Somi

Somi is a daughter of the New African world. Born in Illinois to East African parents, Somi and her six siblings began to shuffle through the life of a diplomatic family. Exposed to stories and music from all over the world, Somi celebrates her East African heritage while staying true to soul and jazz traditions. She has worked with the likes of Roy Hargrove, Amel Larrieux, Lionel Loueke and Lonnie Plaxico. With praise from Hugh Masekela, Cheik Tidiane Seck, and the generous sponsorship of the International French Cultural Center, Somi and her band were selected to tour 15 African countries in 2006. Her mellifluous voice flows over, through, and in between nuances of urban jazz, downtempo soul, and African folk. With musical director Herve Samb (David Murray, Pharaoh Sanders), Somi continues to captivate audiences worldwide while they create musical textures that are at once haunting and sweet, subtle yet profound.

Check out Somi's page on MySpace.com

"One of the most distinctive voices of New York's progressive Soul Movement."
- Village Voice