Donkilo

Afro Jazz Orchestra

Donkilo! blends traditional instruments like the Fula flute, 10-string kamalen’goni and djembe, with guitar, bass, sax and more — creating a sound that is fresh and daring, with live performances that transport audiences to previously unchartered musical territories.

Donkilo features Randy Roos on guitar, Jared Steer on drums, Mike Rossi on bass, Jon Lorentz on saxophone, Tom Robinson on keys, and myself (Dave Kobrenski) on Fula flute, Kamalen’goni, and djembe.

N'goni Mojo

Donkilo Afro Jazz

N’goni is short for kamalen’goni, which means “young man’s harp”, and is the instrument playing the groove here. This original composition is a tribute to the mystique and “mojo” of this unique instrument.

Donso no.8

Donkilo Afro Jazz

Donso means “hunter” in Malinké, and this original tune pays tribute to the powerful and often dark hunters music played at night deep in the forest on the Donso N’goni and bolon — the traditional harps played by the hunters.

N'zérékoré N1

Donkilo Afro Jazz

N’zérékoré is a town in the forest region of Guinea in West Africa, and the N1 road can take you there — that is, if the road is passable. This adventurous tune chronicles the story, in music, of the treacherous route to N’zérékoré…good luck on your journey.

Kamalen Don

Donkilo Afro Jazz

Kamalen Don loosely translated means “dance of the young people”. This original tune is a fun and light-hearted tribute to the youth of Bamako who rebelled against tradition in the late 1950’s and pioneered the kamalen’goni — the 10-string harp heard on this piece.

Photo Gallery

Donkilo performing at the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, NH.

From left: Randy Roos, Mike Rossi, Matt Langley, Dave Kobrenski, Jared Steer. Amoskeag Mill in Manchester, NH.

Dave Kobrenski, fula flute

Randy Roos

Jon Lorentz and Matt Langley, saxophones

Jared Steer, drums

Mike Rossi (left), Jon Lorentz, Matt Langley

Randy Roos (left), Dave Kobrenski

Dave Kobrenski playing kamalen’goni

Jared Steer (left), Mike Rossi