Kodjovi Kush and Afrospot All Stars
London, England, United Kingdom | Established. Jan 01, 2007 | INDIE
Music
Press
“It blends musical genres to deliver a record that demands to be listened to again and again. From the Fela Kuti-esque ‘Ewe Blues’ to the toe-tapping ‘Vonvononon’, this is pure class all the way.” Russel Higham – Longlines Magazine **** - Russel Higham
“A prolific performer” Kim Chakanetsa BBC World Service - Kim Chakanetsa
Discography
Led by the charismatic singer and musician Kodjovi Kush, this band is all about the joyous sounds of West African music: highlife, afrobeat and ‘agbadjazz’ - a fusion of the traditional 6/8 agbadja music of the Ewe people from Togo, Ghana and Benin with jazz and reggae influences.
Born in Togo, Kodjovi grew up in a musical environment. Inspired by his father, who used to tour Africa with his bands Eryko Jazz de la Capitale and Los Muchachos in the 50s and 60s, he started his first band at the age of 15.
In the 90s, after touring Europe with some traditional groups from Togo, he settled in London. There he formed the band Jah’s Afrik and joined Ibile, the Soothsayers and Yesking as a bass player and vocalist, playing mainly reggae and African music. During this time he performed with great artists such as Tony Allen, Seun Kuti, Alpha Blondy, Gregory Isaacs and many others.
Eventually Kodjovi created the Afrospot club night, named after Fela Kuti’s first nightclub in Lagos. It was frequented by some of London’s finest musicians, and soon the Afrospot All Stars were born: a collective of seasoned players from all over West Africa and the UK.
"Love In Africa" is their debut album.
Label: Chop Time Music (Amsterdam, Holland)
credits
released September 11, 2017license
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Bio
KODJOVI KUSH and AFROSPOT All Stars 2020
Kodjovi Kush and Afrospot All Stars, is all about the joyous sounds of West Africa, the indigenous authentic dance music throughout the whole nineties. Led by charismatic Kodjovi Kush, creator and a world number one interpreter of Agbajazz, the fusion of Agbadja, the traditional music and dance from the Ewe tribe (Togo, Ghana, Benin), its rhythms and time signatures with Jazz and Reggae influences.
Guitars shine, horns sing, bass and percussion blaze in a true band of all-stars, music ambassador extraordinaire.
Born in Togo West Africa, in a musical environment young Kodjovi enhanced his skills since the age of nine at Lomé Piano Conservatory with Maître Dosseh, and most importantly inherited them from his Father who used to tour Africa with his bands, Eryko Jazz de la Capitale and Los Muchachos in the late 50's and the 60's.
Kodjovi Kush formed his first band with friends at the age of 15 showing his capacity to put musicians together and lead a music project. In the 90's was touring France, and Belgium with Balafon and Cobato Traditional Ballet Troupes from Togo. Kodjovi landed in London in the mid-nineties, when the Africa Centre was a stronghold for African cultures and home away from home. He has since dedicated himself to gather some of those same musicians to perform with him and supporting artists like Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube, and African Bush Doctor using his Jah's Afrik outfit.
The connection with some of the greatest African musicians in London led him to join Adesose Wallace's Ibile, Soothsayers and Yesking as a bass player and vocalist to perform in the most important live music venues in town and great festivals around the world like Glastonbury, Reggae Land Poland, Bangladesh World music festival, Womad, Queen Elizabeth Hall, National Theatre, and many more. The connection also help Kodjovi Kush to create Afrospot as platform to express and explore Arts and uplifting rhythms of Africa, in respect of the original Afrospot, Fela Kuti first club nights in Kakakdou Lagos Nigeria. During his career he performed and worked alongside many great artists such as Tony Allen, Keziah Jones, Seun Kuti, Finley Quaye, Cheikh-Lo, Gregory Isaacs, Johnny Clarke, Cornel Campbell, Michael Prophet, Eska, Akala, to name but few.
Kodjovi Kush and Afrospot All Stars outfit boasts nine high quality members as, Adesose Wallace, (Heart Beat, Ibile ) on percussions and vocals, Kofi Adu (Highlife International, Ossibisa ) “drums and percussions”, Idris Rahman (Soothsayers) “tenor sax and flute”, Emanuel Afram (Osibissa) “ Bass”, Nick Walters (Riot Jazz) “Trumpet”, Patrick Hachett (Yesking) “Guitar” and other stars from the World Music scene.
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