topbop

Robert topbop!™ Dodson - Bassist Producer Composer

Out on the early 1960's Chicago jazz-jam-rock scene as a guitarist, Robert was at the feet of groups like the Pharaohs, and hanging around the AACM. He played with a number of local acts, such as Empty Hand, the Omega project and Absolute Zero and has performed with Otis Clay, Sherrie Scott, Metropolis Youth Symphony Orchestra, Aswah Greggori & The Enforcers, Blue Rage, Calvin "Koco" Brunson, Thunder Road, Sine, Sexy Blues Band and others...

Currently in studio with collaborator Calvin "Koco" Brunson.

topbop! kocodado gwadafro is Calvin Brunson (Chicago) - vocals/drum programming/keyboards/pianos/music pedagogy; Robert Dodson (Benidorm) - bass/guitar/drum programming/vocals/erhu/imagination voyager; Frantz Flereau (Paris) - ekon/clave/congas/djembe/haitian drum/talking drum/tambells/water drum/planetary sphere music; special guest Alena Rays (Moscow) - vocals, chief genius. "Showdown at Redrings" tour and live album release dates to come ... watch this space!!!

About "Zenzele”...

"Zenzele" was written and arranged by Calvin Brunson, who in addition to the joyously concentric rhythms and wizardry inspired harmonies on keyboard, also contributes an improvised but “in character” vocal that transforms the piece into a powerful roots authentic but current and contemporary message. Frantz Flereau provides the percussion landscape underlying and speaking the rhythms relentlessly. The bass and all guitars are Robert. Nuff said …

#stoptheviolence everywhere now …

In the Xhosa language Zenzele means 'to make something out of nothing'. The irresistible dance rhythm on which the song is based is called "Soukous". Soukous is a genre of dance music that originated from Cuban Rumba music in the Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1940s and gained popularity throughout Africa. Soukous is known as Congo in West Africa and Lingala in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania after the Lingala language of the lyrics. In Zambia and Zimbabwe, where Congolese music is also influential, it is still usually referred to as Rumba. It mixes the kwasa kwasa with the fast tempo zouk style and Congolese rumba. It is also an individual dance.