KOKOROKO’s Montreal stop at the Beanfield Theatre was an immersive experience that set the night ablaze with a groove-heavy blend of Afrobeat, jazz, and soul. With the kind of musicianship that usually requires a magnifying glass to find, this band wielded technical precision and passion in equal measure, leaving the crowd swaying and wide-eyed.
From the first percussive crack to the final soulful wail, the drummer was the unsung (well, maybe sung internally) hero, playing with a finesse that had you wondering if he’d secretly sprouted an extra arm. Every roll and punch landed with effortless fluidity, punctuating the set like exclamation points.
And those harmonies—tight enough to impress even the most cynical audiophile, yet so warm and unfussy that they felt like an invitation to a backyard jam session. Each musician on stage seemed to embody a blend of academic-level skill and pure, joyful abandon. Think Miles Davis meets Fela Kuti at a house party where they’ve ditched their suits for something with a little more flair.
Check out Annette Aghazarian’s photos from the show:
