Berlin based international outfit Jembaa Groove come forth
with a powerful and poly-rhythmical debut album built around
the West African highlife tradition and the spirit of
classic US jazz and soul. Susuma is set for release on Agogo
Records, March 18th.
Delving into a wealth of influences from across both sides
of the Atlantic as well as the Berlin scene - hip hop and
jazz - the group’s musical vitality, journeying philosophy
and indeed their band name, comes from the energy and
spirituality of their take, and on the rhythms that feed the
groove. Utilising the musical techniques, cultural context,
and spirit of Ghanaian highlife they are as much influenced
by the creativity of highlife pioneer Ebo Taylor and Dr. K.
Gyasi as they are to the US groove machines of say Charles
Bradley or Lee Fields.
The conception of Jembaa Groove happened late 2020, when
band leaders Yannick Nolting (bass, composer, producer) and
Eric Owusu (percussion, vocals, songwriter) met while
picking up their young sons from the local playground. They
soon realised they shared a mutual love of West-African
music and it wasn’t long before they were jamming together
in the studio and a special magic was brewing.
Yannick is from Germany and spent his formative years
producing and playing with Lusophone artists in Lisbon.


Eric is from Ghana (although he spent a large part of his
life living in Nigeria)and has musically grown as a reputed
percussionist working, recording and performing live with
artists like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, and Orlando Julius (who
he lived with whilst living in Accra).
Jembaa Groove embraces the warm and vintage elements of soul
music and the baritone chords of 60’s & 70’s black America
yet their core rhythmical foundations are from highlife.
Born and developed in 20th century Ghana, highlife is a form
of music from West Africa that combines African rhythms and
traditional Akan music, with added western instruments like
the guitar and horns. This melding of the sound of the west,
provided for the smoother sounding qualities within
highlife, where jazz and blues would offer new branches of
the genre - a perfect departure point for Jembaa Groove.
Kick-started by Bassa Bassa (released in the summer of
2021), the first track Yannick and Eric ever wrote together,
Susuma hails a message of positivity and prosperity,
essential to the essence of Jembaa Groove. From Bassa
Bassa’s call to action to the inspirational message of
Mokole, where the listener is reminded that life is not
always easy and not something to be taken for granted, each
track embodies its own purpose and has a tale to tell.
Adesane, featuring New York guitarist Raja Kassis
(Antibalas, Seun Kuti) perfectly encapsulates their concept
of groove - the meld of energy and balance. The way the
melody interacts with that groove creates something the band
say is “beyond their control”, incorporating silvery horns,
up-beat percussion and with a message of tolerance. This is
in comparison to their latest single Mokole with its pitched
down tempo and delicate melodies.
Comprising seven band members, hailing from various corners
of the world, their practice sessions are driven by a wild
mix of languages and cultural expression. Listening to
Susuma, you can hear Eric singing in Ga, (one of several
languages spoken in the city of Accra, Ghana), Yoruba and
Twi and pidgin English.
“Jembaa Groove is all about positive vibes. We try to
promote positivity, togetherness and respect. But also try
to remind others as well as ourselves that destiny lies in
our hands, and that you can't take things for granted. If
you want something, go for it, but respect the people!”

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