A worthy custodian of the treasures of Mandingo Africa, Souraka Koite, the Senegalese griot (bard), is the man in the spotlight on this new reissue of En Hollande by Awesome Tapes From Africa. It is a remarkable cassette – showcasing a unique 1984 solo kora recording that took place in a converted chicken coop.

German pianist-composer Alexander Von Schlippenbach led this mid ‘70s studio session, but the abundance not just of other leaders but innovators – Anthony Braxton, Evan Parker, Peter Broztmann, Albert Mangelsdorff, Kenny Wheeler, to name but some – makes this very much an all-star session.

Hermeto Pascoal e sua Visão Original do Forró was recorded in 1999 but remained unreleased until this year. The legendary o Broxo magnifies tradition while displaying dizzying instrumental sophistication.

It’s MIKE’s fourth project of the year which, following his rebirth inaugurated by his previous album, dives straight into a conflict. But the war that is mentioned in the title of the album is not a traditional large-scale conflict.