Global Local

Awalé play an extremely inventive blend of afro-jazz, creating grooves in time signatures and cycles of various lengths, resulting in a joyous polyrhythmic stew. They take influence from, and echo the sounds of afrobeat, Ethiopian funk and east European harmonies. The band’s guitarist Thibaut states that he began by taking elements of afrobeat but with an unusual groove. Having cuban master Noda on board, they teamed up with some of London’s fierce players on the jazz scene who have played with the likes of Jamie Cullum, Madness and Dub Colossus. This is topped off by Badia’a of Tunisia adding rootsy vocal spice to create a sound that has worldwide influences, cooked their own way for everyone’s enjoyment.

Ritay Ray (DJ, Broadcaster): “Awalé's tunes rock.”

The late Charlie Gillett (Radio DJ, Broadcaster): “Awalé are doing something different with afrobeat and I do like it.”