Zongo Junction was a nine-piece instrumental

Afrobeat Afrobeat (also known as Afrofunk) is a West African music genre, fusing influences from Nigerian (such as Yoruba) and Ghanaian (such as highlife) music, with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex i ...

band based in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. The band was formed in 2010. The members of Zongo Junction stretch the Afrobeat style to fit their musical interests, combining elements of

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

Talking Heads Talking Heads were an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1975.Talking Heads

, and

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerians, Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre t ...

to create their own version of afrobeat. Zongo Junction released their five-song debut EP ''Thieves!'' in 2010. The band may have adopted the name Zongo Junction from a bus stop of the same name in Madina, a suburb of Ghana's capital, Accra.

The band

*Charlie Ferguson - Drums *Morgan Greenstreet - Percussion *Jordan Hyde - Guitar *David Lizmi - Bass *Ross Edwards - Keyboards *Adam Schatz - Tenor saxophone *Matt Nelson - Tenor saxophone * Jonah Parzen-Johnson - Baritone saxophone *Kevin Moehringer - Trombone *Aaron Rockers - Trumpet

Discography

* ''Big Sir'' - Single (2015) *''No Discount'' (Electric Cowbell Records, 2014) *''The Van That Got Away'' - Single (Primary Records, 2012) *''Thieves!'' (2010)

References

{{authority control Musical groups from Brooklyn Afrobeat musicians