Ashanti African Roots
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Ashanti African Roots

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | SELF

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | SELF
Band World Reggae

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Ashanti African Roots take hold in Lincoln"

Plenty of bands play covers. But anyone hoping to avoid yet another mangled re-imagining should gravitate toward Saturday's performance by Ashanti African Roots.

Described by Ashanti tribesman and band leader Michael Opoku as an amalgam of "jazz, funk, fusion, blues, you name it," the group jams out and entrances audiences with covers from top musical acts the world over, paying homage to "top artists from Africa, top artists from Jamaica, top artists from Trinidad - anyone who is reigning right now."

In addition to the smattering of multicultural covers, Ashanti also plays original compositions.

Opoku moved to Grand Island in 1994, but his band has been around for even longer. Presently in its third incarnation, the Ashanti African Roots' current lineup contains four original members and seven new recruits. The 11 bandmates have been playing together for roughly a year, long enough for them to reach a level of familiarity where improvisation during shows is no longer out of the question.

"Musically, we've really come to trust each other," said John Wolcott, the band's bassist and backup vocalist. "We've crossed a lot of emotional communication hurdles, and now the musicians are skilled enough that they're comfortable with ambiguity. There's improv within the songs, and the set-list is also kind of improvised. A lot of times, Michael will yell out a song and we'll segue into that one."

Given the band's tendency toward letting emotion and imagination direct the flow of each song, each number is a unique experience.

Coupled with Ashanti African Roots' lack of released albums, the band's love of improvisation means Saturday's show will literally be the only place to hear that particular set-list.

"Michael cut one album that was never released, but other than that there are no recordings out there," Wolcott said. "(Saturday's show) will be the only place to hear this music, except at our next gig."

It also will feature a coterie of live dancers, weather permitting.

"If the weather is nice and we are outside, there is a stage that's centered nicely, and people will be able to see the dancers perform," Opoku said. "They are mostly African girls, but there are American girls, too, so everyone can see that anyone can learn the music and learn the culture."

Given the breadth of the band's style, adding new members can be a harrowing process. Opoku said when he needs to recruit, he frequents bars, music stores - anywhere musicians are allowed to strut their stuff at length. And even after hearing someone play, the decision to make him or her a part of Ashanti African Roots is not a light one.

"I need to find people who can play anything; I can't just hire any musician," Opoku said. "Now, I have some hard-core people who love the music at my side. I'm blessed to have this great of a group. This is my family. We jam out. They've made me feel good about where I'm at in my life."

Reach Adam Templeton at features@journalstar.com. - Lincoln Journal Star, June 18, 2010


"Lincoln enjoys delayed firworks display"



The setting sun beat down on 70-degree temperatures at Oak Lake Park on Monday night, what some might call a perfect evening for the rescheduled Uncle Sam Jam fireworks show that was rained out Sunday.

Thousands of people attended the aerial fireworks display that started at 10 p.m. Heavy traffic flooded Cornhusker Highway and Sun Valley Boulevard, and there were a few car accidents in the area.

By 7 p.m., about 2000 people were at the park listening to The Ashanti Band perform reggae music. People packed picnics or ate food from vendors. Kids played touch football, and some fished while waiting for the fireworks show to start. By 9 p.m., thousands of people were at the lake.

"It was a really nice show," said Brian Warner-Taylor of Lincoln.

Warner-Taylor, his wife, Donna, and their co-worker Aaron Evans showed up at Oak Lake on Sunday at 6 p.m. expecting to hear live music and see fireworks, because the skies had cleared earlier in the day. And they were not the only people to set up lawn chairs for the postponed Uncle Sam Jam on Sunday.

"We were upset because the city could have done the fireworks yesterday," Warner-Taylor said Monday.

The show was postponed because of "extremely wet grounds" at Oak Lake Park on Sunday afternoon, said Dave Norris of the Citizen Information Office. - Lincoln Journal Star, July 5, 2010


"KZUM’s World music event an enormous success"

When word reached Lincoln that King Sunny Adé and His African Beats would not be able to tour the continent this month, it looked as though there would be no music in the Bourbon Theatre Sunday night. Thanks to the diligence of a few key individuals and the flexibility of some entertaining musicians, however, the Bourbon Theatre was rocking late into the evening April 18!

KZUM wants to thank every person who made a donation at the concert; some attendees gave a few dollars, while others donated the entire value of their King Sunny ticket. The KZUM loyalty burned brightly on Sunday night!

Four musical acts performed: Masoud Mahjouri, an Iranian sitar player, played a short set of solo music. The Alash Ensemble, Tuvin throat singers playing traditional instruments, presented a very unique cultural performance. (Alash will also perform several other times in Nebraska this week, including this Saturday at the Sheldon Museum of Art.) Son Del Llano, Cuban son and salsa group, brought down the house! Hundreds of spirited fans jammed the dance floor, grooving to the Latin rhythm. Ashanti African Roots, Lincoln’s premiere Reggae African roots ensemble, closed out the evening with a passionate set of music, including a few King Sunny tunes!

Many people in attendance also wrote a note of condolence to The African Beats by signing a large promotional poster for the Lincoln King Sunny concert. That poster, along with a few other mementos, will be sent to Nigeria early this week. - KZUM and Sunrise Communications, April 19th, 2010


"Weekend will be full of reggae, Afrobeat options"

Over the years, Lincoln has developed a solid audience for reggae and associated forms of "world music." This week, that audience will have all the music it can handle with an old-school Jamaican group, a noted English reggae singer and one of the top Afrobeat rock bands in the country all slated for local shows.

The Itals, one of Jamaica's top vocal groups, made its name with "Ina Disa Time" back in 1976; the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards has called it the perfect reggae song. The group has continued to spread its harmonies and uplifting message for the past three decades, picking up a best reggae album Grammy nomination in 1987.

Two of the three original Itals, including great lead singer Keith Porter, remain in the group, which is touring behind a new release of old material. The Itals played this summer's Bonnaroo Festival to rave reviews for what Spin Magazine rightfully called its Jamaican version of gospel and doo-wop.

The Itals will be at the Zoo Bar on Monday night for a 6 p.m. show. Advance tickets are $15; day of show admission will be $18. I'm guessing this one will sell out.

The other two shows are set for Wednesday.

Pato Banton, born Patrick Murray, is a native of Birmingham, England. But he learned to DJ, toast and sing from his emigrant Jamaican uncle and has been a fixture on the reggae and British music scene since the early '80s when he won a talent show judged by members of the English Beat. Recording in his own right while collaborating with the likes of Chrissie Hynde and Sting, Pato Banton is now on a 50-state tour of the United States, mixing spoken-word performances with his band shows.

Tickets for his Knickerbockers show, which will be opened by Ashanti, are $12 in advance, $14 day of show.

The Bourbon Theatre is the site for the second Wednesday show, by Toubab Krewe, the North Carolina instrumental quintet that mixes Afrobeat with rock 'n' roll to create some of the most captivating grooves in music today. Earning rave reviews at performances in festivals from Bonnaroo to Mali's legendary Festival of the Desert, Toubab Krewe has become a fave for both lovers of Afrobeat and jam enthusiasts.

Toubab Krewe, which is touring behind "Live at the Orange Peel," will make its third area appearance Wednesday. Tickets for this 18-and-over show, which will be opened by Omaha's Blue Martian Tribe, are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. - Lincoln Journal Star, September 17, 2009


Discography

Ashanti African Roots recorded "Soca Virus," a 10-song CD in 2005. It was not released, but three of the songs from it are available here for you. Currently, Ashanti African Roots is recording original material for a CD release near the end of 2010.

Photos

Bio

Ashanti is an ancient kingdom from Africa, the pre-colonial ancestor to the country of Ghana. Michael Opoku, lead singer and bandleader of Ashanti African Roots, brought his West African rhythms & personality to the state of Nebraska (of all places) and in the process discovered a diverse, receptive collection of skilled musicians, ready to bring a fresh sound to the plains and beyond!

Ashanti African Roots takes elements of Afro-pop and reggae, fuses it with blues, jazz, funk, and american soul - arriving at something familiar, danceable and compelling, yet new. The message of Ashanti is peace, with fun, through music.

We're ready to play for you!