KonKoma – Self-titled

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KonKoma – “Kpanlogo”
Self-titled

KonKoma is a London-based Afro-funk band with roots in West Africa. Alfred Bannerman and Emmanuel Rentzos hail from Ghana and have worked with Bobby Womack, Hugh Masakela and Peter Green as well as being long term members of the Afro-rock band Osibisa. Saxophonist Max Grunhard and producer Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77) decided it was time to build a band around Bannerman and Rentzos. The result is KonKoma, a band that sounds straight out of West Africa during the 1970s. Their self-titled debut album is out now on Soundway Records.

The band is made up of Emmanuel Rentzos (vocals and keyboards), Reginald ‘Jojo’ Yates (vocals, mbira, sepriwa and percussion), Alfred ‘Kari’ Bannerman (guitar and vocals), Nii Tagoe (vocals and percussion), Jose Joyette (drums), Derrick McIntyre (bass guitar), Scott Baylis (trumpet), Max Grunhard (alto and baritone saxophone) and Ben Hadwen (baritone saxophone and flute). Guitarist Alfred Bannerman was a founding member of the teenage Afro-rock band Boombaya. Keyboardist Emmanuel Rentzos has been playing music with his fellow Ghanaian since the early 1970s when he was the lead singer of Santrofi’s band. You can hear the musical harmony shared between these two master musicians on “Kpanlogo,” featured above and available for download at soundcloud. The tight rhythm guitar and funky keyboards make this track irresistible. Pickup the LP/CD today and start dancing with KonKoma. For more insight into the group, check out the band’s album teaser video.