Doors: 8:00pm Tickets: $15 / $30 with CD

The Senegambian Jazz Band will be launching their self-titled debut album with a huge weekend of gigs right across Melbourne. The Southside launch at Memo Music Hall on Friday the 25th of August, with support from DJ Manchild (PBS) as part of the Live N' Local festival. This will be followed by a more intimate CBD launch at Boney on the 26th with surprise support act. The weekend will be rounded out by the Northside launch on the 27th with mind-bending rhythms from TSJB and support Hello Tut Tut at Northcote Social Club with a high-energy dance party.

Since their inception in 2015, The Senegambian Jazz Band's (TSJB) sound has developed through melding the traditions of west African melodies and rhythms with everything from jazz, latin and funk to "doof doof". With 6 musicians from 5 countries TSJB's debut album is a melting pot of sounds, influences and cultures intricately woven to create a magical sonic experience, unlike anything in the Australian music scene.

Recorded at Rolling Stock Recording Rooms in Melbourne and produced by Myles Mumford (Black Jesus Experience, Horns of Leroy) their debut self-titled album has a clean sound that provides space for the polyrhythmic elements of the music. A high-energy musical journey that takes the listener from traditional West African melodies on the kora with deep drum rhythms through to modern jazz and funk. Fans can expect to hear all of their favourite tunes and the unmistakable TSJB sound that has developed over the past 2 years during their improv driven live gigs.

Songs composed by Amadou Suso, sung in his native Mandika, tell stories of love, the band members' home countries, orphaned children and inspiration found living in a new city. The band stay true to their goal of creating a new African-jazz genre by bringing 11 original tracks along with a new arrangement of the traditional 'Kenaken Dalo' which has proven to be a favourite with audiences around Australia.

Throughout the album, Amadou Suso's contemporary mastery of the kora provides a link to the traditions of his forefathers through his modern melodies. His unique vocal tone transports those who hear it to the streets of his home country The Gambia. The melodies and vocals are lifted through Tom Benson's sax. Tom has an uncanny ability to provide both a vocal harmony and pure jazz improv through his playing. Luke Koszanski constantly surprises with his ability to switch from Congolese melodies to pure rock.

The music challenges the listener through complex rhythms drawn from both coasts of Africa, with elements drawn from the traditions of Senegal, Ghana and Ethiopia. Julius Sackey leads the rhythm section on drum kit, bringing his unique blend of standard drum kit fills with those that are reminiscent of traditional dun dun rhythms from his home in Ghana. Boubacar Gaye brings exciting percussions solos from his native Senegal through djembe and congas. The mainstay of the Ethio-jazz scene in Melbourne, Yoseph Haile, completes the rhythm section.