Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra

Antibalas
At the Granada Theater in Dallas, TX on May 19, 2005.
Background information
Origin	United States
Genres	Afrobeat
Years active	1998–present

Antibalas (pronounced /ɑːntiˈbɑːlɑːs/^{[dubious – discuss]}, or approximately "ahn-tee-BAH-las", from the Spanish for "bulletproof") is a Bushwick, Brooklyn based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra. Although their music is primarily afrobeat, it incorporates elements of jazz, funk, dub, improvised music, and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa.

Founded 1998 by Martín Perna as "Conjunto Antibalas," the group played its inaugural concert in May 26, 1998 at St. Nicks Pub in Harlem at a night organized by artist Xaviera Simmons. Over the course of the next few months, the group solidified with a core of eleven band members and began to develop a repertoire of original songs. Guitarist and producer/engineer Gabriel Roth wrote several of the earlier tunes and oversaw recording and production of the first three records.

Over the next few years, the band's presence grew; by summer 2000 Antibalas had released their first album "Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1" and had toured twice in England, all the while continuing to play at venues throughout New York City. Recording with the group in the early day was Cameroonian drummer Jojo Kuo who can be heard on the studio recordings of "Uprising" and "Machete."

By early 2002, the horn-driven outfit had released their second album, "Talkatif," and were continuing to tour throughout the United States. In summer 2004, their third studio album, "Who is This America?" was released. Antibalas' most recent album, "Security", was produced by John McEntire and released on the ANTI- label in 2007.

Antibalas has performed in 23 countries, from Japan to Turkey to Portugal, and throughout New York City, from Central Park Summerstage to the Rikers Island prison facility.

The group has received guest visits from several musicians from Fela Kuti's Afrika 70 and Egypt 80 bands, including Tony Allen (drums), Femi Kuti (alto sax), Seun Kuti (tenor sax), Tunde Williams (trumpet), Oghene Kologbo (guitar), Nicolas Addey (congas), Dele Sosimi (keyboards), Ola Jagun (drums/percussion), and Jojo Kuo (drums) among others.

In the summer of 2008, Antibalas was featured off-Broadway in Fela!, a musical celebrating the life of Fela Kuti. The group arranged and performed the show's score of music originally performed by Kuti. In the fall of 2009, Fela! is opening on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theater, once again with Antibalas.

Band

• Martin Perna – Baritone Saxophone
• Amayo – Vocals, Congas
• Victor Axelrod – Organ, Electric Pianos, Clavinet, Electric Celeste, Synthesizers
• Eric Biondo – Trumpet
• Stuart D. Bogie – Tenor Saxophone
• Marcus Farrar – Shekere, Vocals
• Marcos J. Garcia – Guitar, Vocals
• Aaron Johnson – Trombone
• Nick Movshon – Bass
• Luke O'Malley – Guitar
• Jordan McLean – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
• Chris Vatalaro – Drums

Discography

Albums

• Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1 (2000, Afrosound, reissued by Ninja Tune in 2001)
• Talkatif (2002, Ninja Tune)
• Who is This America? (2004, Ropeadope Records)
• Security (2007, ANTI-)

EPs & Singles

• Uprising (1999, Afrosound) 7"
• N.E.S.T.A. (2000, Afrosound) 12"
• Tour EP (2002, Afrosound) EP
• Che Che Colé (2003, Daptone) 12"
• Government Magic (2005, Afrosound) EP
• K-Leg/R.O.C. (2006, Purpose) 12"
• Family Affair/Mr President (2006, Mind Records and Service) Split 7" by Antibalas/Psycho

Albums featured

• Uninvisible by Medeski Martin & Wood (2002, Blue Note)
• Zen of Logic by DJ Logic (2006, Ropeadope Records)
• Return to Cookie Mountain by TV on the Radio (2006, 4AD/Interscope)
• Antidotes by Foals (2008, Transgressive/Sub Pop)
• Dear Science, by TV on the Radio (2008, 4AD/Interscope)

Compilations featured

• Afrobeat . . . NO GO DIE (2000, Shanachie Records)
• Africafunk Vol. 2 (2000, Harmless Records)
• Ouelele (2002 & 2006, Comet Records)
• Red Hot & Riot (2002, MCA)
• Afrobeat (2002, Blow Records)
• Turntables on the Hudson Vol. 2 (2002, Musicrama)
• African Xpress (2003, Narada Records)
• Turntables on the Hudson Vol. 4 (2003, Caroline)
• Rewind 3 (2003, Ubiquity Records)
• “Badassss” Soundtrack (2004, Bbe Records)
• Afrobeat Sessions (2004, Sessions)
• Genocide in Sudan (2004, Reincarnate)
• ASAP – Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project (2004, Modiba Productions)
• Essential Afrobeat (2005, UMVD Import)
• Impeach the Precedent (2005, Kicksnare Hat / Kajmere Sound)
• Gilles Peterson in Africa (2005, Ether Records)
• Let Rhythm Provide: An Emergency Compilation for Our Brothers and Sisters in New Orleans (2005, Ocote Soul Media)
• Snowboy Presents the return of the Hi-Hat (2001, Ocho Records)

See also

• Afrobeat
• Fela Kuti

External links

• Official Home Page
• Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• Live at SXSW 2007 on 89.3 The Current
• "Music is Bulletproof: Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra stirs some political hotsauce into their musical jambalaya" CBC Radio 3 Live Concert Session
• Album Review for "Who Is This America?" from Afropop Worldwide