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Steel Fela
Just been listening to a steel drum cover of a Fela Kuti tune, Black Man's Cry. It was recorded in 1974 in Trinidad by a visiting German studio engineer... and is available on a cd reissue from 2002...

"Who would imagine that hidden behind the exotic and sought after band Bossa 70 stands a sound engineer from Germany? His name is Gerhard Nieckau, nickname Jeff.

In the early 60s he went to Africa, later to Peru [1969-72] and Trinidad [73-77] to explore unknown musical territory , to record music and to fit studios. His trademark is a simple recording technique without frills, resulting in a pure, almost raw sound. All compiled pearls were found in his private archive, most of them published for the first time in Europe.

The wide range reaches from Calypso to Funk, from Jazz to Roots Beats. Amongst the uncompromisingly devoted version of Aretha Franklins THINK and Baden Powells BIRIMBAO by BOSSA 70, Lou Donaldsons CATERPILLA and Fela Kutis BLACK MANS CRY interpreted by THE GAY FLAMINGOES STEEL BAND."


According to the liner notes, Jeff's first recording on arriving in Trindiad was the Gay Flamingoes Steel Band, who were the top band on the island at that time. He went to meet with the band leader at an outdoor rehearsal, and saw 70 players. He knew he couldn't fit them all in a conventional studio, and the sound would be too high.

Jeff and the band leader went next door to the rehearsal space, and then he hit on a brainwave - record it there! The space was big enough for only 40 players, so the band leader dismissed any players not up to scratch.

The recording session went on well after midnight, as the band leader and arranger insisted on stopping if someone made the slightest mistake. It wasn't a very sound-proof space - during the recording of the nine-minute-long Black Man's Cry, just as they got to the fadeout at the end of a perfect take, a motor-ped roared past. As Jeff says, "Not for the faint hearted!"

Link, Crippled Dick Hot Wax Records. Audio of Black Man's Cry here.

Read Jeff's story here.