Conscious Afrojazz

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OKRA is cultivated in tropical and warm temperate regions around the world and is used in the cuisines of many countries. Also called gombo, lady’s finger, bamia, molondròn or quiabo, OKRA is a natural thickener as the pods of the plant are mucilaginous, resulting the characteristic “goo” or slime when the seeds are cooked. That unique sticky bitter flavour is a trademark of the African heritage culture, especially in West and East Africa and all over the diaspora territories, from Brazil to Caribbean and New Orleans.

 

Gambian griot JABEL KANUTEH, of the important Kanuteh Family from Tambasansang, and visionary drummer and artist MARCO ZANOTTI (marcozanotti.com) toured Europe and East Africa as a duo since the release of their first album “Freedom of Movement” in 2020, followed up by “Are you strong?” in 2022. In 2024 OKRA band is born expanding the duo to a quartet, with poly-instrumentist - luthier - artist ELISABETTA DEL FERRO (viola da gamba and bass) and percussionist MOUMOUNI DAO, from Ivory Coast, on the djembe and balafon.

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The original repertoire is a blend of mandinka-west African music fused with contemporary afrobeat and afrojazz. It deliver both the poetry of jaliya (griot’s art) and the fire of Fela Kuti, swinging from jazz-funk to power global folk. Songs are sung in Mandinka and English.

 

Debut album is expected to be released in 2025 - booking now for Summer 2025

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JABEL KANUTEH  vocals, kora

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ELISABETTA DEL FERRO  bass, viola da gamba, vocals

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MOUMOUNI DAO  balafon, djembe, vocals

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MARCO ZANOTTI  drums, percussions, vocals