Loba Ensemble/ African Jazz Trio

March 4-5, African Jazz Trio ($12). Led by gifted guitarist Loba Akou, the African Jazz Trio “plays everything from traditional African music on native stringed instruments to modern, progressive guitar jazz with reverb squacking and singing the amplifier” (Jefferson Hansen). A native of the Ivory Coast, Loba learned classical guitar, then fell under the influences of Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and Wes Montgomery, as well as traditional African music. Brother and bassist Serge Akou learned the music of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Weather Report, joining his brother’s band and, with Loba, having the opportunity to play with Memphis Slim. Now based in Minnesota and usually in the company of Mint Condition drummer Stokely Williams, the African Jazz Trio brings an exciting mix of acoustic and electric, traditional and cutting edge.
Jeff Hansen - Jazz Police

March 4-5, African Jazz Trio ($12). Led by gifted guitarist Loba Akou, the African Jazz Trio “plays everything from traditional African music on native stringed instruments to modern, progressive guitar jazz with reverb squacking and singing the amplifier” (Jefferson Hansen). A native of the Ivory Coast, Loba learned classical guitar, then fell under the influences of Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and Wes Montgomery, as well as traditional African music. Brother and bassist Serge Akou learned the music of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Weather Report, joining his brother’s band and, with Loba, having the opportunity to play with Memphis Slim. Now based in Minnesota and usually in the company of Mint Condition drummer Stokely Williams, the African Jazz Trio brings an exciting mix of acoustic and electric, traditional and cutting edge.
Jeff Hansen - Jazz Police

March 4-5, African Jazz Trio ($12). Led by gifted guitarist Loba Akou, the African Jazz Trio “plays everything from traditional African music on native stringed instruments to modern, progressive guitar jazz with reverb squacking and singing the amplifier” (Jefferson Hansen). A native of the Ivory Coast, Loba learned classical guitar, then fell under the influences of Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and Wes Montgomery, as well as traditional African music. Brother and bassist Serge Akou learned the music of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Weather Report, joining his brother’s band and, with Loba, having the opportunity to play with Memphis Slim. Now based in Minnesota and usually in the company of Mint Condition drummer Stokely Williams, the African Jazz Trio brings an exciting mix of acoustic and electric, traditional and cutting edge.
Jeff Hansen - Jazz Police

It's time to welcome back the Loba African Jazz Trio, an international ensemble that only seems to play regularly in St. Paul -- the pleasure's all ours. The LAJT features two brothers from the Cote d'Ivoire -- Loba Akou on electric and acoustic guitars, and Serge Akou on fretless electric bass. They really mix it up musically -- you'll get straight jazz, contemporary jazz, homeland Afro rhythms, a bit of funk, and some rock pyrotechnics. Tom Surowicz - Tom Surowicz

"The music is called west African jazz and it is a unique mix of the very old and the quite modern"said Library Director John Martin".Many residents heard the group nperform at the City Ethnic Festival in July and the response then was great.This is a very excitingkind of music and we're pleased to present it - Oak Park journal

"The music is called west African jazz and it is a unique mix of the very old and the quite modern"said Library Director John Martin".Many residents heard the group nperform at the City Ethnic Festival in July and the response then was great.This is a very excitingkind of music and we're pleased to present it - Oak Park journal

African Jazz Trio at the AQ, Thur. & Fri, Dec. 11 & 12, 2009

Loba Akou - g
Serge Akou - b
Stokely Williams - d

Review of show:

The African Jazz Trio did not disappoint. Serge Akou was rock solid on his cool-looking fretless bass — nothing fancy, just laying down a firm foundation and soloing with almost leisurely restraint. Stokley Williams seemed to be feeling out his bandmates and the music for awhile, before he exploded into arrays of polyrhythms, jaw-dropping technical virtuosity, and brilliant fills behind Loba Akou's guitar.



And what a guitar player he was. I said to both Loba and Stokley during a break that the band was not really a trio: Loba with his acoustic folk guitar, electric jazz guitar, and electronic effects guitar a la Hendrix and Beck, was like a one man front line of three instruments. Sometimes he had two guitars strapped to his body, one on his back and one in his hand, allowing him to move back and forth quickly between them.



In most songs, he soloed on all three, and he became a different personality on each one.

With the folk guitar, to which he often hummed along, he soloed in a tight, circumscribed fashion that could be called "rural" if the word is understood positively. With the electric jazz guitar he was highly sophisticated and urbane, in the manner of the early Wes Montgomery. On the effects guitar the band became a power trio, with Loba providing sustain and reverb, the fingers of both hands dancing on the oh so sensitive strings.



There is not another like Loba. We need more recordings of him and this fine group.

_____________

Preview:

Due to their being at the crossroads of many cultures, I find that Africans are often the most well-rounded and multi-faceted of all jazz musicians.

Frequently, they know something of the European music of the former colonial power. They know their own 'tribal music'. They are aware of the music of other African 'tribes' and countries. They are aware of the jazz tradition coming out of America. It makes for a unique and stirring brew.

Loba, not surprisingly, has studied Western classical guitar. He is familiar with many indigenous African musics. He loves Jimi Hendrix and other rock and blues guitarists. And he knows and loves the work of Django Reinhardt and Kenny Burrell. His is a unique sound, coming from a variety of angles.


Loba Akou - g
Serge Akou - b
Stokely Williams - d

Review of show:

The African Jazz Trio did not disappoint. Serge Akou was rock solid on his cool-looking fretless bass — nothing fancy, just laying down a firm foundation and soloing with almost leisurely restraint. Stokley Williams seemed to be feeling out his bandmates and the music for awhile, before he exploded into arrays of polyrhythms, jaw-dropping technical virtuosity, and brilliant fills behind Loba Akou's guitar.



And what a guitar player he was. I said to both Loba and Stokley during a break that the band was not really a trio: Loba with his acoustic folk guitar, electric jazz guitar, and electronic effects guitar a la Hendrix and Beck, was like a one man front line of three instruments. Sometimes he had two guitars strapped to his body, one on his back and one in his hand, allowing him to move back and forth quickly between them.



In most songs, he soloed on all three, and he became a different personality on each one.

With the folk guitar, to which he often hummed along, he soloed in a tight, circumscribed fashion that could be called "rural" if the word is understood positively. With the electric jazz guitar he was highly sophisticated and urbane, in the manner of the early Wes Montgomery. On the effects guitar the band became a power trio, with Loba providing sustain and reverb, the fingers of both hands dancing on the oh so sensitive strings.



There is not another like Loba. We need more recordings of him and this fine group.

_____________

Preview:

Due to their being at the crossroads of many cultures, I find that Africans are often the most well-rounded and multi-faceted of all jazz musicians.

Frequently, they know something of the European music of the former colonial power. They know their own 'tribal music'. They are aware of the music of other African 'tribes' and countries. They are aware of the jazz tradition coming out of America. It makes for a unique and stirring brew.

Loba, not surprisingly, has studied Western classical guitar. He is familiar with many indigenous African musics. He loves Jimi Hendrix and other rock and blues guitarists. And he knows and loves the work of Django Reinhardt and Kenny Burrell. His is a unique sound, coming from a variety of angles.


Loba Akou - g
Serge Akou - b
Stokely Williams - d

Review of show:

The African Jazz Trio did not disappoint. Serge Akou was rock solid on his cool-looking fretless bass — nothing fancy, just laying down a firm foundation and soloing with almost leisurely restraint. Stokl - TWINCITIESJAZZSCENE

Friday, Dec 11 - Saturday, Dec 12, African Jazz Trio: Loba & Serge Akou, Stokely Williams (9pm, $10)
African Jazz Trio with Loba Akou, Serge Akou, Stokely Williams
Guitarist Loba Akou and bassist Serge Akou hail from Côte D’Ivoire on the West African coast. On stage, they bring traditional African rhythms and sounds together with contemporary jazz.The Akous are joined by Stokely Williams on percussion. Stokely is well known for his work with funky, modern R&B powerhouse Mint Condition – he has also dazzled listeners in many other musical settings, making this match-up something to anticipate.
- Artist Quarter