|
Chicago Afrobeat Project is a dynamic 10-piece collective rooted in '70s funk and jazz-infused Afrobeat. As one of America's Afrobeat messengers, CAbP continues the legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti--the political activist, outspoken radical, and creator of Afrobeat--in its own urban, contemporary style. Upon his death in 1997, Fela left behind him an incomparable realm of music that connects jazz, American funk, African highlife, and traditional African rhythms.
Chicago Afrobeat Project |
Improvisation, a core component of Fela's music, is a cornerstone of CAbP, reflected most particularly in its nimble horn section. Add the horns' sultry lines to a thumping rhythm section that includes Sly O'Jama and T.J. Okunola, who respectively played bass for Fela and performed as one of King Sunny Ade's talking drum players, and CAbP's funkified mixture--plain and simple--hits where it counts.
The group began in late 2002 in a third-story loft on Lake Street in downtown Chicago. What began as a simple experiment turned into the sifting through of unique and colorful musicians from around the world. One by one, at a series of loft rehearsals, musicians joined the CAbP lineup, until members of the current band felt an undeniable chemistry. Today, CAbP consists of a full percussion section, a full horn section, keys, guitar and bass--and is still growing.
The music of CAbP comes together like water running downhill. Often started with a single drop, it builds slowly, note by note, until the momentum sweeps listeners away into gushing frenzy. The band's live set consists of originals as well as carefully chosen classic and obscure Afrobeat covers--each embedded with the unique CAbP footprint.
In CAbP, each member is a leader, an ensemble player, a percussionist, and a soloist. During extended songs, a member of Chicago Afrobeat Project steps to the forefront, speaks his musical mind, and then slowly recesses back to the groove. Following this musical burst, another musician will rise and return. And then another. From performance to performance, these musical conversations vary the texture of each song, though one constant remains: The rhythm section pumps an addicting pulse.
Evident in the band's personnel and appeal, the musical diversity of CAbP puts the group at home in any type of setting. Whether supporting world music acts like Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, or Cyro Baptista, or acid jazz/jam acts like Karl Denson's Tiny Universe or Garaj Mahal, CAbP finds new converts after each show.
Chicago Afrobeat Project is a project in the truest sense of the word. Musicians come in, musicians come out. But the mission goes unchanged: to push experimental Afrobeat to listeners across the globe.
Listen to Chicago Afrobeat Project recorded live at HoB with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe 10.31.03:
CAbP-New Bell
CAbP-Precious Mother
Visit chicagoafrobeatproject.com.
JamBase | Chicago
Go See Live Music!
|