Joni Haastrup – Wake Up Your Mind LP

Description

Hot Casa reissues Joni Haastrup‘sWake Up Your Mind, originally recorded in 1978. Growing up in a royal household in Nigeria, Joni Haastrup began his musical journey performing for his brother’s bandSneakersand was quickly snapped up as a vocalist forOrlando Julius Ekemodeand hisModern Aces‘s 1966Super Afro Soulalbum (VAMPI 091CD), one of Afro-beat’s formative albums. Soon after,Ginger BakerofCreamfame replacedSteve Winwoodwith Joni on keys forAir Force‘s UK concerts in ’71 and the success of the collaboration led to further shows with Baker as part of theSALTproject before he returned to Nigeria to set upMonoMono. Back in London in 1978, Joni recorded his solo gemWake Up Your Mindfor the Afrodesia imprint. Laced with funk basslines, swirling keyboards and screaming guitars, this is Joni’s most “western” record but at the same time, unmistakably African in origin. From the slow-motion disco of “Greetings” to the stone-cold groove of “Watch Out” to theReuben Wilson-style funk of “Free My People” Joni was soaking up the sounds of the times and blending them with the music of his roots. Limited repress of Hot Casa’s 2011 reissue. Deluxe gatefold sleeve.