Akoya Afrobeat, New York’s own scintillating and pioneering Afrobeat scenesters have just released their second album, P.D.P. (President Dey Pass.) Fully representing the instrumentation and capacity of a true African-style super group, P.D.P. is a landmark within the living legacy of Afrobeat founder Fela Kuti and his music. Active on the New York music scene since 2002, Akoya’s sound has been ruling the dance floors, at home and abroad. Fueled by infectious, all-consuming percussive grooves and a warm, pulsating rhythm section, the band delivers the knockout punch with a massive horn section and soulful vocals. All this is captured on the group’s latest release. P.D.P. is a vast musical landscape of African funk and soul. Each selection represents a slow-cooked cumulus of traditional West-African groove interwoven with the advanced harmonies, technical demands and the pure grit of the New York jazz scene. Never straying far from the roots, lead vocalist Kaleta lends his talents and experience, having recorded and performed with Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 for over a decade. The album as a whole represents years of composition and meticulous arrangement to stay true to the revolutionary music that dominated both African and American airwaves in the 70’s and 80’s. Other highlights include original cover art by Fela’s illustrious personal artist and designer Lemi Ghariokwu and an extended feature by saxophonist Cedric “Im” Brooks, the most prominent living reedman of Jamaica. Musical roots notwithstanding, P.D.P. forges new ground in many directions, yet still retains the central quality that bridges all tastes - Akoya Afrobeat plays music to which the world dances. Deep cyclical compositions with a prominent backbeat is the hallmark of the music and with razor-sharp transitions and melodies, listeners are constantly surprised and elated. Among many notable international festivals, the group performed before thousands at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Floydfest and Joshua Tree Music Festival. Such shows have drawn massive ovation and have received glowing critical acclaim. P.D.P. is a concentrated effort to capture this wonderful live energy only a 13+ member ensemble can produce, and the result is this inspirational recording. The musicians you hear on P.D.P. represent 5 continents, bound together by a common love for this music. They are: Kaleta – Vocals, Percussion, Yoshi Takemasa – Congas, Percussion, Gabriel Hays – Keys, Yoshio “Tony” Kobayashi – Drums, Felix Chen – Bass, Jay Gogan – Guitar, Steve Lustig – Guitar, Ryan Blotnick – Guitar, Nikhil P. Yerawadekar – Guitar, Kelly Pratt – Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Jeff Pierce – Trumpet, Duke Mseleku – Tenor Sax, Will Jones – Baritone Sax, Jared Tankel – Baritone Sax, Marquel Dionne – Backing Vocals, Darlene O’Keefe – Backing Vocals, Carlos Icaza – Sticks Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.