Various Artists – West African Gold (World Music Network/MRA)

With independence coming to Sub Saharan West Africa in the 1950′ and 60′, West African Gold chronicles the 50′ to the 80′ and features some incredible music movements such as Highlife from Ghana and Nigeria which were predominantly horn based dance bands strongly influenced by jazz, and Mbalax from Senegal with soul, funk and Latin influences yet with distinctively African percussion. Best known here are Senegal’ Orchestre Baobab and Mali’ Orchestre Rail Band De Bamako. Yet Sierra Leone’ precursor to Afrobeat, the gloriously funky Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats and Guinea’ Bembeya Jazz whose vocalist seems to be getting progressively more inebriated on Whiskey Soda make this collection essential.