Kotoko Brass

Kotoko Brass has created a unique, joyful, and improvisational style of West African dance music described by the Boston Globe as “propulsive, infectious party music.” Drums provide the heart and soul of Kotoko Brass — merging syncopated African percussion polyrhythms with hard-hitting dance grooves. Horns blend traditional sounds of New Orleans with the famous West African brass band sound heard from Ghana to Nigeria, and the guitar, keys, and bass evoke classic African and Caribbean styles of highlife, afrobeat, and reggae. Kotoko Brass features musicians from Ghana, Antigua, Japan, and the United States and has shared the stage with Angelique Kidjo, Red Baraat, Femi Kuti, the California Honeydrops, Vieux Farka Toure, Innov Gnawa, Take 6, the Boston Pops, Rubblebucket, and more.

Kotoko Brass artists include Attah Poku (percussion), Michael Ofori (percussion), Ben Paulding (drumset), Brian Paulding (trombone), Dillon Zahner (guitar), Yusaku Yoshimura (keys), M’Talewa Thomas (bass), and Andy Bergman (sax).