BLK JKS: Photos, New Music
Posted: July 18th, 2009 | Author: kamau | Filed under: music, photography | Comments Off
Images I took at a BLK JKS’ performance at the Knitting Factory on June 2nd, part of the inaugural Afrobeat Music Festival. Musically they borrow more from the indie rock scene and from Jimi Hendrix (they use tube amps!) than from Fela Kuti; to say their music is Afrobeat would be a stretch. BLK JKS seem to be pushing the sonic boundary of “African” music, so maybe it was fitting to have them on the bill there, to stretch minds beyond the antipathy many black folk have towards rock music.
Loud, fuzzy, feedback-filled guitars are not new to African popular music. Osibisa pioneered a pan-African style of jazz funk called Afro Rock which was a blend of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Santana and Fela Kuti. BLK JKS’ new song “Molalatladi” (track below) very much in the tradition of Afro Rock grafts current rock influences onto strong African sonic textures.
New BLK JKS track “Molalatladi” from their upcoming album “After Robots” due out in September.
BLK JKS are:
Lindani Buthelezi: guitar/vocals
Tshepang Ramoba: Drums/vocals
Molefi Makananise: Bass
Mpulelemo Mcata: Guitar
Images taken by your humble servant: More here.
