Chicago Afrobeat: Chicago Afrobeat Project

The self-titled debut from Chicago Afrobeat Project is now distributed exclusively by Southern Music Distribution after a limited release in late 2005. As Chicago's only established Afrobeat band, CAbP was nominated as Best African Artist in the Chicago Music Awards (CMA) for the last three years and in 2006 was nominated for the CMA’s “Award of Honor for Contribution to World Beat Music”. Chicago Afrobeat Project is currently working on their second release, due out later this year. The self-titled CD includes musical contributions from Fareed Haque of Garaj Mahal, hip-hop artist Diverse, and world renowned cora player Morikeba Kouyate in this original re-hashing of Afrobeat. Other notable Chicago guest musicians have included Howard Levy (Bela Fleck), Paul Wertico (7-time Grammy winner), and Jeff Parker (Tortoise). Nigerian-born Fela Kuti popularized Afrobeat in the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s. High-energy percussion, an improvised feel, and the fusion of jazz, funk and traditional African rhythms mark it. The overt political stances of Kuti’s work does not take center stage in CAbP's material, as the group focuses mainly on drawing in the audience through the music. Social consciousness is nonetheless evident in CAbP, as a percentage of all album sales benefit Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria (JAAIDS) (www.nigeria-aids.org). Chicago Afrobeat Project performs more than 100 dates each year at clubs and festivals across the country. With a lineup ranging from 7-12 musicians and two dancers, CAbP’s concerts draw in their audience with relentless rhythmic interplay and musical dynamics punctuated by the horn section’s crisp lines. The lineup features keyboards, guitar, tenor and baritone saxophones, trombone, bass, drums, congas, talking drums, and percussion. Their touring schedule for 2007 is as extensive as always, with dates including New York, NY; Saint Louis, MO; Little Rock, AR; Memphis, TN; Champaign and Peoria, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Salt Lake City, UT; Fort Collins, CO; Milwaukee and Green Bay, WI; and multiple dates in California and Chicago