Bleep

The Canadian group’s fifth album for Strut Records (Mulatu Astatke, Sun Ra) sees them doing what they do best and turning in a well-heeled LP of globalist funk and soul. With the horn section front and centre throughout Under Burning Skies, The Souljazz Orchestra show off their versatility in nimbly navigating Afro-Disco, Somali Pop, French-Caribbean music, Inner-City Beat and much in between. The record includes a cover of ‘Is Yeelyel’ by the perennially underrated Dur-Dur Band. It also features guest vocalists Mabinuori Kayode Idowu (from the Africa 70) and Elage Mbaye, with both turning in powerful performances on ‘Dog Eat Dog’ and ‘Aduna Jarul Naawo’ respectively.