|
www.planetnotion.com |
| Mr Bongo |
 |
| 05/09/2007 |
|
 VITAL STATS
Label Head: Mr David Bongo
Label Founded: 1989
Annual Releases: 3-4 artist albums, 2-3 DVDs, 3 compilations, 5 singles
Mission Statement: Bringing Brazilian sounds to the masses
Website: http://www.mrbongo.com/
‘Without labels like Mr Bongo and Soul Jazz, those styles of music would be forgotten; those labels are keeping them alive…’ Coming from producer du jour Mike Pelanconi (whose recent credits include Lilly Allen's smash ‘Alright Still’ for Regal/EMI and Little Barrie’s ‘Stand your Ground’ for Genuine/PIAS), this is one legitimate testament to the Mr Bongo legacy. The Bongo man himself, David, is also a bit of a legend on the global DJ circuit, known for his connoisseur Brazilian selections – think funk carioca, bossa, batucadas and samba soul and funk fresh and classic – as well as his penchant for hip hop, reggae and jazz. Mr Bongo has flexed his skills at such prestigious sweat boxes as the Mambo Inn, Blue Note Japan, Favela Chic France and London’s Jazz Café, as well as adding his worldly styles to a heap of festivals and of course the odd Brazilian carnival. Partay!
Back in 1989 the nascent Mr Bongo label was a specialist record shop handling Latin American music, later spawning the Disorient (for Japanese house) and Beyongolia (for hip hop) imprints. Championed by Gilles Peterson and his favorite Dingwalls venue, Brazilian music carved out its space on the UK scene and the store found itself thriving. Another floor was added to stock hip hop, while Mr Bongo’s long-time artists like renowned jazz-man Terry Callier, the folk-funking Doris and Cuban maestro Hanny enjoyed a whole new generation of admirers. Check out one of the sizzling Brazilian Beat compilation series to understand the label and its roots – if that ain’t enough to turn your grey skies blue then you’re screwed.
Currently flying the Mr Bongo flag and blending those ‘Brazilian Beats ‘n Pieces’ is twice-crowned DMC finalist Phat Kev, splicing sunshine and splendour for a spicier British summer soundtrack. Meanwhile the cosmopolitan Jose Conde is releasing his ‘(R)evolucion,’ album, a rootsy, funked-up Latin dance trip along with his lively band of musicians, Ola Fresca or ‘Fresh Wave.’ Russ Dewbury, one of the UK’s leading antiquarians of black music, clubbed together with remixer brother Ben Mitchell to bring us ‘Beyond The Rains,’ a soul-meets-jazz-rubs-against-Latin-gone-funky beast that even brought a smile to Robbie Williams’ face. About to blow too is Prince Fatty’s ‘Survival Of The Fattest’ vintage reggae fest, brainchild of Mike Pelanconi and graced by a whole host of specialist musicians and classic vocalists such as Winston Charles of ‘Mr Fix It’ fame.
Beats and pieces aside, the Mr Bongo label is all about good times with a conscience. See their celebrated Bottletop campaign, an in-house charity built to fund health education initiatives the world over; its first venture alongside the British Mulberry brand raised over £250, 000. Wowza! Running with the motto ‘Sound Affects,’ the idea is to make music generate cash for humanitarian projects. ‘Africa,’ the first volume, is brimming with classics from Ghana and Nigeria, remixed by the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Adam Freeland and Quantic and features two CDs of other-worldly wickedness, one original and one reworked.
While celebrating what is best in Brazilian culture and championing its sound, Mr Bongo and his crew have also been proactive about assisting this impoverished region along its route to development. In north east Brazil, more than 77% of the population live below the poverty line, while 30% of children below the age of five suffer from malnutrition and 2 million children receive no education. In 1994 the label registered Street Angels as a UK charity to boost AMADA, a homegrown charity formed in Dona Aurora, a shanty town on the outskirts of Salvador which works to supply the community with a school and legal system. Now the town is equipped with a health care clinic as well, instrumental in tackling issues such as domestic violence, STIs and substance abuse. Since then the Mr Bongo label has been more than generous with its profits from record sales; sound affects indeed!
Like Pelanconi said, we rely on niche labels like Mr Bongo to keep enriching our sonic awareness, to unearth remote sounds so we can celebrate these musical rarities. Skank to the Fattest retro reggae flavours around this summer or lie back to sample some true Latin soul; with Mr Bongo the love is all around.
|