Party like its 2025! I played loads of tunes in this show that i last dropped on NYE at Mambista’s New Year’s Eve Wing Ding … The Final Countdown … the final Mambista at The Portico. There was mucho Motown, Funk, Salsa, African beats, Braziliana, even a drop of Arab Pop, a full house and a jumping dance floor.
Special thanks to Grupo Lokito for two sets of bespoke Congolese rhythms and Cuban groove – their last of 2024 and their first of 2025 – with a special shout out to band leader, Sara McGuiness on the keys. Not only does Sara run Grupo Lokito she finds time to gig with her excellent salsa outfit, Sarabanda (NB playing at ‘El Swing’ at The Portico on March 8); organise a Cuban Big Band, Orquesta Estelar; as well as wrangling live Cuban Jam sessions here, there and thereabouts. Sara is the musician who played Mambista more than any other over our 10 year run.
NYE was a great way to depart. I had a great time on the decks, the lovely crowd was up for it and Sara was the perfect person to lead the live music. Sara, we salute you!
The next Mambista will be in June at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses. Watch this space!
| Stevie Wonder | Bird Of Beauty | Fulfillingness’ First Finale |
| Chaka Khan | Ain’t Nobody | [The Reflex Revision] |
| Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell | Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell | [The Reflex Revision] |
| Gaoule Mizik | A ka titine | (Dam Swindle remix) |
| Mista Savona | Chan Chan (feat. Maikel Ante, Félix Baloy, Solis & Eugenio Rodríguez El Raspa) | Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston |
| Gloria Estefan | Mi Tierra | Pablo Flores” 12″ Latin Club Mix |
| Lophae | Fallout | Perfect Strangers |
| Artie Zaitz | Some Extent | The Regulator |
| Jalen Ngonda | Anyone In Love | 7″/Download |
| Thee Sacred Souls | One and the Same | Got a Story to Tell |
| Bozo Meko | Gazillian Rhyme | 12″ |
| Sly & the Family Stone | If You Want Me To Stay | Fresh |
| Bill Withers & Studio Rio | Lovely Day | Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection |
| Airto | It’s Time For Carnival | Struck By Lightning |
| The Sorcerers | Yasuke In Roppongi | 7″/Download |
| Nancy Ajram | Men Nazra | Download |
| Kanda Bongo Man | Isambe | Zing Zong |
| Sam Fan Thomas | Si Tcha | The African Typic Collection |
| Maloko & Vincent Nguini | In the Midnight Hour | Soul On Fire |
| Los Soneros del Barrio | Ahi Na’ Ma | Siguiendo la Tradicion |
| La Maxima 79 | La Gripe | Download |
| musclecars | I Don’t Remember The Last Time I Saw Stars | Sugar Honey Iced Tea! |
