Jazz, highlife and Afro-soul from Berlin via Accra on Jembaa Groove’s debut album Susuma and new single Mokole featuring the band co-founder, and Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas percussionist, Eric Owusu

Berlin based international outfit Jembaa Groove come forth with a powerful and poly-rhythmical debut album built around the West African highlife tradition and the spirit of classic US jazz and soul. Susuma is set for release on Agogo Records, March 18th.

Delving into a wealth of influences from across both sides of the Atlantic as well as the Berlin scene – hip hop and jazz – the group’s musical vitality, journeying philosophy and indeed their band name, comes from the energy and spirituality of their take, and on the rhythms that feed the groove. Utilising the musical techniques, cultural context, and spirit of Ghanaian highlife they are as much influenced by the creativity of highlife pioneer Ebo Taylor and Dr. K. Gyasi as they are to the US groove machines of say Charles Bradley or Lee Fields.

The conception of Jembaa Groove happened late 2020, when band leaders Yannick Nolting (bass, composer, producer) and Eric Owusu (percussion, vocals, songwriter) met while picking up their young sons from the local playground. They soon realised they shared a mutual love of West-African music and it wasn’t long before they were jamming together in the studio and a special magic was brewing.

Yannick is from Germany and spent his formative years producing and playing with Lusophone artists in Lisbon.

Eric is from Ghana (although he spent a large part of his life living in Nigeria)and has musically grown as a reputed percussionist working, recording and performing live with artists like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, and Orlando Julius (who he lived with whilst living in Accra).

Jembaa Groove embraces the warm and vintage elements of soul music and the baritone chords of 60’s & 70’s black America yet their core rhythmical foundations are from highlife. Born and developed in 20th century Ghana, highlife is a form of music from West Africa that combines African rhythms and traditional Akan music, with added western instruments like the guitar and horns. This melding of the sound of the west, provided for the smoother sounding qualities within highlife, where jazz and blues would offer new branches of the genre – a perfect departure point for Jembaa Groove.

Kick-started by Bassa Bassa (released in the summer of 2021), the first track Yannick and Eric ever wrote together, Susuma hails a message of positivity and prosperity, essential to the essence of Jembaa Groove. From Bassa Bassa’s call to action to the inspirational message of Mokole, where the listener is reminded that life is not always easy and not something to be taken for granted, each track embodies its own purpose and has a tale to tell.

Adesane, featuring New York guitarist Raja Kassis (Antibalas, Seun Kuti) perfectly encapsulates their concept of groove – the meld of energy and balance. The way the melody interacts with that groove creates something the band say is “beyond their control”, incorporating silvery horns, up-beat percussion and with a message of tolerance. This is in comparison to their latest single Mokole with its pitched down tempo and delicate melodies.

Comprising seven band members, hailing from various corners of the world, their practice sessions are driven by a wild mix of languages and cultural expression. Listening to Susuma, you can hear Eric singing in Ga, (one of several languages spoken in the city of Accra, Ghana), Yoruba and Twi and pidgin English.

Jembaa Groove is all about positive vibes. We try to promote positivity, togetherness and respect. But also try to remind others as well as ourselves that destiny lies in our hands, and that you can’t take things for granted. If you want something, go for it, but respect the people!

DJ support:
Aaron Byrd (KCRW), Derek Mazzone (KEXP), Sergio Mielniczenko (KPFK) FIP & Radio Campus Montpellier (FR)
Coco Maria & Thristian (Worldwide FM), Rinse FM