KonKoma

KonKoma is a London-based Afro-funk group rooted in 1970s Ghana. The project is formed by saxophonist Max Grunhard and producer Ben Lamdin of Nostalgia 77, with the aim of building a band around two Ghanaian musicians, Alfred Bannerman and Emmanuel Rentzos.

Line-up

The group includes Emmanuel Rentzos on vocals and keyboards, Reginald “Jojo” Yates on vocals, mbira, sepriwa and percussion, Alfred “Kari” Bannerman on guitar and vocals, Nii Tagoe on vocals and percussion, Jose Joyette on drums, Derrick McIntyre on bass guitar, Scott Baylis on trumpet, Max Grunhard on alto and baritone saxophone, and Ben Hadwen on baritone saxophone and flute.

Background

Alfred Bannerman is a founding member of the teenage Afro-rock band Boombaya, which appears on the Soundway compilation Ghana Special, and he has been a fixture in the UK African music scene for more than 20 years. Emmanuel Rentzos has played alongside Bannerman since the early 1970s, when he was lead singer in the Ghanaian group Santrofi’s band. After Bannerman and Rentzos join the project, Nii Tagoe and Reginald “Jojo” Yates also become part of the group.

Recording

The album is recorded by Benedic Lamdin at Ironworks Studios in Brighton, Fishmarket Studios in Willesden and Wax Studios in Shoreditch. It is mixed by Mike Pelanconi at Ironworks Studios in Brighton, and produced by Max Grunhard, Benedic Lamdin and KonKoma.