Kokolo

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KOKOLO
KOKOLO playing live in Berlin, Germany August 2009
Background information
Origin	New York City
Genres	Afrobeat Afrofunk
Years active	2001–Present
Labels	Afrokings, Freestyle, Jamayka, AfroKats, VampiSoul, Tramp, Record Kicks
Associated acts	Ray Lugo's L.E.S. Express, Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers
Website	kokoloonline.com
Members
Ray Lugo Chris Morrow Kavin Paulraj Neil Chastain Ando Kal[1]

Kokolo (pronounced kohːkohːloh), also known as the Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra, is an American Afrobeat/Afrofunk band from the Lower East Side district of New York City, formed in 2001 by songwriter/producer Ray Lugo.

Along with The Daktaris and Antibalas, they form part of the early New York Afrobeat scene that ignited today's international Afrobeat revival movement. Over the years, Kokolo has evolved into a prolific international recording and touring machine, with over 50 releases on their discography and live performances in dozens of countries around the globe. Their well-known reputation for mounting explosive live shows has seen them perform on some of the world’s premier stages, such as The Montreal International Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival and scores of others, where they have shared the spotlight with a variety of acts ranging from Roots Manuva, Taj Mahal and Isaac Hayes to Zap Mama, James Brown, Gilles Peterson, Chic, Pete Rock, Roy Ayers and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.

Originally formed as a traditional Afrobeat ensemble, Kokolo developed a far more energetic and spikier sound than many of their peers. They also proved adept at broadening their sound by incorporating influences from a variety of other genres.

Kokolo are notable as supporters of the modern Humanism movement, and of the writings of J. Krishnamurti in particular, as exemplified by the maxim found on their album jackets: "Live More, Consume Less.. With More Joy and Less Stress".

Discography

Albums

• "Heavy Hustling" (Record Kicks – 2009)
• "Love International" (Freestyle - 2007)
• "More Consideration" (Freestyle - 2004)
• "Fuss And Fight" (Afrokings - 2002)

12" Singles | E.P.'s

• The Magnificent Seven/Uptown Felaz EP (Shiftin Gears - 2009)
• Nueva York 12" (Malena's Nuyorican Mix) (Freestyle - 2008)
• Balkan Beat Box Split EP (Sol Selectas - 2008)
• Sabroso 12" (Freestyle - 2005)
• Roy Davis Jr. Split EP (Jamayka - 2005)
• More Consideration EP (Freestyle - 2005)
• Mister Sinister 12" (Jamayka - 2004)
• Root To The Fruit 12" (Freestyle - 2004)

7" Singles

• Afrika Man (Record Kicks – 2009)
• Soul Power (Record Kicks – 2008)
• Girls On Film (Record Kicks - 2008)
• The Magnificent Seven (VampiSoul - 2008)
• The Way Up (Tramp - 2007)
• Our Own Thing (Freestyle - 2007)
• Heaven (AfroKats - 2007)
• Each One Teach One (AfroKats - 2006)
• Donkey (Afrokings - 2002)

Remixes

• Afrika Man (Diesler Remix) (Record Kicks - 2009)
• Soul Power (Lack Of Afro Remix) (Record Kicks - 2008)
• Our Own Thing (Diesler Remix) (Freestyle - 2008)
• Sabroso (Sabo Remix) (Sol Selectas - 2007)
• Heaven (Ando Kal Remix) (AfroKats – 2007)
• Each One Teach One (White Mike Remix) (AfroKats – 2006)
• Mister Sinister (Word Of Mouth Remix) (Jamayka - 2005)
• Mama Don’t Want No Gun (BeatFanatic Remix) (Freestyle - 2005)
• Late Night Closed Eyes (White Mike Remix) (Freestyle - 2004)
• Candela (Ritchie Pitch Remix) (Freestyle - 2004)
• Mister Sinister (Faze Action Remix) (Jamayka - 2003)

Compilations

• "Soul Shaker Vol. 6" (Record Kicks – 2009)
• "Power Up The Planet" (Planetwize - 2009)
• "Funk Aid For Africa" (Dubspot - 2009)
• "Republica Afrobeat 3" (Love Monk - 2009)
• "Balearic Beach Sessions" (Cool Pool - 2009)
• "Afrobeat Club" (Union Square - 2009)
• "Rough Guide To Afrobeat Revival" (WMN - 2009)
• "Soul Shaker Vol. 5" (Record Kicks – 2008)
• "Funkanova" (Prominence – 2008)
• "Collected Singles Vol. 5" (Freestyle – 2008)
• "Collected Singles Vol. 2" (Freestyle – 2008)
• "Collected Singles Vol. 1" (Freestyle – 2008)
• "Nu Afro" (Wagram – 2007)
• "Soul Shaker Vol. 4" (Record Kicks – 2007)
• "The Afro Sound Of House" (Traxsource – 2007)
• "Timeless Anthems" (Jetstar – 2006)
• "Feel The Beat: Afrofunk" (Big Sur – 2006)
• "Freestyle Remixed" (Freestyle – 2006)
• "Loft Party" (Kinky Sweet – 2006)
• "Beginners Guide To Afro Lounge" (Nascente – 2006)
• "Afrique C’est Chic Box Set" (Kinky Sweet – 2005)
• "Even Nice Girls" (Public Release – 2005)
• "Frequent Flyer Mile High" (Kinky Sweet – 2005)
• "Afrique C’est Chic 3" (Slip ‘N Slide - 2005)
• "Future World Funk…On The Run" (Ether - 2005)
• "House Afrika" (House Afrika - 2004)
• "Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project" (Modiba - 2004)
• "One Love Vol. 1" (Pure Hemp - 2004)
• "African Xpress" (Shakti/Virgin - 2003)
• "Big Daddy Volume 3: The Showstopper" (Big Daddy - 2002)
• "Live From WFMU" (WFMU - 2002)

External links

• KOKOLO Official Homepage
• KOKOLO at MySpace]
• KOKOLO at Facebook]

References