Concerts in the Park
Zongo All-Stars
June 1, 2017
- Genre:
- Afro - Caribbean Dance
- Website:
- zongoallstars.com/
Voted BEST LOCAL BAND in SLO County FOR 2 YEARS IN A ROW, Zongo All-Stars have been lighting up dance floors all over the Central Coast with our unique blend of Afro-Latin / Afro-Caribbean / Funk / Reggae / Calypso music that we like to call "CaliCubano". The foundation starts with the drums; then add in congas, timbales, and other percussion. We round out the rhythm section with top talent on electric bass & electric guitar. Melodic elements come from a strong horn section, featuring trumpet, alto, tenor, and bari saxes, flutes, and the sweet sound of the steel drum transporting you straight to the Caribbean for a hot, fun, and exciting music & dance experience!
The Zongo players have been making music together under different groups for over 20 years! Most notably, 6 of the 7 players were in Mozaic, the very popular 90's Central Coast Afro-Funk band. After the breakup of Mozaic, the horn section (Andrew Wise - sax/flute and Paul Irving - trumpet) developed over 50 of Andrew's original compostions. Bass player Dylan Johnson went on to study music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and then received his master's degree in jazz studies from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. Guitarist Jacob Odell also went to Berklee for his bachelor's degree in jazz studies. Drummer Jennings Jacobsen went on to tour professionally with Rock Steady Posse and then with Damon Castillo Band. Justin Perkins kept developing his percussion & steel drum skills playing with various groups.
A decade later, Dylan decided to come back to the Central Coast from New York. Hearing the news, Paul and Andrew invited him to help launch the new group with along with Jacob and Justin. Drummer Sean Sullivan was pulled in, as was John Lee, a multi-instrumentalist with a master's degree in Afro-Cuban Jazz Studies. The group quickly put it all together and opened up the beautiful Back Bay Inn Garden concert venue for the Baywood Park Oktoberfest in 2007 for the first of many great shows to follow. Sean went on to pursue other interests in 2009, and Jennings rejoined the group. That's the story & we're sticking to it!
