Bossaphonik Presents Jembaa Groove

+ Bossaphonik DJs

Presented by: Bossaphonik

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0	OXFORD: Cowley Workers Social Club
P	Friday 20th December, 2024
N	8:00pm

Event information

The last Bossaphonik of 2024 will be a mid-winter special landing on Friday 20th December. The fabulous sounds of Berlin-based 7 piece Jembaa Groove will grace our stage, playing for the very first time in Oxford.

Jembaa Groove are a mix of members of African and European descent hailing from different corners of the planet and blend a melting pot of influences which they state is a contemporary take on Ghanaian highlife, jazz and soul. The band represents their very own new sound which is ever-evolving and has come a long way, seeing them release two albums – 2022’s “Susuma” and this years “Ye Ankasa / We Ourselves” - both receiving massive support from the international media including BBC 6 music’s Gilles Peterson, French radio FIP, Germany’s WDR, Soulection in the US and much more.

The band carry audiences through tight arrangements with spontaneous improvisations, taking off into grooves that float through dreamy horn lines, stirring guitars and celestial vocals. Led by vocalist/percussionist Eric Owusu and bassist Yannick Nolting, the band consist of former members of the bands of legends of highlife and Afrobeat such as Tony Allen, Pat Thomas, Ebo Taylor and Orlando Julius. Playing with these greats for decades has shaped their perception of sound which has brought forth their rousing and energetic live experience – making themselves a name throughout Europe and beyond.

On their recent album they collaborated with important figures of the contemporary Ghanaian highlife scene such as Kwame Yeboah (Kwashibu Area Band), Gyedu Blay Ambolley and K.O.G – as they were looking for a certain authentic sonic element they knew would blend with their sound.
This sound has established themselves as an international touring band which has seen them performing on many of the finest stages around the globe. This year they have toured 42 venues including The Jazz Cafe (London), New Morning (Paris), Sala Villanos (Madrid), Paradiso (Amsterdam), Blue Note (Sao Paolo), and this Bossaphonik gig will be their final date of the year.

“Truly a global phenomenon. An original and accomplished fusion” Songlines Magazine

“Legendary stuff...sounding beautiful” Cerys Matthews BBC 6 Music

“Fantastic!...a great mix of highlife and jazz” Jamie Cullum BBC Radio 2

Check out a video for the track “Sweet My Ear” featuring K.O.G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xbMNWlIHxg

Check out a live video at the Jazz Cafe of the track “Djiguiya”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jqx9pVKLLA

Check out their recent album “Ya Ankasa/We Ourseslves” on bandcamp:
https://jembaagroove.bandcamp.com/album/ye-ankasa-we-ourselves

Following on from the band as ever is a Bossaphonik club session with resident DJ Dan Ofer & DJ Badger treating the dancefloor til 1:30am to the sounds of…
Jazz Funk * Afrobeat * Highlife * Afro Jazz * Brazilica * Latin Jazz * Cumbia * Global Hip Hop * Balkan Beats * Soul Jazz * Electro Swing * Global Grooves Galore * Nu Jazz Bizniz!

Friday 20th December
Bossaphonik Presents Jembaa Groove + Bossaphonik DJs
Cowley Workers Social Club, Between Towns Road. OX4 3LZ (Near Templars Square Shopping Centre. Regular buses 1 and 5 from City Centre go up Cowley Road til 3am. Stopping opposite the venue)
8pm – 1:30am
Band on at 9:30pm

See ya there!

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