The spirit of unrest was all but absent at the U Street Music Hall Saturday night. It was the type of fight and protest you would expect from the band called Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band. The group, inspired by the music of Fela Kuti, brought the same type of musical urgency the Afrobeat pioneer was known for.
The opening act was Alma Tropicália, a psychedelic Brazilian pop band based in DC. Inspired by the ’60s art movement for which they are named, the band draws most of their inspiration from Os Mutantes. The crowd was gleeful mix of footloose adults, energetic children, and world music buffs.
As lead vocalist, Elin, sauntered across the stage, Alma Tropicália’s sunny mixture of samba, dream pop, and progressive rock kept the dance floor steadfast with positive energy. They were joined by local percussionist Alejandro Lucini and Zé Maurício, who is based in New York.
Chopteeth made their grand entrance with Fela’s “I No Get Eye for Back,” a funk and highlife hybrid with taut horns, a groovy baseline, and playful chants. Michael Shereikis lead the band as they took us on a tour through Western Africa with dynamic sets consisting of Ghanaian jazz and Afro-Latin movements.
On stage left, Chopteeth was powered by two female trumpeters: Justine Miller and Cheryl Terwilliger. Miller has an amazing skill of stuttering notes in perfect harmony. The way she riffs on her horn recalls Tunde Williams’ finger-play as part of Fela’s Africa 70 band.
Terwillieger is a brazen trumpeter with a will. Her notes are angelic, clear, and articulate. Percussionists Atto Addo and David McDavitt set the dance floor afire with sexy, warlike rhythms.
Chopteeth is a Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) award-winning group and a 14-piece band native to DC. Since 2007, the members of WAMA have chosen Chopteeth for a total of eight Wammie Awards, including Artist of the Year, Debut CD of the Year, World Music CD, and World Music Group.
They’re of a pedigree that makes DC’s homegrown music scene a place for music lovers starving for new sounds.
