Dinner Music: Jembaa Groove
easy, tender and playful funk with west african and american jazz influence
Jembaa Groove is a Berlin based Afro-Soul group founded in late 2020 by Yannick Nolting and Eric Owusu. Though the band is newly formed, their musical roots run far and deep. After living in Mali and Brazil, Nolting completed a jazz degree at the Lisbon Music College. Owusu was born and raised in Ghana, the heart of Highlife and West-African music. His musical ambition led him to leave home at fourteen, landing in Lagos and eventually building a reputation as an accomplished percussionist in the scene. Together, they work to create a thoughtful and effortless sound representing the fusion of sixties and seventies West African Highlife and American soul and jazz. The group’s aesthetic vision is to avoid overly-produced commercial arrangements while merging driving bass grooves and steady drum patterns with fresh horn lines and catchy melodies. Nolting has put it more simply: “To us authenticity is key.”
Susuma was released in 2022 and strongly favors the fusion of their backgrounds, from the easy listening nature of early American jazz to the smooth, melodic vocals of Highlife. The album begins minimally with Aawoya, a soft and tender track that supports Owusu’s silky voice with light bongos and brass. Bassa Bassa, the first track the group composed together, takes on a funkier bass line and a more upbeat, yet slightly melancholic, melody. Nonetheless, it’s a track that makes you sway in your seat. The album is perfectly suited for candlelight — wine glass in hand, slightly sexy outfit and that feeling of living squarely in the moment.
Enjoy.
Susuma - Jembaa Groove:
Pair this album with:
Lemoncello Spritz. Lemon, sparkling wine and bubbly water. Add a very charming glass and it’s an entire weekend vibe.
Grilled Pizza With Grilled Shiitake, Sopressata, and Parmesan Recipe. I’ve only had grilled pizza few times, but there’s something about the char on the crust that is unreal. This recipe calls for shrooms, cheese and meat, but really you can throw anything on there.
Tulips. I just am very interested in tulips right now and think they look gorgeous. A very nice thing to have around while cooking.
Have a lovely weekend.
🔸🔸🔸
Every weekend, I send out a curated playlist, an entire menu of weekend recipes and an ~aesthetics~ mood board to subscribers. Into it?