Bossaphonik @ Florence Park - A 20th Anniversary Festival!

Presented by: Bossaphonik

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0	OXFORD: Florence Park
P	Friday 21st June, 2024
N	4:30pm

Event information

Wow! It’s the big 2-0
Two decades of joyful world-jazz dance music events in Oxford, every month! Now that’s something to celebrate…
A sincere thank you to everyone who has ever attended Bossaphonik, occasionally or regularly – you have enabled the magic to keep happening!
It would have blown our minds when we started out back in 2004 to know that we would reach a 20th anniversary. And so we will celebrate the occasion in style – outdoors on the summer solstice in Cowley’s very own Florence Park! A treat of outstanding live bands are in store…

Headlining this anniversary happening is a band that Dan Ofer, organiser of Bossaphonik, has long hailed as his favourite UK-based act – the cross-cultural fusion grooves of Lokkhi Terra. Led by Bangladesh-born virtuosic pianist Kishon Khan, he has created a unique sound by interpreting the music of his cultural background through a whole host of worldwide modern-day influences. The result is a cutting-edge highly danceable fusion of Bengali folk colliding with Afro-Cuban motifs with the grooves of jazz-funk and at times with its roots in Afrobeat. The band has an 8-strong line up – most of them are also band leaders of their own high calibre projects – mesmerising riffs and colourful textures played on Rhodes piano sit alongside a punchy horn section with both female Bengali and male Cuban vocals which are propelled by a dazzling 3-part percussion section.

“Beautiful, powerful, spectacular stuff” Songlines Magazine

“Stunning headliners” Time Out

Check out a video of a lockdown full gig at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club (starts at 4:35):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhMIxDJvbeg

Check out Lokkhi Terra video at their first appearance at Bossaphonik:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcWnMXNZfxw

Joining us all the way from Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana, are Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy. The band present a modern-day “Afro-futurist” take on the gospel music of the Frafra ethnic region. With infectiously uplifting arrangements they have caught the imagination of listeners worldwide, their music having received millions of listens. Alogte Oho is regarded as the top Frafra artist in Ghana and the band's sound is a contemporary firework of pentatonic vocal explosions, rolling West African rhythms sitting alongside wildly bleeping synthesizers! This is a new breed of Frafra sound where strong influences of highlife, reggae and funk combine with the happy vibrations exuded by the Sounds of Joy 3-part vocal section.

“It was my absolute favourite moment in 16 years at the (Worldwide) Festival. They were everything that music is to me in 2022.” Gilles Peterson BBC 6 Music

Check a video of a medley of tunes by Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzJlEJw5-3A

Check out a vid of a live performance at The Afrika Festival Hertme, Netherlands:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7KiWT6Ik1M&t=2s

We are supremely blessed at this anniversary festival as The Turbans will be in town, an ensemble with a legendary reputation and an ever-evolving line up made up of musicians with a radical travelling lifestyle. They have developed an exhilarating repertoire of East European, Levantine and North African Arabian grooves with some excursions into flamenco music – as they put it, “music from manywhere.” It is performed with reverence for these ancient traditions whilst also bringing forth electrifying original compositions. Their members have gathered from countries such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Iran and England and they mix up vibrant authenticity with joyful spontaneity. No two Turbans gigs are quite the same and for this performance we are treated to a 6 piece line up incorporating 2 percussionists, clarinet/saxophone, electric guitar, bass and kanun - an Arabic plucked zither with 75 strings.

“The Turbans weave a celebratory patchwork of global community that transcends borders and separation at this great gig... an electrifying band.” Morning Star

“The Turbans are a stomping ensemble that sound like Eastern Europe swinging The Middle East around by the arm at a raucous party” Songlines Magazine (awarded “Top of the World album”)

Check out a Turbans video collage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txgYpzVVvkM

Check out a Turbans video from a gig at The Jazz Cafe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_1S4GQ-Hbc

We will treated to a solo set from locally based Senegalese master musician and inspirational praise singer, Jali Fily Cissokho. He plays the 21-string West African kora (harp/lute) – an instrument which exudes tones of beauty and happiness. He comes from a family of musicians whose skills and traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. Yet, as a citizen of the 21st century, he is also attuned to the rhythms of the present and future, creating a unique natural musical blend that spans centuries and continents. Work has lead him to performances and recordings with the likes of Toumani Diabate,  Baaba Maal, AR Rahman, Ricky Kej and Dr. L. Subramaniam.

"I just love Fily's voice. When he sings it's as if he is singing
my kora back to me" Toumani Diabate

"A Senegalese kora player of exquisite finesse, he is also possessed
of a thrilling, soulful voice, and he combines his twin talents
to moving effect in performance" Tim Healy

Kicking off proceedings is an act making a first-time appearance at Bossaphonik. The supremely virtuosic Mazaika Duo are made up of violinist Sarah Harrison and accordionist Igor Outkine who have been playing together since 1996. Both are vocalists as well as instrumentalists who have broad musical tastes and a classical background – they have developed a varied and vibrant repertoire and will play an upbeat set to kick off the party. Igor plays with both an acoustic and electronic MIDI accordion setup which will trigger off a whole palette of sounds to get us moving! We’ll be taken on a ride through gypsy jazz, Balkan folk, klezmer, Argentinian and Russian tango, hot club swing, some popular songs which includes music from the 20’s and 30’s and some of the duo’s original compositions that contain a strong improvisational element. This will all add up to a big fun introduction to our festival experience.

“Sheer heaven - stirring, passionate and highly entertaining” The Three Weeks Review, Edinburgh Festival

“Wistful accordion… the world’s first headbanging accordionist” The Guardian

Check out a video showreel of Mazaika Duo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF7PtQ0k-yQ

Bossaphonik DJs Dan Ofer and DJ Badger will keep up the dancing action in between live bands with delicious global beats and jazz dance!

This Bossaphonik festival event is also part of Florence Park's 90th Anniversary weekend festivities. Bossaphonik is partnered with FloFest-GloFest to present to you this festival experience.

Food – Coffee - Ice Cream - Bar - will be available!

Friday 21st June
Bossaphonik @ Florence Park. A 20th Anniversary Festival!
Florence Park, Florence Park Road. Oxford. OX4 3PW
4:30-11:45pm. Live music starts at 4:30pm sharp
Live bands: Lokkhi Terra, Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy, The Turbans, Mazaika Duo + Bossaphonik DJs
Early bird (till April 30th) £21 / Advance £25 / on gate £32 / age 12 and under £12/ age 5 and under FREE

See ya there!!