Music

ZONGO

All Stars

PHOTO BY DEAN SULLIVAN

The type of music that Zongo All Stars plays is so unique that they have come up with their own name for it: “Cali-Cubano.” Drawing inspiration from an Afro-Caribbean sound, the band infuses it with its own brand of laid-back Central Coast vibe. Then they shake, mix and blend it together as something that can only be described as up-tempo beach party dance music.

Everything centers around the drums, then throw in the congas and timbales and you are only just scratching the surface. The eclectic group of seven adds bass, guitar, trumpet, saxophones, flutes, among other things, and, of course, steel drums to delight the senses. This is music that you can feel as much as you can hear.

The band members have been making music together for twenty years under various names, most recognizably Mozaic, a popular Central Coast Afro-Funk band in the early 90’s that included six of the current seven players. But, as life pulled the band members in different directions Mozaic broke up. Dylan Johnson and Jacob Odell both left to attend the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Jennings Jacobsen went on to tour professionally with Rock Steady Possee and then with Damon Castillo Band. Justin Perkins left to play with various bands while Andrew Wise and Paul Irving worked together to develop over fifty of Wise’s original compositions.

Fast forward ten years and Johnson had returned to the Central Coast from New York where he had received his masters degree in jazz studies at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. Wise and Irving invited him to lunch to welcome him back and talk soon turned to forming a new band. By the time the trio had calculated the tip for their meal all available napkins had been excitedly scribbled on and there was a palpable excitement for what was to come. Odell and Perkins received calls immediately afterward. They were both in. Drummer Sean Sullivan (he was replaced later by Jacobsen) was recruited and John Lee, a multi-instrumentalist with a masters degree in Latin Jazz rounded out the new band.

The group quickly gelled and in 2007 Zongo All Stars made its debut at the Baywood Park Oktoberfest. By all accounts, the crowd went nuts for the new and unusual sound, which set off a string of gigs that continues to this day. SLO LIFE

bottom row (left to right) Justin Perkins (percussion, steel drums), Paul Irving (trumpet), Jennings Jacobsen (drums), John Lee (tenor/bari saxes, flute, percussion) top row (left to right) Dylan Johnson (bass), Jacob Odell (guitar), and Andrew Wise (vocals, alto sax, flute)

Coming soon... go to slolifemagazine.com and click on “See our Commercials” to watch “How SLO Can You Go?” written and performed by Zongo All Stars.