Musicians get bitten by the bug. That bug being one particular genre or style that soon takes over, and from that point forward your musical trajectory goes in the direction of whatever genre that bug carries.
It may be bluegrass or jazz, acid rock or barbershop, or in the case of guitar player Danny Quinlan and drummer Bradley Hoessle, its Fela Kuti-inspired Afro-beat and the music of West Africa.
Hoessle and Quinlan are members of The Afrobeatniks, a local band that can at times have as many as 10 players, creating a sound based on the rhythms of Afro-beat, while also charging into guitar-driven funk, Latin and rock.
The Afrobeatniks will celebrate the release of their new record “Wontanara” with a show Saturday at the Mancos Brewing Co.
Rural communities of Southwest Colorado, or anywhere in the states, arguably aren’t jam-packed with musicians looking to form a band inspired by the centuries-old rhythms and music of West Africa; inspiration, however, can be found anywhere, thus, bands inspired to make music uncommon to the average listener can be birthed anywhere.
Quinlan’s interest in the style came from taking an African music course in college, a class that resulted in him going down a musical wormhole that revealed a wealth of new-to-him sounds.
Hoessle was turned onto West African drumming while living in California. The formation of this band came about after Hoessle sat in with Boulder band The Motet, who were in Durango playing a show that featured the music of Fela Kuti. The Afrobeatniks came about soon after, the formation being organic and DIY from day one.
“Being in that energy, I said I wanted to be in an Afro-beat band. No one locally was inviting me to be in any bands because I wasn’t known as a musician here. So, I just said we should start our own. And that’s what we did,” Hoessle said. “It took like five or six years to find players who were interested in learning, so we had to figure it out ourselves and help people understand that it’s not jazz; it’s different.”
“Wontanara,” and their live shows as well, are just as much educational as they are entertaining, as the band tries to speak on the historical aspects of the music they play.
“Every time we have a show, we talk up Fela Kuti. I hope that people are exploring him, because, man, there is so much great music,” Quinlan said. “There is a whole political aspect of what he was doing, just bringing people into a higher awareness of what’s going on.”
Recorded at “Scooters Place” with local recording engineer Scott Smith, the album captures the intensity and energy this band is known for with its live shows. Quinlan’s guitar hints at psychedelic rock, while the horn section packs a rock-and-funk punch. The rhythms, powered by drums joined by congas and djembes, are what drives the whole thing, the result being an internationally influenced dose of historic rhythms in a package of upbeat dance music. It’s music that honors the traditions of West Africa while also showcasing styles of the other members of The Afrobeatniks. Outside of this band, the players moonlight in rock, jazz, Latin and funk bands; that’s all part of the Afrobeatnik sound.
The Fela Kuti influence is the foundation, but that foundation also gives way to sounds inspired by Latin percussionists and rock drummers or guitar greats like Hendrix and Santana.
“Half the tracks have some West African percussion breaks, and the rhythm structures are based on that, so there is a nod to tradition, but it’s definitely our music,” Hoessle said. “A lot of our songs are heavier guitar because of Danny’s influence from Jimi Hendrix or other rock guitar players, so there’s some basis in tradition, but more in the African rock, drum heavy and rhythm heavy genre. It’s hard to describe. We play Latin tunes, we play a little reggae, cumbia, and we jam on other stuff, too.”
liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
If you go
What:
Afrobeat, jazz and funk with The Afrobeatniks.
When:
6 p.m. Saturday.
Where:
Mancos Brewing Co., 484 E. Frontage Rd., Mancos.
Tickets:
$5.
More information:
Call 533-9761.
