Lafayette Afro Rock Band
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970 in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York, United States |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Funk music albums and singles |
Lafayette Afro Rock Band originated as a funk ensemble in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York, in 1970. Shortly after their formation, they moved to France. Although they remained relatively obscure in the United States during their active period, they have since gained recognition as a prominent 1970s funk group, especially noted for their innovative use of break beats. The band also performed and recorded under various aliases, including Ice, Crispy & Co. (known as Krispie & Co. in Europe), and Captain Dax, among others.
Their relocation to Paris brought a fusion of rock and African influences into their sound. Initially releasing their first album under the name Ice, they later adopted the Lafayette Afro Rock Band identity. Notable albums such as Soul Makossa and Malik featured tracks like "Hihache" and "Darkest Light," which have been extensively sampled within hip-hop music. The group dissolved in 1978.
History
The band began in 1970 under the name Bobby Boyd Congress, named after their original lead singer Bobby Boyd. The founding lineup comprised guitarist Larry Jones, bassist Lafayette Hudson, keyboardist Frank Abel, horn players Ronnie James Buttacavoli and Arthur Young, drummer Ernest "Donny" Donable, and percussionists Keno Speller and Arthur Young. Larry Jones was subsequently replaced by Michael McEwan. Due to the crowded funk scene in the U.S., they moved to France in 1971. After Boyd's departure, the group briefly performed as Soul Congress before adopting the name Ice.
They frequently played in Paris's Barbès neighborhood, an area with a significant North African immigrant population, which helped them catch the attention of producer Pierre Jaubert. This led to their role as the house session band at Parisound studio. Their music integrated African rhythms with funk grooves. Their 1972 album Each Man Makes His Own Destiny was released under the Ice moniker; soon after, they took on the Lafayette Afro Rock Band name to better represent their evolving musical direction.
As Lafayette Afro Rock Band, they issued Soul Makossa (also released in the U.S. as Movin' and Groovin' ) in 1973. Although the title track—a cover of Manu Dibango’s hit—did not achieve chart success, the album left a lasting impact on subsequent musicians. The track "Hihache" became a popular source for samples by artists such as Janet Jackson, Biz Markie, LL Cool J, De La Soul, Digital Underground, Naughty by Nature, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Their 1975 release Malik prominently featured effects like the Univox Super-Fuzz and talk box. The song "Darkest Light," highlighted by a saxophone solo from Leroy Gomez (who later led disco group Santa Esmeralda), became a significant sample used by Public Enemy on "Show 'Em Whatcha Got". This particular sample was also incorporated into tracks by N2Deep ("Back to the Hotel"), Wreckx-n-Effect ("Rump Shaker"), and Jay-Z ("Show Me What You Got").
In 1975, jazz and world music composer Mal Waldron collaborated with the band on his unreleased album Candy Girl, followed by blues pianist Sunnyland Slim on Depression Blues. Additionally, recordings were made under various names such as Ice, Captain Dax, and Crispy & Co.; the 1975 compilation Tonight at the Discotheque gathered songs from these different identities.
Under the Captain Dax name, they released the funky disco single "Dr. Beezar, Soul Frankenstein" exclusively in Japan in 1976. The band returned to the United States and disbanded in 1978. That same year, French label Superclasse issued Afon: Ten Unreleased Afro Funk Recordings. Subsequent renewed interest led to compilations including Darkest Light: The Best of Lafayette Afro Rock Band (1999), The Ultimate Collection (2001), and Afro Funk Explosion! (2016), which features tracks from all their aliases.
Reception
During their period of activity, Lafayette Afro Rock Band remained relatively unknown but have since attracted attention from critics and music scholars for their unique break beats, which played a significant role in shaping later hip-hop and R&B musicians. Unlike peers such as Cameo, Funkadelic, or Kool & The Gang, very few original copies of their studio albums are still in circulation. Beyond the widely sampled tracks "Hihache" and "Darkest Light," interest has shifted towards various compilation releases. Music historian Dave Thompson described Afon: Ten Unreleased Afro Funk Recordings (1978) as "uninspiring," yet he regarded Darkest Light: The Best of Lafayette Afro Funk Band (1999) as the band's "definitive introduction." This collection also garnered favorable critiques from Melody Maker and AllMusic’s Jason Ankeny, who labeled it "one of the essential archives of classic funk." AllMusic’s Jason Birchmeier praised The Ultimate Collection (2001) as "a standout compilation" that listeners cannot go wrong with. The 2016 release Afro Funk Explosion! received acclaim from AllMusic’s Thom Jurek, who deemed it "a must-have for aficionados of '70s funk," comparing it to top works by Mandrill, War, and Osibisa.
Studio albums
- Each Man Makes His Own Destiny (1973, released as Ice)
- Soul Makossa (1973, under Lafayette Afro Rock Band)
- Voodounon (EP, 1974, Lafayette Afro Rock Band)
- Nino and Radiah (1974, credited to Ice, supporting Nino Ferrer)
- Malik (1975, Lafayette Afro Rock Band)
- Tonight at the Discotheque (1975, attributed to "Various Artists")
- Funky Flavored (1976, as Crispy & Co.)
- Frisco Disco (1976, released as Ice)
- Afro Agban (1977, Ice)
Singles
- "Oglenon" (1974, Lafayette Afro Rock Band)
- "Brazil" (1975, Crispy & Co.)
- "A.I.E. (A Mwana)" (1975, Ice)
- "Get It Together" (1975, Crispy & Co.)
- "Sunara" (1976, Crispy & Co.)
- "Dr. Beezar, Soul Frankenstein" (1976, Captain Dax)
Compilations
- Afon: Ten Unreleased Afro Funk Recordings (1978)
- Darkest Light: The Best of Lafayette Afro Rock Band (1999)
- The Ultimate Collection (2001)
- Afro Funk Explosion! (2016)
Selected samples
| Track | Recordings that sampled |
|---|---|
| "Hihache" (1974) |
|
| "Darkest Light" (1975) |
|