The Bongolian

The Bongolian

The Bongolian is the solo project of London multi-instrumentalist Nasser Bouzida, also known as Nass, who is active alongside Big Boss Man. He works under the name as a one-man studio project, writing, performing and recording the material himself, with a sound built around funk, Latin soul, soul, jazz and percussion-heavy rhythms. The project is associated with Blow Up Records.

Style and recording approach

The Bongolian focuses on heavy funk and Latin soul, with a strong emphasis on drums, percussion, bongos, Hammond organ and keyboards. Bouzida draws on funk, soul and jazz influences, and the recordings are built around grinding percussion and heavy bongo rhythms. He handles the instruments himself in the studio, while the live setting adds other players.

Releases and live line-up

The debut single is Bongohead, followed by the album The Bongolian, which appears in early 2003. The project’s third album, Outer Bongolia, appears in 2008. For live work, the band settles into Dariusz Slusarczyk on congas and percussion, Reinis Axelssonon on drums, Jerry Haglund on guitar, and Trevor Harding on bass, with Bouzida on organ, keyboards, timbalis and bongos. Harding is also a veteran of Big Boss Man and Skooby.

Performances and touring

The Bongolian’s first live appearance is a headline slot at the Rennes Jazz Festival in France. The project then plays further dates in Europe and the UK, including a sold-out hometown show at London’s Metro Club. In 2005, The Bongolian tours with Holly Golightly in the UK, the USA and Germany, appearing both as support and as part of her band, and also records with her for a later album.