June 21, 2012

KonKoma | KonKoma

ARTIST:  KonKoma
TITLE:  KonKoma
LABEL:  Soundway 
Soundway Records, famous for their compilations of historic African recordings, is branching out into original music.  They have a winner in KonKoma, a new band featuring several veterans of London’s Ghanaian scene including three former members of the pioneering Afro-rock band Osibisa: guitarist Kari Bannerman, keyboardist Emmanuel Rentzos and percussionist Nii Tagoe. KonKoma’s sound is a sophisticated mix of rock, jazz and Afro elements; it’s funky enough to dance to but it also rewards the close listener.  They remind me of another band of veteran African stalwarts that has gotten jazzier over time – the reformed edition of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou.  Plenty of variety here: track 1 is an Afro-rock workout very much in the manner of Osibisa, 5 jumps out of your speakers with propulsive Congolese/couper decaller drumming, 10 is soulful Afrobeat taken at a leisurely tempo, and 11 is some top-shelf Afro-jazz where all the soloists get a chance to stretch out, including saxophonist Max Grunhard who is stellar throughout the record.  More please, from both the band and the label.  
TOP TRACKS:    1    5    10    11
ALSO RECOMMENDED:    2    3    4    7

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