WoMama

Bio:

BIO

AFRO-FUSION DANCE ORCHESTRA! WoMama delivers a bubbling polyrhythmic brew of West African, Calypso, Samba, Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Rock and Funk. Their catchy, high-energy form of fusion employs traditional instruments and songs along with rootsy grooves to make bodies move.

BUZZ

"...a stunning combination of musical cultures from around the globe." -Jen Savage, Arcata Eye

"The small room quickly became crowded with fans dancing with frenzied abandon to hot African beats... The party epitomized WoMama: a band where fusion is everything...From the music, which combines calypso, samba, bluegrass, reggae and rock 'n' roll, to the mix of ... partying combined with the dozens of plants that lined the stage and the hall, the party was about a fusion of ages, cultures and peoples." - Daniele Holt, The Lumberjack

"A nine piece action band that is the Afro Galactic Dance Orchestra 'WoMama'...will take you from Humboldt to West Africa in about 15 minutes. The power of this band is so awesome that it if you are sitting when they start, you won't be for long.

...it is best to highlight the 'Booty Shaking', as that is what you and everybody else in the club will be doing. It is impossible to do anything else. They make you want to dance, dance, dance.

...this band is very close, with an almost family atmosphere as they set the stage to begin the explosion that they like to call a performance...you have got to experience this band in person to feel the passion and energy that this group puts forth...it is almost infectious!

They have explored the origins of African music, dabbled in Brazilian song and dance, and created tunes with a Caribbean beat; all in search of creating some of the most danceable music that can be created." -Ron Thunman, Times-Standard

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Member Since:

January 30, 2006

Members:

Joe Bishop

djembe, steel pans, balafon, dun duns

Jesse Jonathon

vocals, balafon, melodica, pans, dun duns, repinique

Bryan Osper

electric guitar, vocals, balafon, pans, dun duns

Ken Lawrence

bass, vocals, lemons

Greg Huffman

dun duns, congas, blocks and bells, shekere, clave

Oliver Crane

congas, djembe, shekere, dun duns, clave, blocks and bells

Kevin Repp

trap set

Melody Walker

vocals, shekere, pans, clave, tamborim, bells

Lauren Smith

vocals, pans, dun duns, cabasa, tamborim, bells

Influences:

Sounds Like:

Calypso, West African, Samba, Afro-Cuban, Funk, Rock, Soul and a little bit of South Indian. But instead of throwing it all into the blender, WoMama is like fine fusion cuisine, with complex compositions and bold presentations, respecting the raw elements while tying the musical plate together with their own special sauce. ..

Record Label:

Fire Planet