Those who attended the concert of Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics as part of the "Summer In The City" at the Palmengarten Open Air at the end of July 2018 experienced "Super Afro Soul" on one of the hottest days of the year. That's what the now 76-year-old had already called an album in 1966, thus manifesting the idea of his mix of styles. For as much as his cultishly revered compatriot Fela Kuti, just five years his senior, was the impetus, Julius also drew on Sam & Dave and, indeed, James Brown. That's why we're talking "Afrosoul" instead of "Afrobeat" here. This is what the London-based Heliocentrics, who also accompany other Africans like the Ethiopian vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke, bring to the stage. They are able to interpret the considerable amount of 60's and 70's pieces in Julius' repertoire in a contemporary way, just as they gave his music a subtle sonic update on the joint album "Jaiyede Afro" from 2014. Either way, drummer Malcolm Catto, also the company's producer, and conga player Jack Yglesias unleash their polyrhythmic grooves on the stoic bass playing of Jake Ferguson.
Text source and more information about this event: https://www.brotfabrik.de/events/orlando-julius-the-heliocentrics/
