Jembaa Groove

Jembaa Groove is a Berlin-based Afro-soul group founded in late 2020 by Yannick Nolting (bass, composer, producer)and Eric Owusu (vocals, percussion and songwriter). Speaking the same musical language, the two musical nomads quickly realised the fruitful outcome of their encounter.

Digging deep into both their backgrounds and musical identities, they came up with an new and yet authentic vibe ready to be spread across the globe. After seeking for the right companions for the upcoming journey and stumbling on a few of Berlin's finest musicians, they finally formed Jembaa Groove, a 7-piece band that combines jazzy sounds from Berlin's uprising underground scene with traditional West-African sounds from Ghana and Mali, such as Highlife, Adowa and Wassoulou.They first met fortuitously at a Berlin playground with both their sons and soon after realised they were onto something special.

The music of Jembaa Groove is as much influenced by the soulful rhythms and baritone chords of 70's black America and contemporary artists like Lee Fields and Ikebe Shakedown, as it is by highlife artists such as Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas, with whom Eric has been touring and recording for many years. Garnering a smattering of support from the media world like KEXP, KCRW, Worldwide FM, Rinse FM, WDR Cosmo and enough stations round the world off the back of their Bassa Bassa track, Jembaa Groove are causing a storm with their hybrid West African meets US soul & jazz sound. Their debut album 'Susuma' was released via Agogo Records on 18.03.2022 and is being followed by an extensive Release Tour throughout Europe soon after.