Based in Asheville, NC, Afromotive is helping to start a new wave of uptempo afrobeat music– fusing West African rhythms, song forms, and instrumentation with funk, improvisation, and straight-ahead dance beats.
Adama Dembele of Afromotive. Photo by Jon Leidel
Adding to the experience is thirty-third generation djembe player Adama Dembele from Cote d‘Ivoire. He has toured several continents, performing with various major acts such Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Affou Keita, Sogona Djata and many others. These traditional West African rhythms combined with a mentality that moves beyond pure traditionalism and into new realms of musical possibilities is what Afromotive brings to its audiences. It’s a sound that crosses musical and ethnic boundaries.
On their debut album SCARE TACTICS, Afromotive takes the raw energy of their live performance into the studio. This album is an elaboration on the language of afrobeat music, yielding a truly unique sound that is rooted in tradition. Afromotive also released their single, SIMBOin 2009.
Afromotive provides unique exciting music to “dive into,” describes Afromotive bass player Ryan Reardon, because it is fun to listen to and dance with a strong rhythm and groove. “There is no separation,” he said. “If the music is playing, you’re dancing. It’s one in the same. We bring a dance show.”
Called, “an explosive, performance-based group that does more than just play a show. The Afromotive strive to create an event.” ~ Matthew Godbey- Charleston Post & Courier
Afromotive is: Adama Dembele: djembe, congas, timbales, vocals; Ryan Reardon: bass, vocals; Adam Chase: drumset; Ben Hovey: trumpet, synth; Jason Moore: tenor sax; Justin Powell: keyboards; and Andrew Robinson: guitar, vocals.
Can’t wait for this show! Afromotive is terrific!