Kokoroko

Named for the Nigerian Urhobo word meaning “hard to break,” the London-based septet Kokoroko are “masters of African fusion, intent on bridging the divide between young people and African popular music of old” (GRAMMY.com). They debut at SFJAZZ with music from their latest Brownswood Recordings release, Tuff Times Never Last — a beguiling mix of Afrobeat and modern funk.  

Formed in 2014 by trumpeter/vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist Onome Edgeworth through a shared love of African Highlife music, Kokoroko became a critical part of the surging London jazz scene in the mid 2010s. They gained international fame following the inclusion of their signature song “Abusey Junction” on British tastemaking DJ Gilles Peterson’s 2019 compilation album We Out Here — a wildly successful showcase for the scene’s greatest artists that set the stage for their Best Group win at the 2020 Urban Music Awards in the UK.  

Following their 2019 eponymous debut and 2022’s Could We Be More, Tuff Times Never Last is the band’s most accomplished statement to date that takes sonic cues from their greatest influences including Loose Ends, Don Blackman, Common, Sly & Robbie, William Onyeabor, Patrice Rushen, Ofori Amponsah, and Cymande. The album’s 11 powerful tracks run the gamut of expression, exploring themes of togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss, and above all, perseverance. 

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