Their album Rising Sun is out February 16 on Strut Records and is bursting with excellent musicianship and a sincere, restless groove. Their in-the-pocket playing rivals Antibalas or The Dap Kings; expect touring to follow this spring.
Check out their track "Mamaya"
From their artist bio:
Since their creation in 2002 in Ottawa, Canada, The Souljazz Orchestra have become one of the most potent bands in their field. Drawing on the rough, raw grooves of the ‘60s and ‘70s and effortlessly fusing soul, jazz, Afro and latin rhythms within their music, they have moved forward the blueprint of Fela, Fania and the funk in entirely new ways, whilst keeping the vital analog grit intact. As a live unit, the Orchestra have become an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide.
Having turned heads with two fine albums on Toronto label Do Right!, Freedom No Go Die (2006, featuring their breakthrough single “Mista President”) and Manifesto (2008), Strut are proud to announce the band’s hotly anticipated third album, Rising Sun. Drawing on a wider canvas of styles than ever before, touching on spiritual jazz, deep African rhythms and Ethiopian modes, the Orchestra take their sound to new heights with stunning musicianship and virtuoso arrangements throughout. Long-time fan Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio One) has already acclaimed this album to be their best yet.
Tracklist:
1. AWAKENING
2. AGBARA
3. NEGUS NEGAST
4. LOTUS FLOWER
5. MAMAYA
6. SERENITY
7. CONSECRATION
8. REJOICE Pt. 1
9. REJOICE Pt. 2
