Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Antibalas is a Brooklyn
-based afrobeat
band that is modeled after Fela Kuti
's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri
's Harlem River Drive Orchestra. Although their music uses afrobeat musical architecture and language, it incorporates elements of jazz
, funk
, dub
, improvised music, and traditional drumming from Cuba
and West Africa
.
Founded in 1998 by Martín Perna
as "Conjunto Antibalas", the group first performed on May 26, 1998 at St. Nicks Pub in Harlem
at a poetry night organized by renowned visual artist Xaviera Simmons. Over the course of the next few months, the group solidified with a core of eleven band members and expanded their repertoire of original songs. For the first year of the group's existence, they performed exclusively at non-commercial venues such as block parties, lofts, and public parks, before securing a Friday night residency at the now-defunct NoMoore in August 1999. Called Africalia!, the residency lasted from August 1999-April 2001, when the club was shut down by fire officials during the Giuliani administration's crackdown on nightclubs and cabarets. Guitarist and producer/engineer Gabriel Roth wrote several of the earlier tunes and oversaw recording and production of the first three records.
Over the next few years, the band's presence grew; by summer 2000 Antibalas had released their first album "Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1" and had toured twice in England, all the while continuing to play at venues throughout New York City
. Recording with the group in the early day was Cameroonian drummer Jojo Kuo who can be heard on the studio recordings of "Uprising" and "Machete."
By early 2002, the horn-driven outfit had released their second album, "Talkatif," and were continuing to tour throughout the United States. In summer 2004, their third studio album, "Who is This America?" was released. Antibalas' most recent album, "Security", was produced by John McEntire
and released on the ANTI- label in 2007.
Antibalas has performed in 23 countries, from Japan to Turkey to Portugal, and throughout New York City, from Central Park
Summerstage to the Rikers Island
prison facility.
The group has received guest visits from several musicians from Fela Kuti's Afrika 70 and Egypt 80 bands, including Tony Allen
(drums), Femi Kuti
(alto sax), Seun Kuti
(tenor sax), Tunde Williams (trumpet), Oghene Kologbo (guitar), Nicolas Addey (congas), Dele Sosimi (keyboards), Ola Jagun (drums/percussion), and Jojo Kuo (drums) among others.
In the summer of 2008, Antibalas was featured off-Broadway in Fela!
, a musical celebrating the life of Fela Kuti. The group arranged and performed the show's score of music originally performed by Kuti. In the fall of 2009, Fela! opened on Broadway
at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre
, once again with Antibalas.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
band that is modeled after Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri , is a Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican pianist, bandleader and musician, best known for combining jazz piano and instrumental solos with Latin rhythms.-Early years:...
's Harlem River Drive Orchestra. Although their music uses afrobeat musical architecture and language, it incorporates elements of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
, improvised music, and traditional drumming from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
.
Founded in 1998 by Martín Perna
Martín Perna
Martin Perna is an educator, social entrepreneur, and multidisciplinary artist living in Austin, Texas.-Music:He is founder of the musical groups Antibalas and Ocote Soul Sounds, and has written for and/or recorded with Sharon Jones, Scarlett Johansson, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, The Whitefield...
as "Conjunto Antibalas", the group first performed on May 26, 1998 at St. Nicks Pub in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
at a poetry night organized by renowned visual artist Xaviera Simmons. Over the course of the next few months, the group solidified with a core of eleven band members and expanded their repertoire of original songs. For the first year of the group's existence, they performed exclusively at non-commercial venues such as block parties, lofts, and public parks, before securing a Friday night residency at the now-defunct NoMoore in August 1999. Called Africalia!, the residency lasted from August 1999-April 2001, when the club was shut down by fire officials during the Giuliani administration's crackdown on nightclubs and cabarets. Guitarist and producer/engineer Gabriel Roth wrote several of the earlier tunes and oversaw recording and production of the first three records.
Over the next few years, the band's presence grew; by summer 2000 Antibalas had released their first album "Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1" and had toured twice in England, all the while continuing to play at venues throughout New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Recording with the group in the early day was Cameroonian drummer Jojo Kuo who can be heard on the studio recordings of "Uprising" and "Machete."
By early 2002, the horn-driven outfit had released their second album, "Talkatif," and were continuing to tour throughout the United States. In summer 2004, their third studio album, "Who is This America?" was released. Antibalas' most recent album, "Security", was produced by John McEntire
John McEntire
John McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
and released on the ANTI- label in 2007.
Antibalas has performed in 23 countries, from Japan to Turkey to Portugal, and throughout New York City, from Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
Summerstage to the Rikers Island
Rikers Island
Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, as well as the name of the island on which it sits, in the East River between Queens and the mainland Bronx, adjacent to the runways of LaGuardia Airport. The island itself is part of the borough of the Bronx, though it is included as part of...
prison facility.
The group has received guest visits from several musicians from Fela Kuti's Afrika 70 and Egypt 80 bands, including Tony Allen
Tony Allen (musician)
Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
(drums), Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician and the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti....
(alto sax), Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti
Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti , commonly known as Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, and the youngest son of legendary afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80....
(tenor sax), Tunde Williams (trumpet), Oghene Kologbo (guitar), Nicolas Addey (congas), Dele Sosimi (keyboards), Ola Jagun (drums/percussion), and Jojo Kuo (drums) among others.
In the summer of 2008, Antibalas was featured off-Broadway in Fela!
Fela!
Fela! is a musical with a book by Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis, based on music and lyrics by the late Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, with additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan Mclean and additional lyrics by Jim Lewis. It is based on events in the life of groundbreaking Nigerian composer and...
, a musical celebrating the life of Fela Kuti. The group arranged and performed the show's score of music originally performed by Kuti. In the fall of 2009, Fela! opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre
Eugene O'Neill Theatre
The Eugene O'Neill Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 230 West 49th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, it was built for the Shuberts as part of a theatre-hotel complex named for 19th century tragedian Edwin Forrest...
, once again with Antibalas.
Band
- Stuart D. BogieStuart D. BogieStuart Bogie is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer. Originally from Evanston, IL, Bogie has become a staple in the Brooklyn music scene, as part of Antibalas, as well as TV on the Radio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many other acts....
– Tenor Saxophone (2002-) - Martin PernaMartín PernaMartin Perna is an educator, social entrepreneur, and multidisciplinary artist living in Austin, Texas.-Music:He is founder of the musical groups Antibalas and Ocote Soul Sounds, and has written for and/or recorded with Sharon Jones, Scarlett Johansson, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, The Whitefield...
– Baritone Saxophone (1998-) - Jordan McLean – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Eric Biondo – Trumpet
- Aaron Johnson – Trombone (2000-)
- Victor AxelrodVictor AxelrodVictor Axelrod aka Ticklah is a Brooklyn native and independent music producer and artist, who has been a continual and integral part of the NYC music scene for over a decade. As an artist he is a founding member of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, and the Easy Star...
– Organ, Electric Pianos, Clavinet, Electric Celeste, Synthesizers - Luke O'Malley – Guitar
- Marcos J. Garcia – Guitar, Vocals
- Nick MovshonNick MovshonNick Movshon is a bass guitarist, drummer and producer. He is best known for his work with British soul star Amy Winehouse and producer Mark Ronson...
– Bass - Chris Vatalaro – Drums
- Duke Amayo – Vocals, Congas
- Marcus Farrar – Shekere, Vocals
Former members
- Michael Herbst - Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
- Todd Simon - Trumpet
- Anda Szilagyi - Trumpet
- Mike Wagner - Trombone
- Garbriel Roth (aka Bosco MannBosco MannGabriel Roth is the bass player, bandleader, primary songwriter and producer of the band Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. He is also a co-founder of the Daptone Records label....
) - Guitar - Del Stribling - Bass
- Phillip Ballman - Drums, first band Manager (1999–2003)
- Dylan Fusillo - Percussion, Drums
- Fernando Velez - Congas
- Ernesto Abreu - Congas
- Giancarlo Luiggi - Shekere
- Miles Arntzen - Drums
Albums
- Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1 (2000, Afrosound, reissued by Ninja Tune in 2001)
- Talkatif (2002, Ninja Tune)
- Who is This America? (2004, Ropeadope Records; Daptone)
- Security (2007, ANTI-; Daptone)
EPs & Singles
- Uprising (1999, Afrosound) 7"
- N.E.S.T.A. (2000, Afrosound) 12"
- Tour EP (2002, Afrosound) EP
- Che Che Colé (2003, Daptone) 12"
- Government Magic (2005, Afrosound) EP
- K-Leg/R.O.C. (2006, Purpose) 12"
- Family Affair/Mr President (2006, Mind Records and Service) Split 7" by Antibalas/Psycho
- Rat Race/Se Chifló 12" (2010, Exactamundo Records)
Albums featured
- UninvisibleUninvisibleUninvisible is an album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:All tracks by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.#"Uninvisible" – 3:37#"I Wanna Ride You" – 3:28...
by Medeski Martin & WoodMedeski Martin & WoodMedeski Martin & Wood is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards and piano, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar....
(2002, Blue NoteBlue noteIn jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres. Country blues, in particular, features wide variations from the...
) - Zen of Logic by DJ LogicDJ LogicDJ Logic is an American turntablist active primarily in jazz and with jam bands.Kibler was born and raised in The Bronx. An early interest in hip hop led to his using the turntables, practicing often. Kibler was also interested in funk and jazz music, and began collaborating with various musicians...
(2006, Ropeadope RecordsRopeadope RecordsRopeadope Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, hip hop, electronic and downtempo music. The label was founded by Andy Hurwitz in New York City and later moved to Philadelphia, where it is now located....
) - Return to Cookie MountainReturn to Cookie MountainReturn to Cookie Mountain is the second studio album by American art rock group TV on the Radio. It was released July 6, 2006 worldwide by 4AD, and issued in the U.S. and Canada on September 12, 2006 by Interscope Records and Touch and Go Recordings. However, an unmastered version of the album...
by TV on the RadioTV on the RadioTV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
(2006, 4AD4AD4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
/InterscopeInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
) - AntidotesAntidotes (album)- Chart positions :...
by FoalsFoals (band)Foals are an English indie rock band from Oxford. They are currently signed to Transgressive Records in the UK and Sub Pop in the US. They released their debut album Antidotes on 24 March 2008 in the UK, and 8 April 2008 in the US...
(2008, TransgressiveTransgressive RecordsTransgressive Records is an independent record label based in London, England formed in 2004. Founders Tim Dellow, and Toby L first met at a Bloc Party gig organised by Toby's rockfeedback website. The first release on the label was 1am by The Subways, released in September 2004...
/Sub PopSub PopSub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
) - Dear Science,Dear Science,Dear Science is the third album by American art rock band TV on the Radio. It was released via Interscope Records in the United States, Touch and Go Records on iTunes and was licensed through 4AD in Europe and all remaining territories. Despite the marketed release date of September 22–23, the...
by TV on the RadioTV on the RadioTV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
(2008, 4AD4AD4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
/InterscopeInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
)
Compilations featured
- Afrobeat . . . NO GO DIE (2000, Shanachie Records)
- Africafunk Vol. 2 (2000, Harmless Records)
- Ouelele (2002 & 2006, Comet Records)
- Red Hot & Riot (2002, MCA)
- Afrobeat (2002, Blow Records)
- Turntables on the Hudson Vol. 2 (2002, Musicrama)
- African Xpress (2003, Narada Records)
- Turntables on the Hudson Vol. 4 (2003, Caroline)
- Rewind 3 (2003, Ubiquity Records)
- “Badassss” Soundtrack (2004, Bbe Records)
- Afrobeat Sessions (2004, Sessions)
- Genocide in Sudan (2004, Reincarnate)
- ASAP – Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (2004, Modiba Productions)
- Essential Afrobeat (2005, UMVD Import)
- Impeach the Precedent (2005, Kicksnare Hat / Kajmere Sound)
- Gilles Peterson in Africa (2005, Ether Records)
- Let Rhythm Provide: An Emergency Compilation for Our Brothers and Sisters in New Orleans (2005, Ocote Soul Media)
- Snowboy Presents the return of the Hi-Hat (2001, Ocho Records)
- Daptone Gold (2009, Daptone Records)
External links
- Official Home Page
- Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - Live at SXSW 2007 on 89.3 The Current
- "Music is Bulletproof: Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra stirs some political hotsauce into their musical jambalaya" CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
Live Concert Session - Album Review for "Who Is This America?" from Afropop Worldwide