Loba African Jazz Trio

Rank #25 St Paul, MN Jazz / African music / World

About

Members: Loba Akou(guitars,vocals, n'goni,cora), Serge Akou (bass)

Sounds Like: Wes Montgomery, ottmar Liebert, George Benson, Earl Klugh, Loketo

Label: TJN Records

Bio: Biography

LOBA AKOU
Loba is a guitarist from Cote D'Ivoire, at a young age he studied classical guitar and later on jazz music. He explores african guitar and music. He grew up listening to african music ,rock and jazz . While in Africa he was busy making research in the music there, fascinated ... See Full Bio

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Status

: I posted a new photo to Facebook http://t.co/ok0F777BEg

Press

“Guitarist Loba Akou plays in Birmingham”

— Chris McCarus, MICHIGANNOW.ORG

“Loba guitarist of the world [- Hide ] African Jazz Trio at the AQ, Thur. & Fri, Dec. 11 & 12, 2009 Loba Akou - g Serge Akou - b Stokely Williams - d Review of show: The African Jazz Trio did not disappoint. Serge Akou was rock solid on his cool-looking fretless bass — nothing fancy, just laying down a firm foundation and soloing with almost leisurely restraint. Stokley Williams seemed to be feeling out his bandmates and the music for awhile, before he exploded into arrays of polyrhythms, jaw-dropping technical virtuosity, and brilliant fills behind Loba Akou's guitar. And what a guitar player he was. I said to both Loba and Stokley during a break that the band was not really a trio: Loba with his acoustic folk guitar, electric jazz guitar, and electronic effects guitar a la Hendrix and Beck, was like a one man front line of three instruments. Sometimes he had two guitars strapped to his body, one on his back and one in his hand, allowing him to move back and for ”

— Jeff Hansen, Twin Cities Jazz Scene

“March 4-5, African Jazz Trio ($12). Led by gifted guitarist Loba Akou, the African Jazz Trio “plays everything from traditional African music on native stringed instruments to modern, progressive guitar jazz with reverb squacking and singing the amplifier” (Jefferson Hansen). A native of the Ivory Coast, Loba learned classical guitar, then fell under the influences of Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and Wes Montgomery, as well as traditional African music. Brother and bassist Serge Akou learned the music of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Weather Report, joining his brother’s band and, with Loba, having the opportunity to play with Memphis Slim. Now based in Minnesota and usually in the company of Mint Condition drummer Stokely Williams, the African Jazz Trio brings an exciting mix of acoustic and electric, traditional and cutting edge. Jeff Hansen”

— Jeff Hansen, Twin Cities Jazz Scene

“ It's time to welcome back the Loba African Jazz Trio, -- the pleasure's all ours. The LAJT features two brothers from the Cote d'Ivoire -- Loba Akou on electric and acoustic guitars, and Serge Akou on fretless electric bass. Tom Surowicz March 4-5, African Jazz Trio ($12). Led by gifted guitarist Loba Akou, the African Jazz Trio “plays everything from traditional African music on native stringed instruments to modern, progressive guitar jazz with reverb squacking and singing the amplifier” (Jefferson Hansen). A native of the Ivory Coast, Loba learned classical guitar, then fell under the influences of Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, John McLaughlin and Wes Montgomery, as well as traditional African music. Brother and bassist Serge Akou, joining his brother’s band and, with Loba, having the opportunity to play with Memphis Slim. Now based in Minnesota , the African Jazz Trio brings an exciting mix of cutting edge. Jeff Hansen”

— Jeff Hansen, Twin Cities Jazz Scene

All Press