AKONOLINGA x MuSaMe on Stage (acid jazz/neo soul)

Anyone who likes ’70s funk, ’90s acid jazz, or today’s neo-soul will love AKONOLINGA. Formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the band used the time to find the right musicians (mostly online) from Düsseldorf and the surrounding area, to hold songwriting sessions, and to refine their sound—and since 2022, they’ve been bringing the results to life on stage. Carried by the precise grooves of the rhythm section and fueled by stylishly arranged horns, Tina Jobsons’ powerful yet warm alto voice breathes just the right amount of soul into their original compositions and a few tastefully selected cover versions. The five musicians, all “Best Agers,” have accumulated years of experience in jazz, funk, Balkan beat, and gospel ensembles. The lead singer honed her craft primarily on stages and in clubs across England with bands such as Gregor Hilden & The UK All Stars and Fowokan.

Funk and jazz for the ears and the dance floor—or as her lyrics put it:“Some

call it a midlife crisis, but to us it feels like it’s the shit.”

Thematically, AKONOLINGA doesn’t just focus—as is typical for the genre—on the joys

of nightlife. They also let themselves be carried away by love lyrics and political statements whenever the mood strikes.

In February 2024, AKONOLINGA released their self-produced debut album “’til the Funk gets U,” available on all major download and streaming platforms. On it, they showcase a cross-section of their diverse and imaginative repertoire with nine original compositions and one cover version. Among them is the signature song “Akonolinga,” about the small town in southern Cameroon known only to insiders, from which the band also borrowed its unusual name.

AKONOLINGA are:

Tina Jobson: Lead vocals, percussion

Eugen Firla: saxophone, flute, backing vocals

Georg Füngling: guitar, trumpet, flugelhorn

Aleksandar Glisic: Drums

Sebastian Hentsch: Keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

Lars Rosenkranz: Bass