The Soto Koto Band

Last updated
The Soto Koto Band
Origin Gambia
GenresJazz
Oko Drammeh Oko Drammeh, African Music Festival producer. Smile Portrait.jpg
Oko Drammeh

The Soto Koto Band is an African jazz band. Their music is primarily influenced by the music of Gambia. A large ensemble, the band performs on wind instruments, string instruments, and percussion. It was formed by Oko Drammeh, a US-based Gambian world music DJ and festival promoter. [1]

An album, Gumbay Dance!, was released in 1991 by Abdel Kabirr & The Soto Koto Band. [2] It was issued on the Higher Octave's [3] World sublabel, as were two following albums. [2] Kabirr is a West African vocalist. [4] A self-titled album, The Soto Koto Band, was released in 1993. [2] [1] One of the album's tracks, "Korajulo", was included on a compilation album issued by The Nature Company around the same time. In 1994, [1] a third album, Mandingo Beat, was released. [2] It features Gambian vocalist Paps Touray. [3]

Their song, "Kelefa", was a Recommended Track in CMJ New Music Report in 1999. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Soto Koto Band". AllMusic.com. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Soto Koto Band". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Higher Octave Music". Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 13. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 26, 1994. p. 85.
  4. Harris, Craig. "The Soto Koto Band Artist Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  5. "Various Artists: World Fusion". CMJ New Music Report . August 23, 1999. p. 29.