This giant's career was one long golden age, but the early ‘70s, from which these recordings come, is perhaps the least-noticed period of his permanent prime. What a pity. Facing the challenge of Young Turks like Bella Bella,
Bakuba and the embryonic
Zaiko Langa Langa, he didn't try to out-hip them, despite adopting such novelties as trap drums. Basically, as these recordings prove, he just kept right on doing his thing superbly, Young Turks or no Young Turks. ~ John Storm Roberts, Original Music