Kasai Masai’s set becomes complete when this is combined with saxophone, bass and drums, and a wide range of modern influences are drawn upon - afrojazz, soukous, rumba, highlife and afrobeat.

The band is led by percussionist, vocalist and dancer Nickens Nkoso who is a well known figure in the world music circuit, and has worked with many international Congolese artists, including Kanda Bongoman and Papa Wemba. He has performed at festivals including Glastonbury and Womad and has also featured on shows such as Later with Jools Holand and radio shows such as Andy Kershaw’s World and New, John Peel Sessions, BBC 3 World Music Day and Resonance FM.

“Kasai Masai successfully marry a respect for vintage grooves with an overwhelming urge to move the dancefloor. This is the sound of the old and the new, of the countryside and the city, from deep in the heart of Africa.” (Nige Tassell, WOMAD Festival)

Following on from Kasai Masai will be Bossaphonik DJ Dan Ofer spinning a fine selection of afro-grooves, luscious latin, Balkan hotseppas, world breaks and nu jazz bizniz.
To hear a sample and learn more, check out their myspace page and their website.

Night: Bossaphonik
Venue: The Cellar (Frewin Court, off Cornmarket)
Date: 10th September
Band: Kasai Masai
DJ: Dan Ofer
Times: 9pm-3am, band on at 11pm
Price: £5

October 8th


Bossaphonik 6th Birthday!

Fela Kuti’s ex keyboardist brings his own afrobeat band to Bossaphonik!
Dele Sosimi played and toured with Fela for seven years before becoming musical director and bandleader for Fela’s son, Femi Kuti and his band The Positive Force. Dele’s current band will appear at Bossaphonik in eight-piece form – expect heavy afrobeat grooves with funky rhythm guitars, pulsating drums, fiery percussion and blaring horns. website myspace

Price: £7

Dele Sosimi gives an afrobeat workshop and talk, 6pm
East Oxford Community Centre, before the gig – FREE

November 12th

Performing a range of original latin music with Cuban and Brazilian influences – spicy salsa, rumba, funk and samba. Featuring musicians from UK latin-jazz giants “Snowboy and the Latin Section” and Havana rumba band “Clave y Guaguanco”, they have gigged at high profile vunues such as Ronnie Scotts and The Jazz Café. website myspace

Price: £7


December 10th

Eight piece dub-rap-reggae phenomenon. Hugely popular, the bands appeal can be defined as the combination of blistering three part horn section with turntable dexterity, infectious dub bass with ska chops on guitar, a hip hop backbeat that never fails to get everyone moving and cutting edge lyricism delivered with unwavering tenacity. website myspace

Price: £6


January 14th 2011

Experimental freestyling improvising jazz/hip hop fusion. Two of London’s finest MC’s Bill Zoot and Twinky Blu join forces with some of the jazz scene’s most exciting talents to develop the compositions of trumpeter Pete Horsfall. Highly original. myspace

Price: £5


February 11th

Eight piece brass band outfit! Tuba – fuelled street funk, drawn from Edinburgh’s most eclectic talent in funk, ska, Balkan, classical and jazz, these are a pack of musicians with a single goal: Serious tunes for the feet. Check ou myspace

Price: £6