Jazz/Afrobeat group coming to San Francisco
An Afrobeat/jazz fusion band is coming to San Francisco in August.
Kokoroko is based in London, the city where the band first got together. The founders, percussionist Onome Edgeworth and vocalist/flugelhorn/trumpet Sheila Maurice-Grey, met in Kenya while they were on an arts trip. They found a common bond in music, especially a desire to introduce genres like Highlife and Afrobeat to people throughout the African diaspora.
Their breakthrough came in 2018, when “Abusey Junction,” a seven-minute ballad they recorded in less than a day, was included in “We Out Here,” a compilation by Gilles Peterson. The song became a hit and was streamed 75 million times.
The group spent several years touring and honing their sound, until they self-released an EP in 2019, their debut effort. The EP sold well until the pandemic slowed its momentum. However, they went on to release “Could We Be More,” their debut album, in 2022. The album blended jazz, highlife, and Afrobeats and won praise from critics at The Telegraph, The Guardian, and many others. The album peaked at No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart.
The artistry of the group has evolved to the point they are considered representative of the musical tastes of Londoners who are part of the black diaspora. A review says:
“Super talented musicians, they make you fall in love with music.”
Kokoroko will be at the Regency Ballroom on August 14. Posters are the traditional advertising for events like this, and organizers can find them at print shops.
Kokoroko is based in London, the city where the band first got together. The founders, percussionist Onome Edgeworth and vocalist/flugelhorn/trumpet Sheila Maurice-Grey, met in Kenya while they were on an arts trip. They found a common bond in music, especially a desire to introduce genres like Highlife and Afrobeat to people throughout the African diaspora.
Their breakthrough came in 2018, when “Abusey Junction,” a seven-minute ballad they recorded in less than a day, was included in “We Out Here,” a compilation by Gilles Peterson. The song became a hit and was streamed 75 million times.
The group spent several years touring and honing their sound, until they self-released an EP in 2019, their debut effort. The EP sold well until the pandemic slowed its momentum. However, they went on to release “Could We Be More,” their debut album, in 2022. The album blended jazz, highlife, and Afrobeats and won praise from critics at The Telegraph, The Guardian, and many others. The album peaked at No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart.
The artistry of the group has evolved to the point they are considered representative of the musical tastes of Londoners who are part of the black diaspora. A review says:
“Super talented musicians, they make you fall in love with music.”
Kokoroko will be at the Regency Ballroom on August 14. Posters are the traditional advertising for events like this, and organizers can find them at print shops.