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  Euforquestra
Explorations in Afrobeat (Euforquestra Productions, 2006)
Think hard... when was the last time you heard a bunch of guys from the
midwestern US combine
Fela
Kuti-style Afrobeat with chants in praise of the Yoruba pantheon of dieties
honored in the Afro-Cuban Lucumi religion? If it's been longer than you're
comfortable with, get ahold of this offering from Iowa-based Euforquestra.
Taking a cue from both the long, tight, funky structures of Afrobeat and
deeply traditional Cuban ensembles like Los Muñequitos de Mantanzas, they've
come up with a very good best-of-both-worlds. The instrumental arrangements
sport that familiar combination of African rhythm and James Brown funk that
Fela
Kuti pioneered and American bands like
Antibalas continue to champion, but instead of lyrics ridiculing government
incompetence or urging you to shake it on the dance floor, praises are chanted
to the Orishas (spiritual beings) who represent and oversee humans and nature.
Like much Afrobeat, a lot of time passes without a word sung, and the members
of Euforquestra maximize their skills on drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keys,
saxes and vibes before slipping in with a group or solo chant. They big up some
of the major Orishas (Elegua, Chango, Obatala, Ogun, Ochun) and expertly tailor
the vocals to fit the tempos and structures or just keep it simple, utilizing
only clapping as accompaniment on "Intro to Chango," for example.
This is an unpretentiously fine CD by a band out to combine two African
strands that make musical and spiritual sense together. Euforquestra are
explorers sure enough, and I'd say they've found what they were looking for.
The CD can be purchased
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