one of the leading authorities in African music.

With each release in their Analog Africa (2) series, this label takes listeners on a captivating journey through time and space, introducing them to incredible artists and genres that have largely been overlooked by mainstream audiences. From Afrobeat to Highlife, Soukous to Juju, Analog Africa presents a diverse range of musical styles that are sure to captivate any music lover's ears.

Browse the bestsellers in vinyl records, CDs, box sets and books. Our handpicked selection features the coolest trends in music and reading.

 I was in Bobo Dioulasso, the second largest city in Burkina Faso and one of its major centres of Mandingue culture. Here the sounds of nearby Mali and Guinea had fused with local styles, giving birth to a rich musical scene: bands such as Bembeya Jazz, Super Djata Band and other Mandingue giants were among the best-sellers of the region, and record dealers had once imported them in great quantities from distributors in Abidjan or Cotonou, the cities where most local artists had their LPs manufactured. Within a week, I was able to find most of Leon Keita's output ... and listening to his tunes in this part of the world was as natural as breathing the mild Saharan air at dawn! A fixture on the Malian music scene, Leon Keita was born in Conakry on the Atlantic coast of Guinea in 1947. After completing his studies he found his way to the Malian capital where, in addition to founding the Piano Jazz Orchestra, he worked as a teacher, organiser of cultural festivals, and accountant for the National Tobacco and Match company. During this time he also wrote reports for the Malian President Modibo Keita, and at the end of meetings he would sometimes entertain the delegates with a song or two. In 1970, alongside his close friend Manfila Keita, Leon helped to found the legendary Rail-Band, which became a celebrated mainstay of Bamako's nightlife and launched the international careers of Salif Keita, Mory Kante and many others. Leon himself went on to join Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, with whom he toured throughout West Africa, before departing to work on his own compositions. When Leon was ready to visit the recording studio he invited his friends from Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux to serve as his backing band; the collaboration yielded two records, both released in 1978 on the Papa Disco label. A year later Leon released "Rythmes et Melodies du Mali", co-written with his brother Germain and backed by the magnificent Orchestre Black Santiago; featuring infectious trumpet from band-leader Ignace de Souza, the LP was recorded in Benin at the Satel Studio in Cotonou. Although Leon didn't make many solo recordings, his songs continue to inspire the reverence of anyone fortunate enough to have heard them. In recent years the song "Dalaka" was rediscovered by Barranquilla's sound system operator Carlos Estrada and became an unexpected hit on the caribbean coast of Colombia. Twelve years after the release of the critically- acclaimed Bambara Mystic Soul compilation, this new compilation takes another deep-dive into Mandingue culture with five rare sides recorded during Leon Keita's fabled late 70s sessions.

Music GB

Discover Leon Keita by Leon Keita. New Ltd Dance Edition vinyl release on Analog Africa. Hypnotic guitar solos, funky horns and psychedelic organ lines.