The self-titled debut from Nairobi's Umoja captures a vital, if slightly raw, moment in East African jazz, blending local rhythms with a global outlook. It's a record that deserved a wider audience at the time and still rewards close listening today.
- The album was recorded and produced by the band themselves at their own Umoja Music studio. It was released in March 1982.
- The album features a blend of jazz improvisation with East African musical traditions, including Benga rhythms. It was one of the first albums by a Kenyan jazz group to be widely distributed locally.
- The album's tracklist includes pieces like "Umoja Theme," "Nairobi Express," and "Maisha ya Dunia." It showcases the band's tight ensemble playing and individual soloing.
Umoja was a jazz quintet from Nairobi, Kenya, known for their pioneering work in the Kenyan jazz scene. "Umoja" was their debut album, released in 1982.
Tracklist
