Chopteeth


Chopteeth is a Washington, D.C.–based afrofunk big band. Although rooted in Fela Kuti's Nigerian afrobeat, Chopteeth's music is an amalgam of Ghanaian highlife, Senegalese rumba, Jamaican ska, Mande griot music, 1970s West African funk, Ewe dance drum rhythms, Kenyan Taita afropop, soul-funk, and jazz. Chopteeth's writing and arrangements feature unique driving syncopations, and occasional odd meters. Chopteeth vocalists sing in eight different languages: English, Nigerian Pidgin, Swahili, Wolof, Mande, Twi, Taita, and French.
WWW chopteeth.com

History

Founded in 2004 by Robert Fox, ethnomusicologist Michael Shereikis, Jon Hoffschneider, and bata drummer Mark Corrales, Chopteeth quickly attracted a stable line-up of musicians including saxophonist Mark Gilbert, trombonist Craig Constadine, trumpeter Justine Miller, Romanian guitarist Victor Crisen, Kenyan vocalist/dancer Anna Mwalagho, and Ghanaian music teacher David McDavitt. In 2008 Ghanaian drummer Atta Addo joined Chopteeth on percussion.
The name "Chopteeth" comes from a song by Fela Kuti called "J'ehin J'ehin". It refers to someone who eats his own teeth, a crazy person. Percussionist and former member Mark Corrales came up with that name for the band because he said they were insane to think they could sustain a large afrobeat band.
Chopteeth won several Wammies presented by the Washington Area Music Association :

Band

  • Michael Shereikis, guitar and vocals
  • Robert Fox, bass
  • Craig Considine, trombone
  • Mark Gilbert, saxophones
  • Justine Miller, trumpet and vocals
  • Trevor Specht, saxophones and vocals
  • Cheryl Terwilliger, trumpet
  • Atta Addo, twinchin and djembe
  • David McDavitt, percussion
  • Brian Simms, keyboards
  • Jason Walker, drums
  • Victor Crisen, guitar
  • Mark Corrales, percussion

Educational sites authored by Chopteeth

  • News, music reviews and commentary on Afrobeat and related music from Africa, The Caribbean and The Americas
  • transcribed by Chopteeth's David McDavitt
  • Active Worldwide

Video

Discography

Albums

  • Struggle, 2008
  • Chopteeth Live, 2010

Recording collaborations