Afrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre's tempting sounds continue a
resurgence across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) remains
true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago's
rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Rather than
become caricatures of the genre, CAbP slips a reverent nod to the
tradition while delivering an energized originality different from any
other band on the afrobeat scene today. At each of its 100+ live
performances a year, the group's frenzied songs hit audiences with a
big enough one-two punch to tirelessly knock them onto the dance floor
time and time again.
Afrobeat's range of influences funk, rock, jazz, afro-cuban, high
life and juju music settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse
at the core of CAbP. The group layers a fiery originality around this
core through high-energy rock and experimental jazz. The trance-like
grooves that hold the floor in the tradition are pushed to new borders
in CAbP's second and self-produced album, (A) Move to Silent Unrest.
In it, the group keeps true to the mix of respect to the tradition and
forward-thinking experimentation that shine through in their live
performances.
The individual players, coming from diverse backgrounds, each hold
their own as soloists that ultimately characterize the live shows.
Melodic and hard-hitting horn lines create a lyrical flow to the
music, delivered by a cutting, driven rhythm section dynamic. Complex
call-and-response percussion songs are dispersed throughout the
performances. At select shows, African dancers from Chicago's Muntu
Dance Theatre accompany the band. Added up, the music is packaged
with original songwriting that explores the stylistic reaches of
afrobeat and a few classic covers delivered true to form.
The group currently performs across the country from coast to coast
with notable festival dates including Bele Chere Music Festvial (2005,
2006) Wakarusa Music Festival (2006), Chicago World Music Festival
(2003, 2006), Vassar College Jazz Festival (2005, 2006), Summer Camp
(2005, 2007), Chicago?s Summer Dance Series (2005, 2007), and High
Sierra Music Festival (2007).
CAbP was nominated as Best African Artist in the Chicago Music Awards
(CMA) in 2004 and 2005, and was nominated for the CMA?s ?Award of
Honor for Contribution to World Beat Music? in 2006. As a natural
extension of the group's ability to connect diverse musical styles
through afrobeat, CAbP has featured many notable Chicago guest
musicians such as Howard Levy of Bela Fleck fame, Fareed Haque of
Garaj Mahal, seven-time Grammy-winner Paul Wertico, Bobby Broom, Jeff
Parker of Tortoise, Kalyan Pathak, Diverse, Ugochi, Morikeba Kouyate
and many other Chicago greats.