Folk Bands and Artists
Yaaba Funk
http://www.yaabafunk.com/wordpress
Formed in Brixton, London in 2006 by a group of musicians with a deep love of African music, funk, jazz and eclectic dancefloor grooves, Yaaba Funk released their first album Afrobeast on their own Yaabaphone label in 2010.
Fronted by two dynamic vocalists Richmond (Chief Commander Yaaba) Kessie and Helen (Lady Yaaba) McDonald, Yaaba Funk features a West African inspired rhythm section, deep analogue synth basslines, intricate guitar work which ranges from ‘psychedelic Hi-life’ and funk to dub and horns which go from tight funk lines to deep Sun Ra jazz.
The band´s second album My Vote Dey Count was released in spring 2014 on the highly respected Sterns label, mixed by Daz I Kue of Bugz in the Attic and featuring some of the UK´s top musicians: Jason Yarde, Idris Rahman, Robin Hopcraft (Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA, Fela musical band) on horns and Jesse Hackett (Owiny Sigoma) and Nick Ramm (Hello Skinny) on keyboards. The album received four-star reviews in the Independent on Sunday and Songlines magazine and was voted World Music Network album of the month June 2014.
Yaaba Funk have built a reputation as one of the UK´s hottest live acts, having played extensively in the UK as well as around the world (Brussels, Milan, Rome and Venice 2013, Sauti Za Busara, Zanzibar 2011; Raizes Atlanticos, Madeira; Africa Oyé, Liverpool 2013; Womad UK 2014, Radio 3 Charlie Gillett stage; Liverpool International Music Festival 2014.
...if you imagine Fela Kuti´s legendary Shrine club relocated to South London, you´re a long way to understanding the irresistible appeal of this energetic collective. Not that you should ever regard them simply as a retro act revisiting the 70s heyday of Afrobeat and souped-up highlife. This bunch are very much of the here and now, with bright and vivid touches from contemporary London thrown into the mix.
Nige Tassell, Womad 2014 website band biography.
