kokoroko: kokoroko
Francisco Espregueira
Since their magnificent participation, with the track “Abusey Junction”, in Brownswood Recordings We Out Here project, expectations grew worldwide for new music from the all-star KOKOROKO collective. Their new self titled release is an ode to the foundations laid by Fela Kuti, Tony Allen and Ebo Taylor; a sublime Afrobeat record that pays homage to the West African greats through a jazz-rooted approach.
The band features leading lights from the London jazz community. Powered by a fantastic horn section (trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, trombonist Richie Seivewright), guitar (Oscar Jerome), keys (Yohan Kebede), drums (Ayo Salawu) and percussion (Onome Edgeworth); KOKOROKO are able to create, stunningly, a new language in music, deeply inspired in the past but looking forward to new generations of listeners.
KOKOROKO’s EP takes shape with the echoes of Afrobeat and highlife heard in melodies, drum patterns and harmonised vocals. The references on track names, and on the sonic voyages through them, are not misplaced. Wise heads on young shoulders. This is a very special record that marks the end of this decade, courtesy of the invaluable Browsnwood house of music.