CUBAFROBEAT (LoKkhi TeRra meets Dele Sosimi)
London fusionistas LoKkhi TeRra creating another unique sound-clash, this time with ex-Fela Kuti keyboardist and legendary UK Afro-beat ambassador Dele Sosimi. Bringing together two Yoruba speaking musics – with different accents, from different sides of the Atlantic – Havana meets Lagos in London – A Cuban- Afrobeat-Experience. CUBAFROBEAT.
Kishon Khan’s Lokkhi Terra have over a number of years now been quietly establishing themselves as one of London’s more unusual heavyweight outfits, described as “probably the world’s best Afrobeat-Cuban-Bangladeshi group (Songlines magazine). Included amongst the band members are London’s top Cuban musicians, adding their infectious rich musical history to the city’s melting pot. When the band wanted to explore Cuban links with another of their favourite traditions, Afrobeat, who better to bring in then one of the Afrobeat originators – maestro Dele Sosimi
“Sosimi creates some of the most bewitching grooves in modern African music” (E Jazz News).
The collaboration started off as an album project, but it’s success has spawned a
new band – CUBAFROBEAT
“…one of the jewels of jazz and cross-cultural music in the UK” Chris Phillips, Jazz FM
“A total stonking blinder” – All About Jazz
“This coming together feels particularly inspired” – Evening Standard
The band is an All Star cast of UK’s Cuban and Afrobeat scenes. Featuring the two pianos of Kishon Khan (Hugh Masekela, Tony Allen) and Dele Sosimi (Fela Kuti)– Cuban percussionist/vocalist Javier Camilo (Lokkhi Terra) – Cuban Conga and Bata and Timbales Maestros Oreste ‘Sambroso’ Noda (Jazz Jamaica) and Hammadi Valdes (Ariwo) and Cuban bassist Frank Portuondo (Carlos Acosta) – a horn section led by Justin Thurgur (Bellowhead) and including Graeme Flowers (Kyle Eastwood, Kylie Minogue) as well as virtuoso guitartist Phil Dawson (Mulato Astatke) and drummer Pat Illingworth (James Taylor Quartet) – all musicians of serious pedigree – this is music at the heart of London’s Global scene.