Click here to buy the album from Dusty Groove
"Where's our Bob Marley? Where's our Marvin Gaye? Nobody's saying the things that need to be said." These are the words of a true music lover dissecting the current state of the scene. If you have ever listened to the radio or watched any of the big music channels and thought the same thing to yourself, then you have found an ally in Nguzo, one of the most exciting soul/reggae bands in Chicago. The main songwriting inspiration for Nguzo (pronounced EN-GOO-ZOH) is a response to the lack of socially aware voices in major contemporary music. Their sound can easily be described with a term that Zo, the frontman and founder of the band, has coined himself: "socaja", which is a thrilling combination of soul, Carribean and jazz.
The story of Nguzo began on the South Side of Chicago, where Zo was born and raised. His love of music started out with a colorful palette of unique artists such as Bob Marley, John Coltrane, Fela Kuti, Jimi Hendrix and Sade, each who would have a hand in Nguzo's sound, but ultimately it would be someone unheard of who convinced to Zo to be a musician. "I was on the subway platform one day and I saw this man performing with a guitar, a harmoica, a tambourine and some maracas...I was transfixed. It emotionally touched me." After this epiphanic experience at the age of 17, Zo saved up enough money from his job at McDonald's to buy his first guitar, which he learned how to play on his own. But it would be much later before Zo got the chance to pursue being a musician. He would soon join the United States Army for three years, where he would later be stationed in Germany.
After returning from the army, Zo enrolled in Columbia College Chicago as a journalism major. During this time, Zo utilized his creative energy by playing guitar for a few bands and hosting an open mic at the legendary, but now defunct Ethio Cafe in Wrigleyville. It was here that he met his future bassist, Ivan, who would show up at the Cafe every week to read his poetry. Upon hearing Ivan's bass playing one night at the open mic, Zo promptly asked him to join the band he was starting on his own and thus the foundation of the group was formed.
Ivan brought with him a unique background in music that started in his orchestra class in high school and built heavily on a diet of indie rock, hip hop, punk, soul, electronic and everything in between. Adding another eclectic element to an already diverse sound, Nguzo and its various lineups over the years played for crowds all across the city, garnering acclaim from fans and critics alike.
Click here to buy the album from Dusty Groove
