Shakatak

Shakatak is a London-based jazz-funk group that forms in 1980 and remains active. The line-up includes George Anderson, Roger Odell, Jackie Rawe, Jill Saward, Bill Sharpe, Keith Winter and Nigel Wright. The group works across brit funk, jazz fusion, jazz-funk and smooth jazz.

Career and recordings

The band begins with the Bill Sharpe composition “Steppin’”, released in August 1980 on Polydor. Their first album, Drivin’ Hard, establishes a pattern of regular chart entries for the group’s singles and albums. “Easier Said Than Done” gives them the radio exposure that leads to their first top-twenty hit in the UK, and stays in the chart for seventeen weeks.

The follow-up single, “Night Birds”, becomes their first UK Top Ten hit. The album of the same name reaches number four, stays in the charts for twenty-eight weeks and becomes their first gold album. It also takes them to a number-one jazz album position in Japan and attracts interest in Europe and South America. “Night Birds” later appears in the feature film Away We Go and is used as a demonstration track on Casio piano keyboards, including the Casio CT-460.

Further albums and international success

Shakatak record Invitations and Out of This World in 1982 and 1983, which produce more chart hits. Jill Saward, previously of Fusion Orchestra, Brandy and Citizen Gang, becomes the lead singer for the fifth album, Down on the Street. Its title track and “Watching You” both achieve strong success. The group’s first live album follows, recorded in Tokyo and London.

The seventh album, Day by Day, shows songwriting contributions from all members. In 1986 the group wins the Silver Award at the Tokyo International Song Festival and is asked to produce an extra album each year for the Japanese market. This leads to the Japan-only albums Into the Blue and Golden Wings; the latter wins Best Instrumental Album at the Japanese Phonograph Record Association Awards for 1987.

Later work and ongoing activity

After returning focus to singles and broader album releases, the group issues Something Special and then Manic and Cool, which includes the nightclub and chart hit “Mr Manic & Sister Cool”. In the 1990s, Shakatak have two albums reach number one in the US contemporary jazz charts and win the Japanese Grammy for best international instrumental album for six consecutive years.

The group continues to tour internationally, with appearances at events including Jakjazz, the Jakarta International Jazz Festival, Bangkok, Hua Hin and Bratislava Jazz Day, and regular performances at the Billboard Clubs in Japan and Pizza Express Jazz Room in London.

Related work by members

George Anderson releases his second solo album, Expressions, following Positivity, and handles the writing, arranging and production on the record. Bill Sharpe also collaborates with American jazz pianist Don Grusin on Geography and Trans Atlantica.