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.
After the release of Haram Homebrew in 2007, a new incarnation of the band began playing in Sydney. It included Chris Bright on drumkit and Sigi Huber on bass guitar. In August 2010 we were joined by African percussion and djembe virtuoso Mark Chambers.
"In African music, a twenty-five year career is just the apprenticeship."
Discography
| Okapi Guitar Band: Phonetic hits 88 [cassette, 1988] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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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] |
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Read a review at indie-cds.com.
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. |
| Okapi Guitars: Haram Homebrew [CD, 2007] |
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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 Except as noted, all songs by B.Huber/J. Laidler. |
| Okapi Guitars: Live@CutSnake [CD, 2008] |
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"This is an excellent slice of music that deserves to be on every party turntable."
Nakolela Cherie (Orch. Makassy) 4:31(Bradfield Dumpleton, indie-cds.com) N'Kanuwe (Bembeya Jazz) 7:10 From little things... (P.Kelly/K.Carmody) 5:44 Kambiri Kaenda (Thomas Mapfumo) 6:34 Samba (Orch Super Mazembe) 5:29 Money (Okapi Guitars) 5:38 Jeannot (Tchico) 8:22 Mombasa Special (Okapi Guitars) 5:38 Listen Okapi Anthem (Okapi Guitars) 3:13 One of our live sets captured in the studio. |