UK SOUL PIONEERS KOKOMO COME ALIVE AT THEIR SPIRITUAL HOME AT THE HALF MOON IN PUTNEY

Sparring partners of the Average White Band in the 70s, Kokomo were brought back together again in 2014 and are now regularly playing live. A superb ten-piece soul act, or in this case eleven, this latest album was recorded live at the Half Moon in Putney where the band regularly takes up residency.

Reformed and rejuvenated, Kokomo have new blood in two of their three specialist singers, Charlotte Churchman and Helena May Harrison who join founder vocalist Frank Collins and leader and vocalist/keyboardist Tony “Mr Operator” O’Malley in whipping up a soul storm, backed by seven of the best funk musicians.

This offering has established band favourite tracks such as ‘Forever’, the gospel groove of ‘Naked Flame’, the crowd pleaser ‘Third Time Around’ and the Bobby Womack cover ‘I Can Understand It’. New additions to the repertoire include total funk versions of Stevie Wonder’s ‘So What The Fuss’ and Quincy Jones’ ‘Stuff Like That’. To achieve the full Kokomo experience you’ll need to go to a show, but this album is the next best thing.

Words by Chaz Brooks