Michael Aaron and FUNKgLove
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Michael Aaron and FUNKgLove

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Music

The best kept secret in music

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"A Rock-Soul Explosion"

The Boom that began at the Invisible Arts Lab recording studio at Ninth and N streets NW began as a much smaller collision between two artists more than a decade earlier.

"We've known each other more than 10 years and played in different groups," explains Michael Aaron, the mastermind behind Koko Boom. "I was working on this album, and when Kofi [Rozzell] started working with me, it became obvious that we wanted to continue working together."
With that, Koko Boom was born. Together with keyboardist Hodari McClain the band fuses funky R&B grooves with a dash of rock and roll musicality, something that is often missing in today's beat-driven, hip-hop-influenced outfits.

"We're trying to bring back the live element to shows," Aaron says.
That ethos is splattered all over Koko Boom's recently released debut CD, "The Whole Lovely…." Jangling guitars mix with Aaron's buttery vocals on the sultry opener "Like a Woman," the first of a quartet of romantic odes. The formula changes little from track to track, but Aaron's knack for writing strong hooks and the occasional flash of other elements (Mark Allred's trumpet and trombone blasts, McClain's piano and Fender Rhodes fingerwork) keep the album from becoming stale. Rozzell's steady drumming throughout cements the disc's hip-swaying factor.

Aaron and Rozzell spent a year in the studio learning how to record an album from the ground up. "Having never produced a record before and having never recorded my songs before, it was a process," Aaron admits. "We learned a lot." "Trying to find the right way to get through the process, what order to do things, when to record the vocals," Rozzell interjects.

Though the record reflects Aaron and Rozzell's musical partnership, the former is the creative engine behind Koko Boom. Aaron wrote all of the songs over a four-year period, plays many of the instruments and sings on each track.

"He got the meat of the songs together, and then we got together to flesh it out," says Rozzell. "Generally, it's all personal stuff," says the songwriter.
Love and romance form the backbone of "The Whole Lovely…" but Aaron spreads his wings under an insistent groove on the spiritually minded "Heavy Weather," the song on the album that he says remained truest to his original blueprint. Although mild disillusionment percolates in "Under America," Aaron quickly regroups for "Weary," offering unclouded hope for those not as far along the path. "Don't be discouraged young ones/ though life is hard/ you're young and your heart is still brave," he sings, reinforcing an overtly optimistic thread that weaves all the songs together.

"I think we wanted to make a positive record, so we tried to stick to positive things," Aaron explains. "Not to put a certain image in a person's mind, we wanted songs where people couldn't just hear positive things but feel them listening to the music." Rozzell completes the picture: "It's a positive and energetic experience, but there's no fluff."

Furthering the notion that Koko Boom is anything but light, they kick it up a notch onstage. Both Aaron and Rozzell repeatedly use the word "energetic" to describe the band's sets. "You get the rock feel more when you see us live," Aaron says.

That presents its own challenges, according to both.
"It's not a straight R&B record; it's not a rock record," Rozzell says. "I think that's one of our challenges -- to find our audience." Aaron agrees: "We haven't necessarily found our clique or our group yet."
Both musicians list the Beatles, Sly Stone, David Bowie, Prince and Jimi Hendrix as influences, so it makes sense that their live sound is eclectic and prone to jamming. Upcoming shows include Saturday, May 21, at DC9 (1940 Ninth St. NW) and Thursday, May 26, at Bar Nun (1326 U St. NW). Koko Boom will be appearing at Bar Nun every other Thursday throughout the summer.
"The Whole Lovely…" is currently available at the band's live shows, but Rozzell says he is in the process of getting the album distributed on CDbaby.com.

- Washington Post


Discography

The Whole Lovely, FUNKgLove Concerto Suite #1

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

MICHAEL and FUNKgLove, formerly known as Koko Boom, originally formed in 2003 from Michael Aaron's vision of bringing his multi-dimensional music to people. Kofi Rozzell (drums and studio engineer), Hodari Sudan (key board and Fender Rhodes), Steve Benson (guitar) and Oumar Diallo (bass) make up Aaron's FUNKgLove (pronounced "FUNK-Love").

To call it a "funk, soul and rock explosion" doesn't begin to touch the earthly surface of their sound. The raw uncut edge derived from their natural talents, merged with the cosmic vibrations lends resonance to their celestial style. Michael Aaron and FUNKgLove deliver and innovative and possibly revolutionary sound for our time. Colorful lyrics and harmonic movements, cross boundaries forming a musical hybrid of complex rhythms, soulful vocals and rock inclinations. MICHAEL and FUNKgLove, formerly known as Koko Boom, originally formed in 2003 from Michael Aaron's vision of bringing his multi-dimensional music to people. Kofi Rozzell (drums and studio engineer), Hodari Sudan (key board and Fender Rhodes), Steve Benson (guitar) and Oumar Diallo (bass) make up Aaron's FUNKgLove (pronounced "FUNK-Love").

To call it a "funk, soul and rock explosion" doesn't begin to touch the earthly surface of their sound. The raw uncut edge derived from their natural talents, merged with the cosmic vibrations lends resonance to their celestial style. Michael Aaron and FUNKgLove deliver and innovative and possibly revolutionary sound for our time. Colorful lyrics and harmonic movements, cross boundaries forming a musical hybrid of complex rhythms, soulful vocals and rock inclinations.

Aaron writes from personal experiences and a little bit of fantasy with the single mission to make his listeners feel good. His passion for music was clear at the age of 16. He learned the guitar and fine tuned his vocal talent.

Each member of the FUNKgLove enhances Aaron's music. Kofi Russell’s diverse music appreciation and experience with reggae, punk rock, and jazz adds and element of contrast to the music. Rozzell's solid foot stick work is the pulse of FUNKgLove. Working as a recording engineer, Rozzell is able to see the big picture. Hodari Sudan was a likely fit for the group as he is a natural musician born to play. Sudan's funkiness compliments Rozell's rhythms with a kind of melodic kinkiness. The newest members, Steve Benson and Oumar Diallo bring the gritty nastiness of their FUNK-rock sound!

Live, Michael Aaron and FUNKgLove set stages a blaze with energetic and expressive performances. They have opened for major artists including Morris Day and the Time, and Fertile Ground as well as play alongside well known local artists such as W. Ellington Felton and Ayanna Gregory.

Aaron writes from personal experiences and a little bit of fantasy with the single mission to make his listeners feel good. His passion for music was clear at the age of 16. He learned the guitar and fine tuned his vocal talent.

Each member of the FUNKgLove enhances Aaron's music. Kofi Russell’s diverse music appreciation and experience with reggae, punk rock, and jazz adds and element of contrast to the music. Rozzell's solid foot stick work is the pulse of FUNKgLove. Working as a recording engineer, Rozzell is able to see the big picture. Hodari Sudan was a likely fit for the group as he is a natural musician born to play. Sudan's funkiness compliments Rozell's rhythms with a kind of melodic kinkiness. The newest members, Steve Benson and Oumar Diallo bring the gritty nastiness of their FUNK-rock sound!

Live, Michael Aaron and FUNKgLove set stages a blaze with energetic and expressive performances. They have opened for major artists including Morris Day and the Time, and Fertile Ground as well as play alongside well known local artists such as W. Ellington Felton and Ayanna Gregory.