More about the Okapi Guitar Band
The Okapi Guitar Band began in 1986 (as the Okapi AllStars Guitar Band). The founding members were Hardie Tucker (drums, percussion), John Laidler (guitar) and Bernhard Huber (guitar). Their first release (1988) was the 60 minute cassette Phonetic hits, and featured bass player Robert Iolini, lead vocalist Frances Paterson, and saxophonist Philip Mar. The same lineup produced a self-titled CD in 1991.
After the release of the CD, various changes in personnel saw the band through to 1993. By 1994, John and Bernhard had built their home studio, the RatShed, and in November they released the cassette Little things under the name Okapi Guitars. They have since released two further cassettes and seven CDs.
After the release of Haram Homebrew, a new incarnation of the band has began playing in Sydney. It includes Chris Bright on drumkit and Sigi Huber on bass guitar.
"In African music, a twenty-five year career is just the apprenticeship."
Discography
| Okapi Guitar Band: Phonetic hits 88 [cassette, 1988] |
|
Back in town Shauri yako Baba munini Francis Nawashukuru wazazi wangu Yekelani Waka waka Allah la'ke Jeannot Nalolela cherie Pulukwani Centre |
| Okapi Guitar Band: Okapi Guitar Band [CD, 1991] |
|
Mke wangu (O. Batty/M. Makassy) 6:03
Baba munini Francis (B. Tembo) 5:21 Nakei Nairobi (Rochereau) 5:56 Fingerpit jive (P. Mar) 2:50 Ahmed sabit (S. Mapangala) 9:25 Sarah (Rochereau) 9:39 Solo na Mutsai (J. Moyo) 4:24 |
| Okapi Guitars: Little things [cassette, 1994] |
|
Money (J. Laidler) 6.45
From little things big things grow (K. Carmody/P. Kelly) 7:05 Living in Zimbabwe (J. Laidler) 5:45 The Twelfth Imam (B. Huber/Syli Authentique) 8:10 |
| Okapi Guitars: One bad man [cassette, 1995] |
|
Tokoloshe (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:52
Kudura (Confess) (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 7:30 Mombasa (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 7:40 Pole Pole (W. & G. Kinyonga/J. Laidler/B. Huber) 9:43 |
| Okapi Guitars: ¡Salty banana! [cassette, 1996] |
|
Kizungu (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 8:39
Vamos (a la huelga) (B. Huber/J. Laidler/trad.) 6:52 Sansa (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 8:23 Coumba (R. Gomis/arr. Hadi JT & J. Laidler) 8:03 Cakaro-synchro (J. Laidler/B. Huber/S. Ade/trad.) 8:34 |
| "Excellent, African-pop music that combines a progressive sort of jazzy reggae/island pop with lots of shimmering guitars, clean melodies, dancing counterpoint and rock solid beats....Outstanding!" Bryan Baker, GAJOOB magazine #10
Dance Me To My Song (1998) |
| Okapi Guitars: Choko Choko [CD, 1998] |
|
D'Musi (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 4:54
Frogmouth (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 4:40 Cut Snake (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 3:19 Sundown Special (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 6:18 Salani (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 3:32 Much Much (Better) (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 4:44 Fast Driver (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 3:41 String Up the Tokoloshe (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 3:37 Dry Land (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 4:35 |
| Okapi Guitars: Seņor Goat [CD, 1999] |
|
Bad Wawatu (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:35
One on One (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 4:38 Desperate Sea (R. Langford; arr. Okapi Guitars) 5:46 Zanzibar (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:56 Hiari Yako (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 6:52 Jaliman (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 4:24 Blauer Stern (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:52 El Sof (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 5:50 |
| Okapi Guitars: Westie [CD, 2000] |
|
Kick Me (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 7:37
Vigilante (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 6:31 Summon Your Soul (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 7:23 Cooee (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:45 Radio Mali (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:54 Blair (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 5:25 Sorry (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:36 Viajero (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 4:43 |
| Okapi Guitars: Blue Kigara [CD, 2002] |
|
No Pasaran (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:12
Witness (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 5:31 Lukole FC (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 9:21 The Number (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:15 Sick (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 4:02 Hey, You People! (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 6:06 Vaquero (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 6:33 Make Mine the Same (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 5:18 Bosso Guitaro (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 8:07 Unwashed (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 5:03 |
| Okapi Guitars: Los Grandes Exitos del Conjunto Okapi [CD, 2003] |
|
Vicioso/Vicious (L. Reed, arr. Okapi Guitars) 5:15
El Sof (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 6:00 No Logo Mambo (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 5:14 Vigilante (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 6:30 Mambo 422 (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 5:28 Vamos! (a la huelga) (B. Huber/J. Laidler) 6:53 Viajero (J. Laidler/B. Huber) 4:42 |
| Okapi Guitars: Radio free Zimbabwe [CD, 2004] |
|
Fallen hero 5:34 mp3: listen or download Magdalena 4:54 Mhondoro 4:18 Lost birds 4:53 Comrade ngozi 4:32 My client 4:53 Whiteant 5:00 Known unknowns 3:59 No more secrets 6:21 Radio free Zimbabwe 5:01 ALL SONGS written by B.Huber/J. Laidler Read a review at indie-cds.com. |
| Okapi Guitars: Haram Homebrew [CD, 2007] |
|
Repent 5:36 Ohio (N.Young) 4:41 Tourist 6:23 English scar 6:25 From little things (P.Kelly/K.Carmody) 8:29 Theme from The Hornet of Osama 9:28 Monoculture 5:25 Three nations 4:51 Witness (Testimony 2007) 7:25 Saudi cadillac 6:33 Sleep 5:50 |