ESSO Afrojam Funkbeat

ÉSSO is the bilingual dance band project of Chicago born songwriter and producer Armando Pérez. He curated an inner city big band of rotating members unsealing a kaleidoscopic sound propelling them to perform for mutli-cultural concerts and festivals alongside Grammy winning artists. The group made a splash by invoking polystylistic enthusiasm from the uncompromising urban streets that birthed House music, as well as undeniably potent movements in hiphop, punk rock, and free jazz. Drawing on these raw influences, the Chicago based band effortlessly merge Chicano and Boricua roots music with modern dance into a rhythmic sancocho filling club floors and providing ample evidence of Chicago’s presence as a hotbed of diverse new music in the States.

Their bilingual lyrics provide substance to the socio-political conversation while adding context to inspired musical compositions and uptempo beats. Swirling guitar, brass horns, spoken word and group singing add to their tropical funk outfit with a fearless focused spirit intact. ÉSSO’s foundational versatility has taken the band on tours across the US and into Mexico behind their critically acclaimed releases of original independent music online and on vinyl. Their music is the soundtrack to various Podcasts, short films, and TV shows released in 2019 and 2020.

ÉSSO has performed for notable music festivals including: LatiNxt, Redbull Music Xicago Festival, Ruido Fest, Chicago World Music Festival, Taste of Chicago, Clark Street Festival, South By Southwest (SXSW), Festival Cultural de Zacatecas (MX), Do Division, Pilsen Fest, Michelada Fest, Villapalooza and many more street celebrations across the US.

They’ve shared the stage with: Cafe Tacvba, Natalia Lafourcade, Bomba Estereo, Ozomatli, Los Amigos Invisibles, Kinky, Princess Nokia, Songhoy Blues, La Santa Cecilia, Sonido Gallo Negro, Los Rakas, Chicha Libre, Saul Williams, Jeremy Sole, DJ Ethos, Dilated Peoples, Jenny & the Mexicats, Gaby Moreno, Alice Russel, Euforquestra, Boogat and more.

Live band members include: Armando Pérez (guitar/vocal), Kevin Miller (saxophone), Dan Lieber (drums/percussion), Diana Mosquera (vocals),  Luis Tubens (poetry), Juan Pablo Lugo (percussion/vocals), Ezra Lange (bass), Matthew Davis (trombone/bansuri)) and special guests.

Their notable experience and active work in performing for grassroots community organizations and volunteer programs has helped raise awareness and vital funding for important after-school, immigrant justice, humanitarian, and fair housing programs across the US. Members spearhead free all-ages library programs for families, educational music presentations, and workshops focused on cultural recognition in music, poetry and the arts.