Abass Dodoo and The One-Drum Rhythms at the Magic Garden

People talk about drum battles. I don’t ever look at it like that. It’s a drum duet. It’s what I do with Abass all the time. We play together and we just know where we’re going… Abass and I… we’re time travellers. We understand time.” – Ginger Baker (drummer from Cream, widely recognised as the world’s first supergroup

Abass has assembled a diverse line-up of musicians who are passionately committed to bringing Ghanaian music to new UK audiences. The 8-piece band includes an electrifying line-up of Ghanaian musicians (on percussion, keys and vocals) and up-and-coming talents on the London jazz scene (on tenor and baritone saxophones, guitar and electric bass).

Abass has world-class credentials as an international touring musician who has played with acclaimed bands and household names for over three decades.Having toured across Africa, Europe and the USA throughout the 1990s, he then met legendary drummer, Ginger Baker, who played with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in Cream. These two extraordinary drummers from different backgrounds performed together in the Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion quartet at venues around the globe for 12 years until Ginger’s death in 2019.

Abass also toured for many years with Pee Wee Ellis, the highly influential band director and saxophonist for James Brown. His rhythms leave musicians and audiences alike with broad smiles and a deep appreciation of where the funk truly came from.

DJ JON BONGLY

Jon Bongly is a force of positive energy spinning original and remixed beats including funk, soul, blues, ska, UK garage and assorted electronica.