V/A ‎– London Is The Place For Me 6 (Mento, Calypso, Jazz & Highlife From Young Black London)

Espousing observations of a London in flux – from rival footbal factions to martial artist girlfriends and much bawdier humour – from the perspective of first generation Windrush travellers like Trini’s legendary Lord Beginner (with the wicked Joe Louis Calypso), or Jamaica’s Tony Johnson with the early mento (a forerunner to ska and reggae) of ‘Me Donkey Want Water’, it beautifully frames the city’s sound as a melting pot of international (Black Atlantic) rhythm and flavour, a confluence of groove and news which would eventually, irrevocably, and wonderfully, transform the UK’s musical landscape thanks to its contributions in blues and folk, for example with the Rolling Stones-endorsed rhythms of Nigerian percussionist Folorunso ‘Ginger’ Johnson, or Eric Hayden who played with the Basil and Ivor Kirchin Band. Highly recommended.