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Chopteeth

Chopteeth Radio

General Info

  • Genre: Afro-beat / Funk / Jazz

    Location Washington DC, Un

    Profile Views: 27686

    Last Login: 1/10/2011

    Member Since 8/27/2007

    Website www.Chopteeth.com

    Record Label Grigri Discs

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band is a 14-piece Afrofunk orchestra exploring the common groove between the funkiest, most hip-shakin' West African and American popular music on the planet. The core of the Chopteeth sound is Afrobeat: a big-band funk invented by Fela Kuti in 1970's Nigeria. Afrobeat is a spicy stew of modern jazz, Yoruba tribal music and burning, James Brown-inspired rhythms. Chopteeth then mixes in classic Ghanaian dance tunes, Senegalese rumba and Jamaican ska and stirs it all thoroughly to create a massive groove. The result is a swirl of energetic melodies and call-and-response choruses, driven by interlocking drums and percussion, and punctuated by a dynamic five-piece horn section. Funky organ and melodic guitars complete Chopteeth's unique and infectious sound. Chopteeth updates African classics while remaining true to the spirit of the music and its message. Band members step to the mic to serve up lyrics in a total of seven different languages. IIn 2009, the band was honored with the Artist of the Year and Debut CD of the Year Wammie Awards, based on a vote of their peers in the Washington Area Music Association. Since 2007, the group has been honored with six Wammie Awards, including a three World Music Artist awards. Chopteeth has opened for critically acclaimed international artists including The Neville Brothers, The Derek Trucks Band, Chuck Brown, Konono No. 1, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Gov'Toubab Krewe, Soulive, The Pietasters and Brazilian Girls.

  • Members

    Michael Shereikis (vocals, guitar), Craig Considine (trombone), Mark Gilbert (saxophones), Justine Miller (trumpet, vocals), Trevor Specht (saxophones, vocals), Cheryl Terwilliger (trumpet), David McDavitt (drums), Mahiri Keita-Edwards (percussion), Jason Walker (percussion), Victor Crisen (guitar), Brian Simms (keyboards), Robert Fox (bass)

  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

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Press

"A storming powerhouse of big band African funk, Chopteeth is smart, tight and relentlessly driving...a definte don't miss."
   —The Washington Post


“Raging guitars and rich, swaggering horns. Propulsive.”
   —The Boston Globe


"Wonderfully fresh...Chopteeth can lock into a groove and hold it tight, but still give the feeling of freedom. This is music that makes you want to move."
   —All Music Guide


"Thunderous...potent. Chopteeth's debut CD takes the band from upbeat Swahili lyrics over a South African pulse one second, to spaghetti Western-inspired instrumentals the next. True to the political essence at the heart of Fela's music."
   —Billboard


"Hip-shaking debut album truly has a jazz-without-borders frame of mind."
   —The Montreal Gazette


“Chopteeth’s live shows are as sweaty yet tasty as a Texas barbecue in August."
   —Fort Worth Star-Telegram


“Percolating percussion, bursts of brass, and lilting guitars. Musically adventurous and politically conscious from start to finish. An epic show.”
   —Baltimore Magazine


“It’s as if Tower of Power resurrected as Afrofunk.”
   —Albuquerque Journal


"A hip-shakin, gotta-party, Afrofunk sensation. They cook. They dance. The organs are fat. The horn section is beastly. And the protest (”Struggle”) generally takes a backseat to the party (”Upendo”). Their LP is called Afrofunk Big Band. It’s great."
   —Washington City Paper


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