* En anglais uniquement
Their name Yoruban for "noise,"
Ariwo program and play twisting and expansive rhythms that draw from the members' Iranian and Cuban backgrounds. Based in London, England, the band is led by Pouya Ehsaei, an experimental electronic artist who has released material on the Entr'acte label. Percussionist
Oreste Noda, organizer of Cuban party crew Sambroso Sambroso, previously recorded with
Gecko Turner,
Graham Coxon, and
the Rhythmagic Orchestra, among other acts. Hammadi Valdés, also a percussionist, can be heard on
Chucho Valdés' Latin Grammy-winning
New Conceptions. Trumpeter
Yelfris Valdés, a member of
Sierra Maestra, has taken part in sessions that yielded albums for
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band,
Daymé Arocena, and
Yussef Kamaal. The quartet appeared in December 2015 with a performance recorded in London by the broadcasting platform Boiler Room. Following additional dates in the U.K. and Cuba, their first studio work, a self-titled four-track album, arrived in May 2017 through the Manana label. ~ Andy Kellman