Jungle By Night

Jungle By Night

Jungle By Night is a Dutch group from the Netherlands, based in Amsterdam. It is a nine-piece ensemble made up of Jac van Exter, Pieter van Exter, Bo Floor, Gino Groeneveld, Sonny Groeneveld, Pyke Pasman, Peter Peskens, Tienson Smeets, Younes Tool and Ko Zandvliet. The band is formed by friends, family members and former strangers.

Style and influences

The group draws on music outside the mainstream and combines Afrobeat from Nigeria with jazz from Ethiopia, played with a Western rock approach. Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astatke is a direct influence on its repertoire, and Afrobeat figure Fela Kuti is another important reference point.

Releases and early activity

Jungle By Night first releases the track ET on 7-inch vinyl through Kindred Spirits rather than on CD or MP3. The band also releases a live EP on the same label.

Live work and appearances

The group plays at festivals including The Great Wide Open and appears at venues such as Melkweg, Rotown, OT301, Pacific Park and Heineken Music Hall. It also supports John Legend and The Roots at Heineken Music Hall and performs as support for Mulatu Astatke. The band appears at Paradiso for the release event for its first track, and later performs in Paris at Alimentation Générale. It is also featured by Radio 6, 22Tracks.com and the television programme De Wereld Draait Door.

Reception

Jungle By Night attracts media and promoter attention after the Paradiso release event, and its live performances help establish the band as a notable act within the Netherlands.