Hugh Masekela - "Night in Tunisia".wmv

This is 'Night in Tunisia', the opening track from Hugh Masekela's 1974 LP 'I am not Afraid'. As far as I know this track is not available anywhere else on the internet, or on any commercially available CD. I heard it on Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Radio show and tracked it down on vinyl for $60 through Ebay. I think it is one of the rudest riddims around and it opened my ears to the whole world of Afrobeat. Masekela is the band leader and plays the flugelhorn. I've put it over a shot from a rooftop in Akihabara, Tokyo, and some footage from Tokyo's chuo line and Chiba's Uchibo line. Enjoy!

[@sirresebethea]

I remember my Dad playing this Album as a kid

[@turnonstan]

When Hugh came to the United States from Apartheid South Africa, brought here by Harry Belafonte and Marian Makeba, he was unprepared for the New York winters. Dizzy Gillispie took him to a New York clothing store and bought him a brand new Cashmere coat. This is his tribute to Dizzy.

[@carter50]

May the ancestors welcome you with open arms….travel safety, RIP When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.

[@gregorysmith8895]

Ffff6!aaaa

[@balaclipa]

its 2021 have no clue who any of these people are but im still out here I enjoy the super rare stuff i found your page from your comment on the void beats/invocation Trex video. Hope life has been good for you.

[@jw4444]

This LP was produced by Stewart Levine and features Joe Sample and Stix Hooper from the Crusaders (who Levine was also producing at the time) on piano and drums, resp. (I listed the band from the album jacket in a comment for another clip from the same album). I've always thought of it (the LP) as a unique meld of Masekela's afro-jazz and Crusaders-style jazz-funk. The whole LP is Awesome.

[@Hollymarimba]

I am speechless. This is amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I WILL find this on vinyl! It is a must have.

[@williamclark1552]

Thank You for posting !!!! I had this album in 1974 or 1975 it got ghost have not heard it until now.

[@TheCalebson]

Awesome! I have this album. The whole record is fantastic!

[@timporterdevriese7194]

I love this album. It was on Spotify up until very recently and now it has mysteriously disappeared. Thanks for posting!

[@tsholofelomahlatsi6045]

Thank you for getting hold of it!!!

[@barneycouch]

timeless, absolutely timeless. great choice of footage to go with it too. thanks rufusdos!

[@Rufusdos]

+Barney Couch Glad you appreciate!

[@wblk]

this is type of shit that makes youtube great. thanks.

[@Rufusdos]

Glad you dug it!

[@jimtakahashi4638]

Another legend has gone … I came to know Hugh Masekela through Paul Simon in the early 80’s, but my interest in his music grew much later when I started listening to World music (esp. African music). Yes, his music has a distinct African flavour. And here’s a curious and marvelous mix of Masekela’s playing "Night in Tunisia" by Gillespie and a view from a train going through the concrete jungle of Tokyo.

[@Sakazhua]

Awesome cut... It gets all up in my groove thang... Shake! aww yeah...

[@E4endo]

Wicked version!!!

[@nomalangak]

Soul filling..beautiful

[@ManneckeyKhoeAob]

Currently, I'm reading "Still Grazing, The musical journey of Hugh Masekela. All the artist are mentioned. A must have book,

[@loveyouall66]

I LIKE IT.

[@HPHSGermany2010]

Thanks a ton! This is amazing!

[@africanstar651]

Sounds from another realm

[@TheLoxionKasie]

Wow! This is beautiful (the music and the video)

[@poedes1]

truly really hard to find, my husband played the bass on this!

[@Hautegirlfresh]

Thank you for this!

[@markgarcia1824]

heavy song

[@groovedoc]

coolest version i ever heard of is this song (and a nice video, too)

[@Rufusdos]

Exactly how I felt about it.

[@mr.waforwilliams1127]

Awesome!

[@estergeneno13]

@pharaoh531 the name of the album is "I am not afraid" along w/ tracks, Stimela, Long time gone and, In the marketplace.

[@Rufusdos]

That's exactly the adjective Gilles Peterson used: "that is heavy, heavy, heavy!"

[@MrBrittcoleman]

Yes man, irie tunes the whole album through. I am sorry you had to pay so much for it, as I found it at a thrift store about 15 years ago for $1. It's been in the rotation ever since. Positive vibes!

[@markgarcia1824]

gilles is always on point

[@poedes1]

you might find a copy on discogs but they are rare. I was lucky and found one, had left my own in Africa...

[@koschino]

Nice

[@Goruthar]

Thanks rufus, how bout some "Jungle Jim" or some Stimela, (from "I Am Not afraid) or maybe Nina? Great album , thanks for this one.

[@Rufusdos]

Charlie. the 70s, an amazing decade for music, and so much is owed to the influence of Africa. To Explore Fela Kuti, try YouTubing Fela Kuti "Gentleman" (1973) and Fela Kuti "Expensive shit" (1975) and play it through some speakers!

[@poedes1]

and the vid is cool too!

[@turnonstan]

Now, if someone would upload "Lilly the Fox" from the LP "Hugh Masekela's Latest", I'll be one happy camper!

[@ndumisomlabateki4111]

Thank you for this gem @Rufusdos, but why? Why do you think its not available anywhere? I am worried...this is a highly regarded artist and I think his artistry should be paraded widely instead of being hidden. Are we going to wait until he passes like the other greats before we "salute" him? I am going into music publishing tomorrow morning...

[@Rufusdos]

+Ndumiso Mlabateki Sad thought! I really don't know though. Is it condsidered "minority interest"? Is there some difficulty with the rights, so none of these tracks can appear on other people's compilations? Maybe some difficulty connected with the two Crusaders members involved? Your guess is as good as mine.

[@Rufusdos]

I think you're commenting on the wrong video. This is for people who like music and good vibrations.

[@Rufusdos]

cheers charlie. sounds like a cool program. Have you also heard Fela Kuti's 70s stuff, like 'Gentleman/Confusion' and 'Expensive shit/water no get enemy'? sometimes hits the highs of this tune.

[@Andyminnion]

Can you put Nina from I am Not Afraid album up here too Rufus? - it's a cool version - I had the album once long time ago - Thanks!! Lovely to hear this version!!

[@donaldbranch8051]

i have the album in mint condition if you want it.

[@E8NOS]

yes sorry my mistake i ll remove it

[@turnonstan]

What's his name? I know the keyboard player and drummer are Crusaders Joe Sample and Sticks Hooper. Don't know who the guitar player is either.

[@Goruthar]

The video of Japan is compelling but disparate from Africa, you have committed a disconnect crime for posterity.

[@Goruthar]

Nice job though!

[@Rufusdos]

+Al Waxman If you're a person who needs the audio and visual channels to agree, I suggest you Google the term "literal video". Juxtaposition is not a crime!

[@Goruthar]

I was using the term 'crime' very loosely. The video does suit the music.

[@Rufusdos]

@MrBrittcoleman Ha! thrift store shopping at its finest!

[@Goruthar]

Thanks rufus, how bout some "Jungle Jim" or some Stimela, (from "I Am Not afraid) or maybe Nina? Great album , thanks for this one.