Check This: Kokoroko – Abusey Junction

A UK label recently released a compilation called We Out Here, celebrating some of the new jazz acts to come out of London. The broadness of the genre becomes clear as one listens and hears the vast array of sounds presented on the album. One of the stand-outs for me was Kokoroko, a 7-piece Afrobeat group who met in the London Jazz school.

Meaning “be strong” in Urhobo, Kokoroko take their love of West African music and have let it inspire them to create their own brand of jazz. “Abusey Junction” is a deeply melodic piece, opening with lightly picked guitars and somber percussion, before utilizing Kokoroko‘s all-female horn section to breathe new life into the track. Great music for a chill evening.