Thokozile Collective

Bournemouth-based six-piece Thokozile Collective play instrumental jazz-funk with an African bent. Their debut album – seven covers and two originals – mostly looks towards Southern Africa, with occasional hints to West Africa and Latin America. The album starts in an upbeat, breezy fashion, with a cover of Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens’ mbaqanga hit ‘Thokozile’ (hence the name), followed by a piece based on the sungura style from Zimbabwe. After these first two, the funk arrives. It’s all lightly cheesy and pretty inoffensive, but accomplished. The standout performance comes from saxophonist Terry Quinney, whose solos are always a delight, floating bluesy bop lines over and through the African styles with an intelligence that unites each of the band’s influences. The group aren’t entirely tight, and some of the most funk-forward tracks perhaps lack a bit of imagination, but it’s an easy listen and a fun, enjoyable album on the whole.