Granddaddy (Allan H. Nurse) was one of those who came before Harry Belafonte. After Granddaddy and a few Afro-Latin artists, producers began using calypso like a seasoning on everything. You can hear it as the background rhythm in a lot of 1950s and '60s rock and R&B records from the Brill Building and Motown.
—Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor
The GroovaLottos boldly thump into the global, Afrobeats arena with their new single, “Boom Bu-Cha” and forthcoming album (Polyphonic Studios Records). True to Groovalotto form, “Boom Bu-Cha” is a fun and funky adventure in romance, delving beyond the physical into the dreams, plans and goals of a potential lover. Known primarily as a retro soul-funk band, Afrobeats has been a part of The GroovaLottos live set since the beginning, with the influences of Fela Kuti and Hugh Masakala sneaking through. “If truth be told,” mused The ZYG 808, “An Afrobeats record for us is simply a matter of us bringing our background percussion forward in the mix.”
Penned by GroovaLottos keyboardist, Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, the calypso groove at the heart of the tune draws on a family musical legacy and ‘recipe’ as the foundation for the project’s sound. His grandfather, noted band leader, composer, and arranger, Allan Nurse, immigrated to the US from Barbados. Nurses’ recordings with Decca Records and Southern Records in the 1930s and 40s distinguished him as one of a handful of artists who brought the calypso sound into jazz and r&b. “Granddaddy was one of those who came before Harry Belafonte. After Granddaddy and a few Afro-Latin artists, producers began using calypso like a seasoning on everything. You can hear it as the background rhythm in a lot of 1950s and 60s rock and R&B records from the Brill Building and Motown.”
“Tell me your dreams, your plans, your goals… tell me the things you feel in your soul”
—excerpt from “Boom Bu-Cha”
As the house band for Polyphonic Studios, The GroovaLottos are masters of musical code switching; performing on recordings of genres varying from jazz (classic, progressive, free-form, swing, be-bop, etc.), symphonic, rock (classic, punk, heavy metal, alternative), folk, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and various dance forms of music; experimentation and expansion are the name of the game at Cape Cod’s answer to Muscle Shoals. Afrobeats encompasses a wide spectrum of the African Diaspora’s music, including Afro Caribbean forms.
“BOOM Bu-Cha" will be available on all streaming and download platforms on September 9th. Their current album, “MAMA’s HAMPER” is also available. The GroovaLottos can be heard the 3rd Thursday of each month at George's-228 Belmonst St, Brockton, MA.
Penned by GroovaLottos keyboardist, Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, the calypso groove at the heart of the tune draws on a family musical legacy and ‘recipe’ as the foundation for the project’s sound. His grandfather, noted band leader, composer, and arranger, Allan Nurse, immigrated to the US from Barbados. Nurses’ recordings with Decca Records and Southern Records in the 1930s and 40s distinguished him as one of a handful of artists who brought the calypso sound into jazz and r&b. “Granddaddy was one of those who came before Harry Belafonte. After Granddaddy and a few Afro-Latin artists, producers began using calypso like a seasoning on everything. You can hear it as the background rhythm in a lot of 1950s and 60s rock and R&B records from the Brill Building and Motown.”
“Tell me your dreams, your plans, your goals… tell me the things you feel in your soul”
—excerpt from “Boom Bu-Cha”
As the house band for Polyphonic Studios, The GroovaLottos are masters of musical code switching; performing on recordings of genres varying from jazz (classic, progressive, free-form, swing, be-bop, etc.), symphonic, rock (classic, punk, heavy metal, alternative), folk, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and various dance forms of music; experimentation and expansion are the name of the game at Cape Cod’s answer to Muscle Shoals. Afrobeats encompasses a wide spectrum of the African Diaspora’s music, including Afro Caribbean forms.
“BOOM Bu-Cha" will be available on all streaming and download platforms on September 9th. Their current album, “MAMA’s HAMPER” is also available. The GroovaLottos can be heard the 3rd Thursday of each month at George's-228 Belmonst St, Brockton, MA.
