"Songs of the African Coast" released

Yarngo Music has announced the release of Songs of the African Coast: Café Music of Liberia. This unique and historical CD was recorded in the late 1940's in Monrovia, Liberia, and featured artists who were among the most popular in Liberia at that time. These recordings were captured by Arthur Alberts, a noted ethnomusicologist and diplomat, who conducted pioneering field recording expeditions in Africa in the 1940's and 1950's.
In 1950 Arthur released a seminal 78 rpm set entitled, Tribal, Folk and Café Music of West Africa. This release documented many of the key links between American music and African music. All the artists on the recording are Americo-Liberians and their music reflects not only African influences but also American cultural influences. Americo-Liberians are a Liberian ethnicity of African American descent. Most of them trace their ancestry to free-born and formerly enslaved African-Americans who immigrated in the 1800s to become founders of Liberia.
Some of the best known musicians from Liberia are on this recording. They include the blind Prof. Howard B. Hayes, Malinda Jackson Parker and the Greenwood Singers; all were noted artists and highly respected citizens of Liberia.
Many of these songs have not been heard in the United States since Alberts' 1950 release and the CD contains several songs that were never released commercially as well as unique never before seen photographs of the artists. The music is mainly urban but in many cases, the music sounds like Calypso or early jazz and clearly illustrates the connections between American and African music. All songs were recorded live and have a warm feeling that seems to connect the listener to the musicians as the music is played.
The importance and historical value that these recording hold has been noted in recent years. Martin Scorsese cited the work of Arthur Alberts in his documentary, The Blues - Feel Like Going Home. The Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart, along with the Library of Congress, released a selection of work entitled The Arthur S. Alberts Collection: More Tribal, Folk and Café Music of West Africa which features both rural and bush music. In the 1960's, Joan Baez and Dave Van Rank recorded songs from this new release.
Songs of the African Coast: Café Music of Liberia is a historical landmark that is to be both respected and enjoyed to the fullest. This release is also receiving extensive airplay across the nation and is among Jazz Week's highest rated World Music Albums for radio airplay.