OYASABA

Rhasaan Oyasaba Manning is a native Brooklynite, born and raised in Flatbush. He was born into the beginnings of the hip-hop era, and his music is heavily influenced by the soundtrack of his childhood, connecting with Soul and R&B, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Ska, Reggae, Punk, Rock, New Wave, etc. His first instrument, beginning at age 6, was the drums, which plays out as he conceptualizes the rhythmic structure of his songs. Phat beats are essential. Rhasaan is the songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist, and roadie of the band, 10 years running. Prior to forming OYASABA, he spent many years as a songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, and percussionist for Kats Family (Guyora Kats), Wax Poetic (Atlantic Records, Ilhan Ersahin, Nublu Records), Alice’s 5 Moons (Crossover Records, Nic Thys), Chimp Beams (Concent Records), Marianne (Takuya Nakamura), Cosmic BB’s (Takuya Nakamura), Abuela (Ricardo Quiñones), Marque Gilmore, Love Alien, and so on. Takuya Nakamura is one of the founding members of OYASABA, and has played an integral role in the shaping of the band’s sound as player and co-producer. Tak is a multi-instrumentalist and producer who blends a new brand of Jazz, lo-fi analog and hi-fi digital space techno to his style of composition and production. His ethereal trumpet playing establishes a cinematic landscape of sound, which evokes futuristic expression. Originally from Tokyo, Takuya has been based in NYC for over 20 years. Tak plays Moog, trumpet, bass, and assorted analog keyboards in OYASABA. He has played with David Byrne, George Russell, Arto Lindsay, Organic Grooves, Jojo Mayer's Nerve, CocoRosie, GZA, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Marc Ribo, Vinicius Cantuaria, Organic Grooves (Codek records) along with DJ Sasha (AKA Cosmic Rocker, In Flagranti), DJ Nickodemus (Turntables on the Hudson), Zeb the Spay from Cairo, etc. As a remixer, he has worked for The Streets, Twilight Circus, Quincy Jones, and many others. Yusuke Yamamoto, our drummer, was born in Hyogo, Japan, and began studying the organ at age 5, percussion at age 11. He was awarded a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1995, he moved to New York City, where he formed the Golden Monkeys and released his first album in 1998. Yusuke has toured to Japan, Europe and around the U.S. with the Golden Monkeys, Channel U, Chimp Beams, Dub Nomads, Chin Chin, Chiara Civello, Sound of Village, Echo (Joy Askew) and The Beat Kids. Yusuke is a multi-instrumental playing vibraphone, drums, percussion, flute, keyboards and bass. His sound is a blend of Asian, Brazilian and African music, jazz, electronica, dub, rock and contemporary classical. He collaborates with OYASABA, Chin Chin, Chimp Beams, 47.5, Dizzy Ventilators and on Broadway musical "FELA!". Gabriel Gordon plays the guitar and sings in OYASABA. Originally from Santa Cruz, Gordon moved to New York City at 19. He soon toured Europe and the US with Soup Dragons. At 26 he auditioned for Natalie. The first show with her was Saturday Night Live. He still records and tours with Natalie, this Spring and Summer to support her new release on Nonesuch Records (May 2014). Gordon has recorded on more than 50 albums and continues to record, perform and write with: Soup Dragons, Brazilian Girls, Andrew Roachford, Rebecca Jordan, Wax Poetic, Chocolate Genius, Light Blue Movers (featuring Deron Johnson, Adrian Harpham and Jonathan Levy), The Nightshades (Aaron Johnston, Jonathan Levy), Meshell N'degeocello, The TEAM (Mission Drift), Heather Christian and the Arbornauts, K'naan, Ron Saint-Germain, TBone Burnett, Garland Jeffreys, Alejandro Escovedo, Draco Rosa, Brian Bender, Brian Mitchell, Ilhan Ersahin, Anthony D'Amato, Kassia Conway, Nena, Paris Toon, Vernon Reid, George Benson, Bob Dylan, Lokua Kanza, California, Mark Plati, Jason Darling, Jesse Murphy, Madeleine Peyroux, James Kakande, Tete and Van Morrison. He has toured the world and has been seen on all the major US and European TV shows and festivals. He will release his 6th album in the Autumn of 2014. Abena Koomson, our backup vocalist, is a Harlem-based performer, educator and writer. She is bandleader and composer for Abena Koomson's Blacksmith Orchestra (AKBO) and a featured vocalist for funk rock band Van Davis and Afro-beat sensation Zongo Junction. Abena originated the role of Fela Kuti's mother in the Off-Broadway production of FELA! The Musical directed by Bill T. Jones. Abena went on to become a member of the Original Broadway cast, where she also served as vocal captain. Recently, she appeared in Red Hot + Fela at Lincoln Center with Kronos Quartet, and is featured on the album of the same name.