Anna Mwalagho (vocals)
Michael Shereikis (vocals, guitar)
Brian Simms (keyboards)
Craig Considine (trombone)
Mark Gilbert (saxophones)
Justine Miller (trumpet, vocals)
Trevor Specht (saxophones, vocals)
Cheryl Terwilliger (trumpet)
Mark Corrales (percussion)
David Font-Navarrete (percussion)
David McDavitt (drums)
Victor Crisen (guitar)
Robert Fox (bass)
Chopteeth 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.
In 2007, the band was honored with the Best World Music Wammie Award, based on a vote of their peers in the Washington Area Music Association. Since emerging in 2004, the group has been honored with six Wammie Award nominations, including a 2007 nomination for Artist of the Year.
Chopteeth has opened for critically acclaimed international artists including Konono No. 1, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Toubab Krewe, Soulive, Chuck Brown, The Pietasters and Brazilian Girls.
"Audiences went crazy over their music, a barrage of sound and movement that compels everyone to dance." —The Washington Examiner
Join Chopteeth for our CD release party on Sat, Sept 20 at The Black Cat in DC (1811 14th St. NW)! Featuring Farafina Kan, Cheick Hamala Diabate, Head-Roc and DJ Nitekrawler.
Online Now!
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