Hot Casa Records

When faced with the decision to take a different direction at the risk of getting lost in a synthetic sound or to further explore the same musical path, Vaudou Game did not need to consult the oracle for very long when putting together their new album. Since their first acclaimed album, Apiafo and its irresistible single "Pas Contente", these Lyon natives never turned down the heat on over 130 stages across Europe, Africa, America and Asia. Peter Solo has displayed his amulets, charisma and yellow pants around the globe. When time came for them to harness their Afro-Funk sound again, they turned their attention once again to their analog strengths. Vintage material, instruments and cassette tapes were the "grigris" (or lucky charms) which proved most effective to ward off digital corruption of their music and return them to a tight-knit group with a solid groove.

Hot Casa Records presents this new project, a collaboration between Soul-Jazz singer Shola Adisa-Farrar and Jazz pianist-keyboardist Florian Pelissier.Raised on opposite sides of the Atlantic, these two artists have combined their talents to compose Lost Myself. This musical voyage blends New-York’s hard-bop aesthetics and reggae-inspired elements, with modern jazz, for a fresh spin on classics and original compositions. Vocalist Shola Adisa-Farrar, a native of Oakland, was born into a family of artists and intellectuals. Shola began singing at the age of eight, influenced by her Jamaican upbringing and the soul and jazz classics that played in her home. At a young age, Shola garnered attention for her distinct raspy voice, which enabled her to perform a variety of musical styles. After living in New-York for 8 years, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music, she is now a true resident in Paris. Shola spends her time travelling to perform and develop her musical style. This album is her explorations into Jazz.Florian Pellissier, Parisian pianist and composer, is known for the authenticity and hard-bop style he brings to his music. A graduate of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Florian has spearheaded his own quintet along with the release of two successful albums: Le diable et son train (2012), and Biches Bleues (2014). Florian has also contributed his musical talent to jazz and funk projects such as Setenta, Camarao Orkestra, Chevere Que Son, Cotonete and GUTS.During Shola’s year-long residence as a performer for Le Reservoir’s Sunday Jazz brunch, Hot Casa Records’ honchos introduced Shola to Florian, sensing they would musically complement each other. In July 2013, their collaboration began, bonding over their love of jazz autobiographies, swapping music, and improvising together. The result is eight spiritually-tinged jazz tracks recorded live on analog equipment to maintain the traditional quality, from sultry introspections to rhythmic compositions, grounded in intense emotion. Included are jazz classics such as “Feeling Good” and “I Have a Dream”, a tribute to the music of Herbie Hancock, who has influenced Florian since his formative years in New York, to which Shola penned lyrics.

Tee Mac is a Nigeria’s multi-talented maestro flutist with cross-cultural Itsekiri and Swiss roots. He combined his first degree in Economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, with a specialization in classical music concert performance and philharmonic composition University of Lausanne. During a rich career spanning over 40 years, Tee Mac formed numerous bands including Tee Mac & Afro Collection in the 1970s with notable Nigerian artists. With the agreement of the artist we decided to select the best of his repertoire .The long awaited Tee Mac “best of “ is here at last juicy hot , explosive and threatens to shatter all existings records . Omatshola combined his first degree in Economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, with a specialization in classical music concert performance and philharmonic composition of the University of Lausanne. During a rich career spanning over 40 years, Omatshola formed numerous bands, including Tee Mac & Afro Collection in the 1970s. He recorded his first LP, United, with Polydor International in Germany with his European band Tee Mac United, in the late seventies. Omatshola hit the global music charts with two songs: « Fly Robin Fly », and « Get Up & Boogie » (owns 50% of the copy right) and toured extensively with his third band, Silver Convention, in the mid seventies. In other not to bore you with tell tales , let’s get into the heart of the album : We selelected seven beautiful and rare tracks from his album “ Party Fever “1978, a track from the “Mixed Grill” combo ( 1979) “ Night Illusion ( 1980) . The top musicians team individually display their skill and collectively have delivered a hit repertoire. And we hope a bumper harvest for Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli for the next decade.

This Incredible afro-soul album was recorded in Italy in 1974 by the two Nigerians Ezy Hart and Isaac Olashugba. Deluxe LP in tip-on jacket with innersleeve !Ezy is known for his vocals while Isaac for playing saxophone. They are ex-members of Fela Kuti’s band, The Koola Lobitos and The Don Ezekiel Combination. After doing amazing collaborations together, recording a few Christian-Funk albums, and touring West Africa, these two finally settled in Italy.The Funky Fella, a group of 12 top Italian musicians such as Maestro Leoni from Rifi records, produced three albums with Ezy and Isaac. The first one is called Soul Rock and is considered as a Soul masterpiece.It contains the bomb track called “Bawagbe” ; This track is very tuff, hypnotic afro-soul groove with ruff Yoruba chants, smacking congas, afro horns, funky breaks and a wicked percussion breakdown of rattling cowbells. It`s a very unique collectors’ item for the afro-funk lovers and more.Hot Casa Records also included a bonus track called “I’m Ready For you”, coming from the rare funky 7inch released in 1976.

Nine unreleased and rare tracks from the amazing Roger Damawuzan also known as the “James Brown from Lomé”, backed by the tremendous “Les As du Benin” orchestra, and recorded between 1972 and 1981. Deluxe 2LP in Gatefold Tip-On Jacket. TIP!!! Born in 1952 in Aneho (Togo), “The king of Gazo” (a traditional rhythm) is one of the most popular singer of his native country. He started his career in 1968 with the “Ricker’s” but his first record was released in 1972 with his now classic hit “Wait For Me”. From 1972 to the early 80s alongside “Les As du Benin”, they worked more than 5 days a week at the Hotel Tropicana in front of the sea with many tourists around and it was a very good exercise to work and create a perfect Afro-Soul sound. During this period they also recorded many tracks, sometime in Ghana at the famous Philips studio, sometime during live session for big events in the “Palais des Congres de Lomé” and studio Otodi in Lomé, always live and analog. Today Roger Damawuzan lives in Lomé; in 2014 he was the featuring singer on the smash hit “Pas Contente” by Vaudou Game and performed with the band in different European big festivals. Roger Damawuzan & Les As Du Benin can be considered as one of the biggest figure of the African Funk scene from the 70s: A must have record!

Apiafo is a 12 track album, entirely recorded, mixed and mastered from old analog tapes, and played with vintage instruments, recalling the sound of bands like Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou or El Rego!Peter Solo invited his uncle, Roger Damawuzan, famous pioneer of the 70’s soul scene in Togo, to sing on “Pas Contente” & “Wrong Road“. The result of their collaboration is without a doubt two amazing future dancefloor classics!The idea of integrating these haunting lines, sung in honor of the Divinities, to an energetic 70's Afro-funk style, was, in Peter Solo's mind, an obvious extension of the analogy he found between the voodoo tradition and trance inducers such as Soul, Funk, as well as the Rhythm ‘N Blues of James Brown or Otis Redding.

Rare funk & Avant-Garde soul from a seven years old kid singer featuring the best of French and Cameroonian musicians diaspora, recorded in Paris in 1977. Deluxe LP in tip-on jacket + linernote. Tip!The album contains two nicely dramatic tracks:“Look Up in the sky (Negro nature)” is a stretched funk groove with psyche synth by Michel Morose, bubbling bassline by the great Victor Edimo, the famous Toto Guillaume on guitar, and a brilliant poetic song by Francis The Great, who at that time studied in Menilmontant (Paris).“Ravissante Baby (Negro Phasing)” is a long hypnotic funky soukous track with a tremendous lead guitar and a long spoken-word and soulful kid vocal about the beauty of nature.Originally produced by his father, a great impresario of African artists in Paris during the 70s, and coordinated by his mother, this album is unique, fresh and out of genre in a way! It’s universal Funk!