Founded by longtime Antibalas bandmates, ARMO consists of trumpeter/percussionist Jordan McLean, percussionist/vocalist Marcus Farrar, guitarist/keyboardist Nikhil P. Yerawadekar, drummer Kevin Raczka, Justin Kimmel, & Dave “Smoota” Smith on trombone/keyboards. The band creates spontaneous arrangements of the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, William Onyeabor, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Amayo, and original rhythm based compositions.
This 5-8 piece band features a revolving cast from the Daptone Records family and NY Afrobeat Scene. Collectively the members of Armo have performed thousands of concerts around the world working with such luminaries as David Byrne, Angelique Kidjo, Public Enemy, TV on The Radio, Sharon Jones & The Dapkings, Ornette Coleman, and in the band for the Tony Award winning musical FELA!
With the goal of expanding the New York Afrobeat Scene, the band held a monthly jam session at the legendary Bitter End in NYC’s West Village in 2023. Armo served as the house band for
the City Winery/Carnegie Hall afterparty tribute to Paul McCartney, have restarted their years-long residency at Brooklyn’s famed Bar Lunatico, and were featured in the opening festival.
From its inception Afrobeat has been a music of resistance. The music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti has historic ties to the civil rights movement in the United States, and the importance of art in fueling social movements is as vital as ever. This weekend long celebration of rhythm and joy will embody the ideals of embracing our shared humanity to the fullest.
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