← more from
Freestyle Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
supported by
Rudy Carrera
Rudy Carrera thumbnail
Rudy Carrera See here: amiscellany.info/2019/04/12/music-ginger-johnson-and-his-african-messengers-witchdoctor/ Favorite track: Witchdoctor.
stanwilson
stanwilson thumbnail
Joe Mama
Joe Mama thumbnail
galliani
galliani thumbnail
Andrey Chagin
Andrey Chagin thumbnail
Music Without Labels
Music Without Labels thumbnail
Kwak( Strictly Niceness )
Kwak( Strictly Niceness ) thumbnail
Matthew Sproule
Matthew Sproule thumbnail
rhythmdr
rhythmdr thumbnail
Judd
Judd thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £2 GBP  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Witchdoctor via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 1 day
    Purchasable with gift card

      £8.33 GBP or more 

     

1.
Witchdoctor 03:29
info
buy track
2.
Nawa 04:30
info
buy track

about

In 2015, Freestyle Records re-issued the groundbreaking 'African Party' album by the somewhat mysterious figure of Ginger (George Folunsho) Johnson. Recorded in 1967, nearly 20 years after he first arrived in post war London and immediately began performing and recording with London jazz stalwarts Ronnie Scott and Pete King.
Credited by those in the know (including Giles Peterson, Louie Vega, Fela Kuti's drummer Tony Allen & writer David Toop) as the godfather of afrobeat, Ginger and his group, The African Messengers enjoyed a varied career as the go to afro-cuban percussion group for recording sessions in the UK, working with Georgie Fame, Osibisa, Madeleine Bell and Quincy Jones - as well as acting us mentor to a young Fela Kuti and members of Cymande who cut their teeth as members of his ensemble. They also performed at The Royal Variety Performance, Ginger's music featured in the James Bond film 'Live & Let Die' and Ginger himself appears on screen drumming in the Hammer Films cult classic 'She', and famously performed with The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 1969.
Aside from 'African Party', and several Hi Life singles released on the Melodisc label in the 50's, it was thought that there were no further recordings by this hugely influential musician . Eventually, prompted by the attention afforded the Freestyle re-issues - Ginger's son Dennis Dee Mac Johnson was contacted by was contacted by Uchenna Ikonne, a renowned African music collector, who told him he had discovered one rather battered original copy of a 45 single, released in the mid 70's on the short lived 'Afrodesia' label,

For Record Store Day 2019, Freestyle are proud to release the 2 tracks on a fresh vinyl 45. 'Witchdoctor' is not the track of the same name on African Party, but it and 'Nawa' (written by Dizzy Gillespie cohort Chano Pozo) demonstrate a musical progression as funk had stamped it's indelible footprint on Ginger's music along with afro-cuban rhythms and jazz.
Thanks to Claudio Passavanti at Doctor Mix Studios in London, who has done quite an amazing restoration and re-mastering job on this long lost music.
Watch 'The Story Of Ginger Johnson' mini documentary by clicking HERE!

credits

released April 12, 2019

2019, Freestyle Records Ltd

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers image

Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers London, UK

contact / help

Contact Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now