Lokkhi Terra

From the Mela's of Bangladesh to the streets of Havana, via some districts in Lagos and on to a bustling club in London. This is what is giving London it's new accent. Described by Songlines as "probably the world’s best Afrobeat-Cuban-Bangladeshi group” London based Lokkhi Terra released their debut album "No Visa Required" in 2010 and have been tearing up the music rule book ever since, playing their unique blend of traditions and wowing audiences across the genres. Their second album "Che Guava's Rickshaw Diaries (2012)" received much critical acclaim - “the multicultural settings effortlessly encapsulate 21st-century London. Traditional songs from Bangladesh collide with Latin rhythms, township jazz, funk and ambient shades, all seasoned with a lilting pop sensibility...Gold medals all round.” Sunday Times Magazine Their latest release CUBANGLA is their sixth album, with journalist John Armstrong declaring it to be "their crowning glory to date.........as well as being one of the outstanding albums of the year so far for me". It follows on from a series of “Lokkhi Terra meets” collaboration albums, including "CubAfrobeat" with Afrobeat Ambassador Dele Sosimi (2018) described as “a total stonking blinder” (Chris May - All About Jazz), as well with Bangladeshi roots legends Shikor Bangladesh All Stars (releasing 2 Eps - Bangla Rasta in 2016, and Introducing Baby Akhtar April 2017). Their live shows continue to thrill. "The pairing of the Shikor Bangladesh All Stars with London-based salsa group LoKkhi TeRa should not have worked, but really did. Kishon Khan’s keyboard and artistic direction allowed the Bangladeshis to meld with his Cuban rhythm section to really fine effect, blending Latin, Afrobeat, jazz, dub and all manner of other elements to create something truly exceptional. Once again, you are unlikely to hear anything like this outside of WOMAD and I’m not the only one that was really glad the organisers featured it." - United Reggae - Womad 2015 "Awesome Cross-cultural collaboration" - London Jazz - Womad 2015 "Widely acknowledged as an international force to be reckoned with...... beautiful, powerful, spectacular stuff" - Songlines Magazine

The band is made up of musicians with serious pedigree - led by pianist Kishon Khan (Hugh Masekela, Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura, Tony Allen). Featuring Bellowhead's Justin Thurgur on Trombone, and Graeme Flowers (Kyle Eastwood) on trumpet. Cuban maestro percussionist Oreste Noda (Ssmbroso All Stars) on congas, and fellow Cuban, bassist Frank Portuondo (New Regency Orchestra) alongside UK's Phil Dawson (Tony Allen) on guitar, and Turkish drummer Tansay Omar (Bjork). To add to this impressive list, Bengali singer Sohini Alam (Akram Khan ) sings alongside Cuban vocalist/percussionist Javier Camilo (Sambroso All Stars). Background This project was conceived in Cuba where, whilst studying there, Kishon Khan noticed a synergy between the rumba on the streets of Havana and baul music in the mela’s of Bangladesh. This strange connection would make more sense back in London, where different communities hang out together – learning and sharing their different musical heritages. The result is Lokkhi Terra. The band line up boasts a team full of band-leaders – all session players renowned for their authentic playing of different world traditions, but who tend to choose a more contemporary route when focusing on their own projects. Between them they have played with the likes of – Hugh Masakela, Tony Allen, Changuito, Ibrahim Ferrer, Jazz Jamaica, Bjork, Kylie Minogue, Galiano, James Taylor Quartet, Bellowhead, Giles Peterson’s Havana Cultura, Kyle Eastwood, Cornell Campbell, Johhny Clarke, Orchestra Imperial, Dele Sosimi to name a very few. Their music has been used in 2 international films – The Last Thakur (Channel 4) and Everywhere and Nowhere (Arena), and radio play has been extensive (from Radio 1 Gilles Peterson to World Multiples in New York). "Stunning Headliners... A majestic multi-cultural blend of sounds... effortlessly builds bridges between rolling Indian raga rhythms, Afro-Cuban grooves, Acid Jazz/funk and free flowing improvisation" - Timeout London "Kishon Khan leant back from his keyboards with the glee of a man driving a super-car, and played as if distilling the entire 1970s work of Herbie Hancock into a high-octane drive in the country, as congas bounced and brass slid around him..." FT.com