Take a lead singer of Liberian griot lineage with a throat full of reggae and gospel, a Hebridean guitarist with a background in folk fingerpicking and 60s psychedelia, a Parisian percussionist who had travelled and drummed extensively in the world's Latin quarters, an Aberdonian bassist with a fixation on finding the groove that would link Peter Gabriel's world fusion and The Who, a Paisley-born jazz-inflected drummer who studied in Berklee, Boston, a Ugandan singer with a soul voice and an obsession with melancholic 70s singer-songwriters, and a Ghanaian dancer with one foot in the R'nB bag and the other dragging it away to African Gospel harmony choir recitals... stick them together in the back of a transit van for six years or so, lock them in a sandwich factory for a while and then entomb them in a smoke-filled recording studio and you have this album.
Sounds Like
That's a weird one so we'll take what people have said...
"Afropop from Scotland?" "the world-rock hybrid Led Zeppelin never made" "the most stunning mix of western and African music since Paul Simon's Graceland" "unique hybrid of traditional music from around the globe" "Zuba have taken the best bits of African music and somehow added a Western slant/Scottishness to it" "The band Zuba are crazy: Afrobeat and Scottish folk? But it works!" "Zuba occasionally call to mind Peter Gabriel, the Afro Celts and Ireland's Kila all in a good way, especially since their sound as a whole is so confidently their own"...
Any help??? Please let us know what you think it sounds like
Zuba are a multi-cultural, multi-lingual testament to hope, humanity and the sheer joy of a good melody. Their Bassa Beat is a sound utterly unique in the field of world music, and has been decribed as "the most stunning mix of western and African music since Paul Simon's Graceland".
The song 'TOMAYZIYI' got ZUBA in the TOP20 FINALISTS of the UNISONG contest (World/Reggae category) and an HONORABLE MENTION in the final of the INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION 2005 (World Music category).
"an infectious hybrid of influences which has earned Zuba critical acclaim and full dancefloors wherever they play" John Dingwall
With major appearances at the Brampton, Larmer Tree, Towersey, Edinburgh and Celtic Connections Festivals, and support slots including Manu Chao, Femi Kuti, Papa Wemba, Bhundu Boys, Ifang Bondi and Salsa Celtica.
"clever arrangements carry the imagination from Africa to Scotland, making other surprising stops along the way" ToxicPete
"Zuba-one of Britain's best world music acts" The Daily Record
We're playing in Edinburgh on Saturday at the Bongo Club. We hope you can come. Spread the word to your friends. It'll be a great night.
We'll be playing songs from our new album "Baka Beyond the Forest" as well as some old favourites
You can hear clips on our website (www.baka.co.uk) and our Myspace page.
It starts early (7.30pm) so don't be late!
One Love!
any gigs!?! i was at yellows on the broom in 08, hoping to see you guys again, but you weren't there! :( will you be there this year? any gigs coming up anywhere?
How goes it Zuba, Gerry, et al? Any plans to come to n-w England any time soon?Good luck. Life here is OK except I miss the square slice sausage. And good live music.
yo man..u took Bassa to a another level.. trust me u and your band has made history with your sound.. i truly believe your music represents the Bassa people as-well as the the people of liberia... soon the whole world shall get a crave for Zuba.. good job man..
Sorry if I missed something....there had to be a first time.WauhW !I'm never on Youtube coz I'm spending too much time wankin about on http://www.thesixtyone.com/Robinho/
Are you sendin me a sausage or a link to a vid or a vid or OH OH I'm so confused! I'll go take a look. Orbitin
Online Now!
